Tom Lamason retires after 59 years with Scion

At the age of 16, an energetic teenager, unable to form discernable words, walked into a nursery job at Scion in Rotorua.

Now he is retiring 59 years later leaving a legacy behind him.

Cerebral palsy robbed Tom Lamason of recognisable vocal ability, but not of diligence and determination.

The 74-year-old has worked tirelessly, raising more than a million plants and pulling out many more weeds in a career which spanned almost six decades.

Trees which tower over the edge of the nursery, planted by Lamason more than 40 years ago, a thriving worm farm and a well-maintained flax garden will be reminders for the next generation of his hard work.

Senior technician Colin Faulds had known Lamason since he was a "little fella" and helped the Rotorua Daily Post catch up with him on his last day at work.

"He's very diligent and very patient, and quite a loss to Scion," Faulds said.

"Most nights I have to round him up at closing time and kick him out, he's still working and I tell him it's time to go."

Lamason grew up with two brothers and a sister, his mum worked as a school teacher.

Tom Lamason is retiring after 59 years working for Scion. Photo / Stephen Parker

They moved to Rotorua while he was in primary school and he was a fierce competitor in the athletics club.

"He was a very well known identity around Rotorua in those days for all the hours of training he put in," Faulds said.

Following high school, he worked collecting golf balls at the Lakefront golf course for three months before he was hired by Scion.

Lamason said, through the help of a co-worker, there had been a lot of changes to the industry over his career.

When he started in the job he did work that is now done using chemicals and machinery by hand, without gloves.

Faulds said doing the same thing day in and day out could be seen as boring, but there was a lot of satisfaction when you finish at a job well done.

"It was very hard on the hands," Lamason said.

When he's not at work Lamason is a keen runner, completing more than 20 marathons, including Tokyo.

"It's all about the mental strength to get through," he said.

"It's good for my posture and gives me a sexy bum."

In a lot of ways Lamason would like to stay at Scion, but retirement doesn't sound too bad, he said.

Over recent years he has had to have a shoulder reconstruction and with age, he is ready to give his body a break, even though he has plans for one more marathon.

Lamason's dream retirement plan would be to compete in the New York Marathon.