Time at last to call it a day

Things aren't quite the same at Patterson Law in Kaitaia these days. Jan MacLean, who began her association with Clive Patterson as a shorthand typist 35 years ago, and ended it as a senior registered legal executive, has slipped, albeit gradually, into retirement.

Mrs MacLean and her husband Fraser, who spent 17 years as a Fisheries officer and another 17 at Kaitaia Hospital, where he became maintenance controlling officer, officially called it quits on the same day in December, but for Mrs MacLean the severing of ties hasn't been especially clinical.

She's been going back into the office on a part-time basis since then, gradually winding down her affairs, but lawyer Simon Punshon, who arrived in Kaitaia 13 years ago, has now joined the firm, and so came the time, finally, to clean out her desk.

Mrs MacLean began working for Mr Patterson in 1979, when he was a sole practitioner (next door to the ASB, where Age Concern is now). She had been with the Public Trust in Whangarei, but home sickness got the better of her.

She crossed the main street with Mr Patterson when he became part of Dragicevich, Campbell and Patterson, took six years off then returned, crossing the street with him once more when he returned to sole practice.

Her role had evolved beyond all recognition over the years, she said, which was just as well. She had been told at school that shorthand was a dying trade, and when she gave her 13-year-old grandson a demonstration he was somewhat mystified.

"He asked me if 'they still do it.' I told him no, they don't even teach it any more," she said.

That process of evolution saw her become a senior registered legal executive - she is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives - but she never aspired to a law degree.

"I mentored a few who have worked or are working now in Kaitaia, but I was happy doing what I was doing. And I was a wife and mother too. I don't have any complaints at all," she said.

Mr Patterson was a "wonderful boss", an opinion supported by the longevity of his staff. Staff turnover, Mrs MacLean said, was not an issue at Patterson Law.

Meanwhile she was still adapting to her new role of retiree. She and her husband were learning not to look at their watches, enjoyed long daily walks (his longer than hers) on Cooper's Beach, and, both having worked any urge to travel overseas out of their systems, she was looking forward to supporting daughter Kathryn Carey, principal at Pompallier Catholic School in Kaitaia.

Kathryn's sister, Andrea Panther, is deputy principal at Trident College, in Whakatane, both following in the career footsteps of Mrs MacLean's father, who was a teacher.

Relaxing and enjoying six grandchildren (aged 10 to 21 years) were also on the agenda, but she would be popping back to Patterson Law again for three weeks in August, having agreed to relieve one of her erstwhile colleagues.

"I don't know how I will go," she said, although the biggest problem might be parting her from the office keys a second time.