Retiring accountant counts back 33 years

Photo: RANI TIMOTI

NOTED EFFORTS: Flora Whitfield retires from the Parakai Licensing Trust after 33 years.

Meticulous bookkeeping by Flora Whitfield is going to be missed by the Parakai Licensing Trust.

But the retiring 73-year-old accountant believes it's not all about the numbers, but serving the community.

After working as the trust's committee secretary for more than 33 years, she's seen plenty of groups who have benefited and survived from their funding.

She has also kept a manual cash book even when getting savvy with the computer's book-keeping entries. "In that way you never lose any data."

Trust chairman Trevor Holst says Flora needs a gold medal for her efforts and appreciates her commitment over the years when some of the major contributions went to the medical centre, historic society, railway station trust, kindergartens and Kaipara College.

Flora's extra time will be spent on hobbies like travelling, gardening and her family. She has one daughter, two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

"I want to have some weekends back."

However, the Glen Eden resident is still working full-time as an accountant.

She initially helped the trust because she was the accountant with the Waitakere Licensing Trust for 17 years.

She has enjoyed catching up with mainly the Parakai trustees during their board meetings and intends to keep popping back for visits.

- © Fairfax NZ News