Elaine’s service brings a smile

ELAINE Milton says she knows about 90 per cent of her customers by name after working for decades at her favourite store.

The Wynyard Woolworths store service manager said she has worked at the supermarket since 1976. “You just meet a lot of really lovely people from any walk of life.”

Ms Milton has always loved her job, through the highs and lows, with her generosity and friendly spirit earning her a spot among nominees for News Corp Australia’s Thanks a Million campaign. “Because I’ve been here so long I know the parents and their kids as they grow up, it’s a really close community,” she said.

“Everybody gets treated with respect no matter what and in turn you get it given.” In her official nomination, Ms Milton was praised for her caring nature to customers.

“(Elaine) went above and beyond for her customers during the pandemic’s toughest months as elderly and immunocompromised customers were unable to have groceries delivered for a time,” the nomination said.

“(She) rang customers, gathered groceries for them and dropped them off to their houses on her way home from shifts.

“Some trusted her with their bank cards so she could pay in store for their deliveries.”

Apart from the occasional “angry and nasty” customers complaining about toilet paper restrictions, Ms Milton found the community rallied together during coronavirus.

“They were more scared than anything, but when customers came in and saw us doing business as usual they felt reassured,” she said.

To nominate someone you think shone brightly during COVID-19, fill out the online form at thanksamillion.net.au annie.mcann@news.com.au