They have probably visited just about every home in Parkes, but it will be the end of an era this Saturday when the Pink Orchid Florist changes hands.
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Reg and Lyn Davison have operated the florist for more than 21 years, but have sold and will hand over to new owners.
“I will miss making up the flowers, it has given me great satisfaction. I will also miss all our customers many of whom have become good friends, and just being able to provide some pleasure for people at various times in their lives,” Lyn said yesterday.
‘But my health has suffered somewhat and it is time to slow down.
“I have always played a role in making other mothers happy on Mother’s Day with flowers, at the expense of my own family. Now there will be a time for us to enjoy Mothers Day as well.”
Reg and Lyn’s journey started way back in 1970 when their meeting was virtually ‘set up.’
Reg was a Fifield boy and drove a relative into Parkes – little did he know a meeting with Lyn had been planned.
“I didn’t fancy him the first day, but he came back the next day and we have been together ever since,” Lyn laughed.
Indeed, they meet on the January long weekend in 1970, and married on October 10 that year.
They had three children – Semeatria Hubbard, Grant and Felicity, and now have eight grandkids.
Lyn (nee Robertson) was born and raised in Parkes and worked in her younger days as a domestic at the Parkes District Hospital, then with her father Keith, before returning to the hospital as cook for 10 years.
She then ran the kitchen at Niola for several years.
Reg was a rugby league player of note even from a young age, and after meeting Lyn, moves were made to find him employment here so he could play for Parkes.
He was initially with McCabe’s construction firm as a labourer “we finished the Leagues Club and the Holy Family School” he remembered.
There was a short stint with Orbells in the factory, and then 22 years with Creith’s Furniture.
“They were like family,” Reg said, “still are. I helped rear Peter and John, took them everywhere.”
Reg played a very prominent role in the highly successful era of Parkes rugby league, winning a couple of premierships, regularly representing Western Division and also played in the Amco Cup.
He also played in the Second Division with Trundle and Tullamore (who he coached), hanging up his boots after winning two premierships with Trundle under captain-coach, Cliff Dunn.
“We were the only Second Division side to ever win the Caltex Knockout,” he proudly recalls for old timers who will well remember the prestigious tournament.
Lyn and Reg bought the Pink Orchid from Adrianne Brown in 1993.
It was located next to Woolworths, and then moved a few doors further down shortly after into bigger premises.
The move to their present location in Bushman Street (opposite the Ambulance Station) occurred in 2003, when they also added a café to the business.
“Over the years, we have probably visited just about every house in Parkes delivering furniture or flowers,” Reg observed.
“It has been a real pleasure delivering flowers to everyone, especially the little old ladies. It brings great happiness to them.
Lyn added: “We have seen kids born, grow up and be part of Valentine’s Day, get married, then have kids of their own. We have provided flowers for the lot.
“We really are about births, deaths and marriages.
“But not all at the same time, as we experienced ourselves back on the long weekend in January 1998.
“Grant was married, our Nan died and Semeatria had Jacob – everything happened at once.”
Other florists have come and gone, but Lyn and Reg’s very friendly personalities have ensured they continue.
“Personality is a very rare gift,” Lyn said.
“If you don’t have that, you won’t stay in business.
“We take a great deal of pleasure with the number of people who simply give us a call and ask us to deliver flowers and that they’ll fix us up next day.
“We have also many people from out of town who ask us to deliver flowers to a grave at the cemetery, year in, year out.
“It means they are happy with the service we provide, and we think that is a wonderful thing.
“And they all love Reg, especially the old ladies.
“It has been a very satisfying job for us.”
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Lyn (66) and Reg (66 next month) have no intention of leaving Parkes once they finish up.
“Why would we leave when we have our family here, our friends, where we have spent all of our lives,” Lyn said.
“I was born here, and will die here.
“We love our grandkids too much to go anywhere. If they leave, they’ll have to take us with them!”
They are going to enjoy a well earned break and watch the lawn grow and spend time with the grandkids.
“We are not keen travellers but will go up and see Reg’s sister in Maryborough for a few days. They always come down to see us because we have not been able to get away. Now it’s our turn.”
Reg also pointed out Lyn did not like planes and boats, so all holidays had to be by car.
Lyn is hoping her back improves enough to also return to playing golf.
“We’re just going to take things easy for a while, it has been a pretty full-on life for quite a long time.”