Local legal secretary Betty Trevorrow has recently celebrated five decades in the industry and her colleagues toasted the milestone with a function on November 19.
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Betty said she first started work in the legal field at Palmer Maccallum and Co almost 50 years ago where she worked with Richard Palmer, Arthur Palmer and Ian Maccallum at 120 Lachlan Street, Forbes.
She first stepped through the door as a work experience students - and was offered a full-time job at the end of her course.
"I was Ian Maccallum's personal secretary up until he retired," she said.
Betty said she started work with Margaret Smith, Carmel Hart, Marion Buckley, Cheryl Smith and Colleen Pietsch for $33 per week.
"At that time we used Remington typewriters, known to us as chaffcutters, and lots of carbon paper," she said.
"Mr Maccallum and I packed up our work and went to Eugowra once a month to see our clients over there."
Betty said she has seen many changes in the legal industry Over the course of her career, with constant changes in legislation as well as those more broadly seen in the community and technology.
Betty said that some of the changes including moving the preparation of contracts for sale online now whereas they started by simply typing up the forms provided by the Law Society.
"The only paper settlements now are for Water Licence Transfers, the remaining settlements are all electronic through the PEXA Workspace," she said.
Through her career, Betty has seen many name changes of the firms she has worked at, as well as met many solicitors and staff.
"I saw many solicitors come and go and many girls also, who I helped train and they stayed one or two years then went to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra," Betty said.
"I have been lucky over the years working with a lot of great girls and I have been a member of some fabulous 'teams' and made lifelong friends inside and outside the work environment."
Betty said she has come full circle in her career a little, she worked with Julianna, her current boss, alongside Mr Maccallum.
She's been with the team two years, and now works with Julianna Kneebone Sally Muller, Antionette O'Connell-Carter, Patrick Tulaga and Georgia Haggarty.
Colleague Sally Muller said Betty is a wonderful work colleague and friend and it is a pleasure to work with her.
"She has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the legal field and is always available to anyone who needs help and assistance," Sally said.
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