WELL-KNOWN local lawyer Robin Watts recently addressed the annual general meeting of the Millicent Agricultural Bureau.
Mr Watts accepted an invitation to address the yearly forum of the Millicent group, which has been in continuous existence since 1888.
Held at the Millicent and District Community Club, the 20 members re-elected Millicent Farm Supplies agronomist Tom Moyle as its president and fifth generation Furner farmer Brad Bateman as secretary/treasurer.
The guest speaker had a professional association with many members of the farming community through his 55 years of local legal practice.
Generations of his family have operated a greengrocery, news agency, billiard saloons, sports store, dress shop and men’s hairdresser at various times in Millicent’s George Street for much of the twentieth century.
Mr Watts spoke about the George Street of his youth in the 1940s when his family lived on the premises now occupied by the Since 56 clothing store and the Hume, Taylor and Co law firm.
According to Mr Watts, there were many other families living in George Street around this time in residences “behind” and “above” shops, banks and other establishments.
With his renowned gentle humour, he described various town characters and the businesses in Millicent.
Born in 1937, Mr Watts was educated at St Anthony’s Catholic School in Millicent, at the Collegiate School of St Peter in Adelaide and at the University of Adelaide (Bachelor of Laws).
Now retired from the law, Mr Watts was admitted as a legal practitioner in March 1960 and was principal of his own law firm in Millicent for many years.
