Brenda Cooke and Freddie Dixon finished on Friday at the company’s Kiewa dairy after working for seven years and 12½ years respectively.

They rotated 12.30am to 10.30am four-day shifts and thought their jobs would go when the factory closes next year rather than coincide with milk production ending.

“We never expected it, so much has changed,” Mrs Cooke said.

“The management used to speak to you, talk to you and say ‘have you got any problems’, now we never hear from them.

“We’re mushrooms up in the back paddock with the cows.

“I think it’s absolutely disgusting the way we’ve been treated.”

The pair has not been told, but they suspect contractors will take over their roles.

Both women are worried about where they will find work.

“It’s hard and getting to the point where people aren’t going to employ someone nearly 60,” Mrs Dixon said.

“Cleaning is quite a physical job; I was in hospitality before that, but who wants to employ an old barmaid, so the options aren’t great.

“I can’t retire though, I’m too young to retire.”

Mrs Cooke said workers were whacked about “like a ping pong ball” and was “very angry that Murray Goulburn won’t speak the truth”.

“It’s unfair and it’s left this entire factory in the lurch,” she said.

“I’ll be flat out getting another job, I’ll be 60 at the end of the year.

“I’ve got no idea what will happen.”

Also walking out the gate for the last time on Friday was laboratory technician Leigh Hazeldine, whose job involved testing milk for any imperfections before it left the factory.

She had been at the factory for just under five years after having previously worked at Albury Council’s water laboratory.

“I’m sad, disappointed,” Ms Hazeldine said.

“I’m not looking forward to finding a full-time job, there’s not a lot around.”

Ms Hazeldine will move to a casual hospital position.

“There’s not a lot of laboratory work around, most of it is in manufacturing and they send it to Melbourne,” she said.