After more than 50 years in the Public Sector, PSA member Kevin Emmanuel is retiring.

Now 70 years old, Mr Emmanuel (pictured top) joined the Public Sector when he was hired by the Water Board in Sydney in 1970.

He is thought to be the state’s longest- serving Aboriginal Public Sector worker.

After a stint with the Water Board, he found his true calling, working with young people when he moved to work with Juvenile Justice on the Central Coast.

In 2000, he left the Central Coast to start employment at the Grafton Community Services Centre.

He moved to the Kempsey centre 17 years later.

“I’m going to miss his calm nature, his cultural knowledge and the kicks to the ankle to shut me up in meetings,” said fellow Community Services Caseworker Kim Whitney.

“Nothing fazes our Kev and this has been a long time coming. He’s now 70 and deserves his time.

“There are a lot of children, families and communities out there who have benefited from knowing our Kev.”

In addition, another long-time Aboriginal PSA member, Ken Hickling, has retired.

Mr Hickling (pictured bottom) joined the PSA 1988. He’d worked for the Cattle Tick program for the Department of Primary Industries since 1985.

“Ken worked mostly out the back of Tabulam, Kyogle and finished up at the boarding crossing at Mt Lindesay,” said PSA Regional Organiser Rebecca Reilly. “He will be missed by his colleagues and the community he worked with.”