For Eddie Hughes Arrium's Whyalla steelworks have played a big part in his life - from a young boy, through to adulthood and his time as a father.
Now the state Labor MP for the area, Mr Hughes previously worked as a steel seamer at the plant.
His father had also worked as a fitter in the machine shop and his mother as a cleaner at the coke ovens.
Even today, his son still works for Arrium.
"Like a lot of people in Whyalla, we've just been bound up in the steelworks," he said.
"It has been what has given us our opportunities in life."
So it's little wonder Mr Hughes is very happy to see the deal signed to sell Arrium's entire operations, including the Whyalla facility, to billionaire industrialist Sanjeev Gupta.
The deal is expected to secure about 1500 direct jobs at Arrium in Whyalla and another 1500 in the local community.
Mr Hughes said uncertainty over the past 15 months had caused "all sorts of pain" with some businesses closing and others just hanging on.
"For the Whyalla people, they were just over it," he said.
"They just wanted a sign off with a new owner and it looks like we've got a new owner that is willing to invest in modernising the steelworks.
"And because we're a tough and resilient community, this news today and what is going to flow from this news, I believe we are going to bounce back quickly."
Whyalla Mayor Lyn Breuer said the town had been through a "terrible time" since Arrium was placed in administration.
"There has been a lot of uncertainty, a lot of doom and gloom," she said.
"For quite some time people have felt very uncomfortable."
Ms Breuer said it was something of a surprise that GFG Alliance had emerged as the successful bidder but she believed the group had a strong record in turning companies around.
"We're very comfortable they'll be able to do the same for us," she told ABC radio.
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