A special lunch was held at Countdown Takapuna during June to celebrate 25 years' service by one of its valued team members, Emma Hoggard. Emma was born profoundly deaf, relying on hearing aids and lip reading to understand customers’ requests – making her 25 year milestone a very special achievement.
The lunch was put on by Countdown and Emma’s co-workers. At the lunch Emma Hoggard opened her speech by saying, ”Twenty-five years is a long time to work at Countdown but this will be a very short speech.” And it was. But it highlighted an inspirational story of an individual's dogged determination, supported by an understanding employer and fellow staff members who have gone out of their way to help Emma.
Emma and her family were keen to acknowledge the support of Countdown. During her time with the supermarket they have kept Emma's job open when she had two cochlear implant operations, diabetes, two major cancer operations, two hand surgeries and more recently three big operations during lockdown.
Kyle Webber, the Countdown store manager at Takapuna spoke highly of Emma at the lunch. "Emma's till always balances, she never complains about anything and she always has a grin on her face.”
Emma started at Countdown as part of a work experience scheme for students with special needs at Takapuna Grammar School. After stints packing shelves and rescuing trolleys from various parts of the car-park she was given the chance to be a check-out operator. It was in this role that she came under the influence of Patsy Edwards, the check-out supervisor who for two decades guided and mentored Emma. Patsy retired five years ago but attended the lunch as a guest.
"Emma got no special favours or treatment. We are all so proud of what she has achieved,” explained Patsy to the people in attendance.
In recent times it has become fashionable for us all to be told to be kind to each other. The staff at Countdown Takapuna clearly didn't need a reminder.
Emma concluded her brief speech by saying, "If it hadn't been for all of you, for your help and kindness, I wouldn't have lasted 25 hours at Countdown let alone 25 years.”
Well done Emma and well done to the team at Countdown Takapuna. You should all be very proud.
