Banker, churchman, sportsman and community leader, Rex Nathan, is leaving the Dargaville workforce — for a life in retirement which shows no signs of slowing down.
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Rex Nathan handing over the reins to Michelle Morgan |
It seems like the end of an era in Dargaville as the first month of a new decade slips away into the past. Well-known ANZ Bank manager, Rex Nathan, is retiring on Friday 29th of January after a working life of 47 years in banking and the post office.
Once entirely a man’s domain, he is the last male branch manager in town. He will also be missed as an easily found Justice of the Peace on Victoria Street.
But Rex has made plenty of plans for his retirement. He laughs, “You can only mow the lawn and wash your car so many times a week, but I must admit my garden is going to get some badly need attention.”
Now an ordained Methodist presbyter on the Tai Tokerau Maori circuit, Rex says, “It is meant to be only part time, but it covers much of Northland and you know how these jobs grow.”
He also plans to continue his work as a member of Dargaville Lions, where for the last 23 years he has been chairman of every committee in the club including president, secretary and chairman of finance and membership. And as an instigator of the annual Maori Golf Tournament, Rex will be swinging the occasional golf club.
Born in Auckland Rex started his first job in the Dargaville Post Office when his father, Hughie Nathan, came north. After promotion as postmaster in Patumahoe, supervisor at Pukekohe and postmaster at Manaia in Taranaki he transferred to Auckland’s Pakuranga.
In 1987 he returned to Dargaville as branch manager of Normanby Street Post Office and Savings Bank. One year later they moved to Victoria Street and became the ANZ as it is today.
Taking over from Rex is staff member Michelle Morgan with 15 years’ banking experience. Michelle applied for the job, was interviewed and appointed the new branch manager. “I’m delighted and looking forward to the challenge.”
Rex and wife Bella have no plans for a holiday at this stage. “We have to think about that and decide where we would like to go.”
There was an official ANZ farewell in Auckland last Thursday for Rex and two of his retiring colleagues. The Dargaville staff says goodbye on Friday.
Ask him if he will miss getting up and going to work each morning and he says, “Not at all, but I will miss the people I meet and talk to each day.” And both the ANZ staff and also their customers will miss his efficient, friendly and pleasant manner.
