LML - MR KING - A DYNAMO IN HIGH HEELS -
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Published on: 2/21/2009
Last Visited: 2/21/2009
MR KING - DYNAMO IN HIGH HEELS - NZ Herald Supplement
LML - MR KING - A DYNAMO IN HIGH HEELS
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MR KING - A DYNAMO IN HIGH HEELS
It's difficult to imagine that someone who is as tiny as a ballerina can pack a punch in a warehouse, give discourse on the subtleties of fork hoists and be responsible for the loading and unloading of a jet aircraft.
But like Ginger Rogers who danced "equally" with the celebrated Fred Astaire, Jan King does it "backwards and in high heels."
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And when a job is on, Jan says, "We just go for it.
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"As it was, the Garuda head office regarded me as a male, and I was known and referred to as 'Mr King' - even when I went to Jakarta for meetings."
Nevertheless, she recognizes that New Zealanders have opportunities for a very wide skill base, which she says you don't find in other countries such as the United States and Britain where you find five people doing what one does here.
For seven years she was up at 3.30 am to drive to the airport from Kumeu, to be on time for an aircraft at 4.45 am. ("I don't know how I did it") As one of only two women licensed to supervise the cargo, it often meant doing a double shift if the other was sick or on leave.
And this meant working 22 hours without a break.