“It was November 25 last year at 5.27pm I got the phone call to say I did not have a job any longer,” he said.

The husband and father from Bomaderry had worked previously as a traffic controller and a Santa Claus, but said he would happily retrain in a new field.

“My ideal job would be Prime Minister of Australia,” he joked.

But since that position wasn’t open, the jolly fellow said he was keen to do just about anything.

“I’m happy to do repetitive and manual tasks and I love talking to and meeting people,” he said.

Debbie Lee from employment agency Workskills said Mr Rooney would suit an employer looking for someone with traditional morals and values.

“He would suit an employer who is struggling to find reliable and unique staff,” she said.

Mr Rooney said he would gladly start casual or part time to prove himself, but would ideally like something more permanent.

“I have a mortgage and family to support, so I am looking for job security,” he said.

Mr Rooney said he was quite flexible regarding the hours of work.

“Hours don’t worry me, whether it’s nights, days, weekends, I’d just like regular hours,” he said.

Getting to work wouldn’t be a problem either.

“I have a reliable car, if that is off the road I have my wife’s car and if that is off the road I have a pair of size 13 shoes,” he said.

Mr Rooney said he was well aware of his strengths and limitations and was hoping to find an employer who could recognise them.

“I know what I can and can’t do.

“I learnt to read and write in 1991, computers still frighten me a bit but I will learn,” he said.