PAM Guyer has been involved with the Kempsey Eisteddfod Society for more than 60 years, firstly as a competitor and later as a member of the committee.
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She was a gifted singer and while a student at Kempsey East Public School, Pam competed in the Vocal, Speech and Drama sections at the eisteddfod.
For many years she competed and gave up only after she found her own children watching from the audience.
“They were also competing so I decided it was time to give up,” Pam said.
“I then thought it was time I gave something back and I joined the eisteddfod committee.”
Pam became competition secretary of the Vocal and Instrumental and Speech and Drama sections in 1990.
In 1996 she became competition secretary and publicity officer for all sections, including the Ballet Eisteddfod.
She continued as competition secretary until 2011 when two committees were again formed and her position reverted to competition secretary - dance.
Life membership of the Kempsey Eisteddfod Society was bestowed on her in 2010. This was a great honour as she is one of only three members granted the award in the society’s long history.
As competition secretary, Pam has been responsible for circulating the syllabus of events, receiving entries and production and circulation of the program.
For two months leading up to the eisteddfods it is virtually a full-time job, with the phone continually ringing and queries to be answered.
During the running of the eisteddfods, she had to be on hand to answer queries, organise the presentation of trophies and adjudicator reports.
As with most organisations, it is difficult to get people willing to take on committee positions, and the small committee struggled to keep the event going each year.
Pam has managed to keep going as she does not want to see the children lose an opportunity to develop their talent and perform in front of audiences through competing at the eisteddfods.
During her time with the society Pam has always helped competitors and encouraged children to take part.
She has been ably assisted over the years by her husband Robert.
In the early days, the entries and program had to be done by hand.
When computers were introduced to the public, son-in-law Grant Barnett ran a computer and programming business and it was then Robert decided this was the way to go.
From then onwards it was taken for granted that he would do the entries and programming on the computer.
Although a very old program, it is still being used today.
Robert has also helped out over many years with the setting up of the halls and entering results during the eisteddfods.
He has been publicity officer for more than 10 years.
