GEORGE Riordan still remembers his first day of work.

He was 15 and had landed a gig as an apprentice refrigeration mechanic at Jack Abell Mildura, fixing toasters, irons and fridges, after studying at the Mildura Technical School.

Full of nerves, he rode his bike from Leonards Street to the Jack Abell workshop on Lintons Lane, ready for his 8.30am start.

But it wasn't quite the day he had envi...