AFTER 30 years of living in Millicent, dedicated community workers Margaret and Tony Bitter are moving back to the Barossa Valley.
They will be embraced in the area by their three sons, their spouses and their grandchildren.
However, they are leaving behind a wide circle of friends and a gap in Millicent organisations including the Anglican Church, Probus and Meals on Wheels.
The Bitters had spent their formative years at Lyndoch in the Barossa Valley and the pair hope to buy a home in the town.
The family’s first association with Millicent was in 1974, when Mr Bitter was appointed as the accountant at the Commonwealth Bank.
He was accompanied by his wife and their two elder sons Darren
and Jonathon.
The posting lasted only two years, but the Millicent community had left a positive impression on the family.
When the position of manager of the Millicent branch of the Commonwealth Bank became vacant in 1992, Mr Bitter made a successful application for the posting.
By this time, Darren and Jonathon had left home, but their third son Stephen had been born and was now five years old.
“We came back to Millicent as we wanted Stephen to grow up in the country,” Mr Bitter said.
The opportunity for early retirement was accepted by him in 1997 and the Bitters became even more fully involved in community life in Millicent.
Mr Bitter enjoyed the night owls bowls contests while Ms Bitter embraced the Millicent Craft Group.
The garden at their home was a shared passion and they were involved in every aspect of church life.
Ms Bitter conducted funeral services when the church was without a priest, while her husband ensured the church garden was a showpiece in the centre of Millicent.
Churchwarden Trevor Rayson and parishioner Doris Bleby outlined their many other contributions at a recent farewell morning tea.
“They have inspired and encouraged us,” Mr Rayson said.
“They have taken their Christian principles of care out into the wider community.”
In reply, Ms Bitter said 30 of their 52 years of married life had been spent in Millicent.
“We are leaving with heavy hearts and this will be our biggest wrench,” Ms Bitter said.
“It is very sad for us but we are looking forward to being with our family.”
