Yesterday, she finally said goodbye to the friends and colleagues who, over the past four decades, have become a second family.

“It’s a little bit sad, I will miss everyone,” she said, just after the crew had hosted a morning tea in her honour.

The milestone she reached is almost as long as the company itself has been operating — it had only been open two years when Mrs Dean arrived.

There’s been many changes in that time, mostly to the production processes.

“When I first started it was all just working by hand, not in a process line like this,” she said.

“It’s been good seeing the way things change — the way we used to do it was a lot harder.

“It’s just been a great pleasure working here.”

Plant manager Colin Orr said Mrs Dean’s record was impressive.

“She’s been a very good worker the whole time she’s been here,” he said.

“If you needed something done that takes a little extra effort, she always put her hand up.”

Mrs Dean, who turns 70 next month, is looking forward to travelling with her husband.