REDLAND Bay check out operator Jody van Vuuren hopes she puts a smile into everyone’s grocery bags every day.
Her attitude towards spreading joy has earned for her the title of Queensland’s checkout operator of the year and earlier this month she flew to Sydney to contest the national title.
While unsuccessful on the national stage, she was still thrilled with her Queensland success.
“I feel humbled with the Queensland win. The customers out the front could hear the screams of the staff when I won.”
Jody, 60, of Redland Bay said working as a checkout operator was “the best job” and a great way to finish a career in customer service.
“It’s all about the customer and the community. I love it. To me, it’s about warmth and caring and giving that bit extra, like getting them a cab or helping with their trolley. It’s not hard,” she said.
“Who knows, I might be the only person some customers speak to all day. And don’t you want that interaction to be something that makes them happy? I love making people’s days a little brighter.”
Jody has a background in banking, having worked for 24 years in South Africa and seven on migrating to Australia.
“This (working as a checkout operator) has been a beautiful transition to retirement. For so many, it is a first job. For me, it is the end of a career. It makes me happy that I can make someone a little bit happier when they leave here,” she said.
Jody said she loved to hear people’s stories, always asking about holidays and children.
“There’s a dear old man of 98 who teared up when he told me he lost his wife after 73 years. There are the children who start as babies and are now running around. It’s just lovely,” she said.
She said she also enjoys seeing people she has served during the week outside of her workplace.
“I go to the hotel for dinner and wave at people there. Redland Bay has a pretty special community,” she said.
