The Nhill community celebrated his retirement with a function on Friday afternoon.

Mr Millington started with Luv-A-Duck in 1982 after moving to Nhill from Gippsland.

He said Friday's celebration was overwhelming.

"It was just a wonderful cross-section of the community," he said.

"There were people there who have been involved with me and Luv-A-Duck both professionally and

personally."

Mr Millington said more than 300 people attended, including previous and current staff.

"The two principals of Luv-A-Duck, Theresa Sfetkidis and Kim Shoppee-Lynch, organised the party," he said.

"It was really just a wonderful, social event and a good opportunity to socialise and reminisce."

Mr Millington said the function included speeches.

"They really gave me a roasting," he said.

"No-one has ever said so many nice things about me before.

"I was personally thrilled because I didn't know who was coming.

"So many people came from Melbourne and all over the place."

He said Nhill Golf Club, St Patrick's Church and the Nhill and District Football Club catered the event.

Mr Millington said even though he was retiring from the company, he was not retiring from Nhill.

"I still have duck sheds myself, with two men working for me, so I will continue to have an interest in ducks," he said.

"But now I will have time to do other things.

"I have lots of friends around the world so it gives me an excuse to travel and catch up with them."

Mr Millington said in his time at the poultry farm, it had expanded from 25 staff producing 8000 ducks a week, to more than 200 staff producing 85,000 ducks a week.

"I've been with Luv-A-Duck for 30 years and I'm now 66," he said.

"At some stage it's time to stop to smell the roses."

For more on Mr Millington's work with Luv-A-Duck, see Friday's edition of the Mail-Times.