When Ted Calvert retired from the police force, after serving his community for 42 years, his colleagues personalised his typewriter as a farewell gift.
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The typewriter was engraved with the words ‘To Ted, from his workmates. A lot of good stories written on this!’
Mr Calvert, 81, lent his typewriter to his sister Jill so she could ink her life story – something that was common in the Calvert family. Mr Calvert’s mother wrote her life story, and Mr Calvert self-published Ted’s Tales – Stories from a country policeman.
About four weeks ago, Jill moved into a nursing home while Mr Calvert and his wife Phyllis were visiting their daughter Melanie in Canberra.
When Mr Calvert contacted Jill’s daughter to locate his typewriter he learned it had mistakenly been sold at a garage sale near Launceston about two weeks ago.
Now Mr Calvert’s daughter Melanie is trying to find and return the typewriter to her father.
“I know it is only a thing but it would be wonderful if we could get it back,” Melanie said.
Melanie lives in Canberra so she is relying on social media to help her find the typewriter.
“The support from the Launceston community has been great,” she said.
The typewriter is either an Imperial or Olivetti, is dark in colour and has a personalised brass plaque.
Anyone with information about the typewriter can contact Melanie via her Facebook page or email melanieandbrad@aapt.net.au.
