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‘Like a family’: McDonald’s Seymour more than a job for Sam

By Max Stainkamph

Dec 28, 2021

Bushy-eyed: McDonald’s Seymour’s Sam Payne notched up 12 years at the store this year.

For Sam Payne, McDonald’s is more than an entry-level job. This year she racked up 12 years behind the counter at the Seymour Maccas, including a long stint on overnights.

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In that time she has worked with her own son Nathan, as well as friends of her own and children of her friends, and has become “the mum of the store”.

“I kind of like that environment where you kind of get to care,” she said.

Thirteen years: Tim Walker with new store manager Tully Lyster after 13 years’ long service.

“You know, we kind of have this really tight-knit community in the store and everyone cares for each other.”

Ms Payne said during the height of the COVID pandemic over the past few years had brought the team together more than she’d seen before.

“We're very close and very friendly with each other.”

Ms Payne wasn’t the only one to clock up a milestone this year, with Tim Walker notching 13 years. The store has a change of ownership as well in the past few months, with Tully and Michelle Lyster taking over the store.