WHEN Peter Dolby left Lilydale secondary school at the age of 15, he said he was given a choice of doing railway work or becoming a printer.
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That was in 1966.
Mr Dolby will tomorrow retire after a 48-year career with printing firm BSG Australia.
Although the company now produces promotional cards, scratchies and bingo sheets, it was a former arm of The Examiner.
``I started printing at The Examiner in January 1966 as part of a five-year apprenticeship,'' he said yesterday.
``I had family working at the newspaper, they knew one of the printers.''
Mr Dolby said he had seen many changes during his career, including a shift to offset printing, and is one of three workers to reach nearly 50 years of continued service.
He said it was marriage that kept him in the job, and said his wife would join him in retirement in about 18 months' time.
In the meantime, a 1938 Chevrolet Tudor waits for Mr Dolby at home, his nod to a lifelong passion for hot rods.
BSG general manager Tony Sutton has joined Mr Dolby throughout his career, and said he was one of their most experienced staff.
``Peter started in January, I began working in December,'' Mr Sutton said.
``When people think about trades, they think of carpentry or building _ printing is a trade, it may be hidden but it's out there.''