Iris Hardie began her working life as a trapeze artist with Silvers travelling circus. Now 83 years old, she’s still juggling the responsibilities of a demanding full time role as a property officer with Pittwater Council.
Iris’s career in Local Government began at a time when many people are contemplating retirement. She joined Warringah Council as a property officer in 1978 at the age of 54, after a colourful life raising six children and performing with Silvers circus and in Sydney’s nightclubs during the postwar years. After relinquishing her role as a circus and nightclub performer, Iris began a career in real estate. As a result she obtained her real estate licence and valuer’s diploma – acquisitions that helped her win the job in the Council’s property section that she still holds today.
Pittwater Council was formed in 1992 and Iris left Warringah to join the new Council and continue her career in property. She began specialising in title searches to enable the then fledgling Council prepare a register of public land.
Nowadays, most of her day is taken up with Internet based research of land title ownership and liaison with the NSW Lands Department and solicitors. She also relies a fair bit on her knowledge of local topography gained when she was selling real estate to back up her research and prove Council ownership of land.
Even though she left school at 13 with no formal qualifications, Iris later acquired an education as an adult student.
She says using her brain has kept her in the workforce and that she’s comfortable with technology.
“Computers have changed everyone’s job,” she said.
Iris isn’t sure when she’ll retire as she “loves the challenge” of tracking down land that belongs to the Council.
“One of my greatest achievements was getting a large drainage reserve called ‘Frog Hollow’ made public land,” she said. “It’s now an attractive open space area for local residents.”
