Eight outstanding employees including Lithgow ALDI worker Vita Pernant, were recognised publicly for their pride of workmanship at an awards night on Thursday, May 16 at Blackheath Golf Club.
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The Rotary Clubs of upper Blue Mountains held the event which helps to encourage a sense of community pride among individuals and their achievements.
Ms Pernat has been with ALDI since it opened in Sydney in 2001.
"I'm heading into 19 years with the company, I've seen a lot change from three stores to now over 500 stores across Australia," she said.
She said she was shocked and humbled to receive the award and had only found out two weeks prior to the presentation night.
"I was surprised to get the nomination you know I didn't know anything like this existed, I just go to work to earn my money, it's an act of every day life and to be recognised is just wow," she said.
Ms Pernant said she loved her work that much, it took a lot for her to miss a shift.
"I don't take any time off I've got over 1800 hours of sick leave I haven't used, it takes a lot to stop me from coming into work," she said.
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She said she enjoyed the physical side of the job with lots of lifting, along with the social.
"I'm a hands on person but there's also the pleasure of customers remembering your name, you get to meet the community," she said.
Ms Pernat said she does everything she's asked to do and nothing was too hard for her.
"I'm a hard worker, it's how I was brought up, my mum and dad told me to work hard and my dreams will come true and ALDI has done that for me," she said.
She said after all the years of doing an everyday act of life it was nice to be noticed.
"So many people go to work, I'm just paying my bills. I never thought I would win something like this, I never win anything but this is like winning the lotto," she said.
Ms Pernat said she would most likely retire with ALDI and she was thankful for the things it has allowed her to do.
"It's given me a chance to do things in life that I wanted to do, I've also met a lot of people in the past 18 years and made a lot of friends, its more of a family," she said.
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