Their Place: Betty Pitcher and Peter Edwards

A recent gathering on Darlington’s Station Reserve honoured the outstanding contribution of Betty Pitcher and Peter Edwards – two long-term locals who have been Honorary Auditors to countless organisations. The Darlington Review and Friends of Darlington Station came together to say “thank you” to both for decades of much appreciated volunteering. Trea Wiltshire, the Review Editor through much of this time, was there to acknowledge their contribution. In 1983, a few years after we settled in Darlington, I was summoned by Postmaster Ian Sixsmith – a man of military bearing to whom one did not say ‘No!’ I was told the Review’s editor had left and, as I was the only journalist in town, the mantle of editor had fallen to me … and, of course, I said Yes! I inherited a wonderful team, the outspoken Audrey Ford who printed the Review on a roneo machine in her garage, ad man Stuart Lee who handled the ads in the small black-andwhite magazine, and the genial, silver-haired Peter Graystone (Business Manager), another military man, who sported long khaki shorts and knee-high socks and who kept all the Review receipts on the spare room bed, so if the window was open and the easterly bowled in, they occasionally scattered far and wide across the house! So, the final member of the team, Honorary Auditor Peter Edwards, occasionally faced challenges!

Peter Edwards was quite a high-profile person who insisted on keeping a low profile. He had his own chartered accountancy business, was passionate about sports – including rugby, kayaking, Hash Harriers - and loved nothing better than heaving a rucksack onto his back for a challenging hike in Darlington or the Himalayas. And he and Holly had many children and now grandchildren – and it’s lovely to welcome some of them here today.

Because of his accounting skills, Peter was much in demand by local clubs, and he shared multiple requests with our other guest of honour, Betty Pitcher. If Peter kept a low-profile, my impression was that Betty was simply everywhere – extending the tiny Pines into a mini supermarket, starting a fruit and veg shop in Glen Forrest, along with volunteering as auditor for the festival, Darlington Primary P & C, the Glen, Guildford Potters… you name it! Betty, who continues to play a role in many organisations, has this signature air of quiet efficiency: “I’m here to do a job so I’m sorry I don’t have time to chat because, when I’m done here, I have 30 people coming to lunch …”

As you can imagine, Peter and Betty have been at the top of every organisation’s wish list, so when Kirsty moved to Albany I practised various approaches for securing Betty as the Review’s Business Manager – from abject pleading to “Betty, I know we haven’t a hope in hell, but the Review would just love you to ….” And she said yes! So, we have these speedy meetings (tea and biscuits) with Betty presiding and producing immaculate minutes, and I always leave her house with a sense of awe and serenity: Betty’s in control and all’s well with the world.

Way back, there was a nice Interflora advert with the slogan: “Say it with flowers…” so, Betty and Peter, on behalf of the community, the Review and FODS are delighted to say ‘thank you’ for your exemplary work on behalf of many local groups.

A Mundaring officer recently observed that Darlington is the Shire’s most engaged community and it’s people like you that make it so. And, unlike those Interflora bouquets, these spectacular eucalypts will keep on giving pleasure to countless people who walk through this lovely reserve which, in itself, is yet another example of incredible volunteering by locals. Thanks to FODS for helping to make this happy occasion happen.