THE STREET CLEANER

Bill Pearson worked as a street cleaner for the Dunedin City Council for about 21 years.

When he started a horse and cart would follow him to pick up the rubbish he'd swept up.

Later, a water truck was introduced with Harry March as the driver. The truck would pick up 
the rubbish which Mr Pearson had swept into a pile. It would return to wash the gutters.

Sometimes the unexpected happened. "One day we were by the museum picking up the 
leaves which had fallen on to the ground. We had them piled high on the truck. 
Unfortunately, we pulled the wrong lever and all the leaves were emptied on to the footpath," 
Mr Pearson chuckles.

"Another time we'd swept and washed the gutter outside a hotel. When the publican closed 
up a short time later, the ashtrays were emptied into the gutter and he demanded that we clean 
up the butts. He even followed us up the road but we had to tell him that we only swept 
gutters once."

Following his stint with the water truck, Mr Pearson was given a hand cart to use as he swept 
the city footpaths. He worked in various parts of the city before being allocated part of the 
main street. As the council's head cleaner, Mr Pearson insisted on high standards. No overalls 
and casual shirts for him. He was one of the country's most dapper street cleaners in his white 
shirt, tie and hat.

Close to Christmas, however, he swapped his usual gear for the traditional red and white 
outfit of Santa Claus. He played appropriate music and had balloons tied to his hand cart. He 
used to buy the balloons but after his Christmas stints became well-known business people 
would offer to help him out.

"There was a travel agent who offered to supply me with the balloons. Of course they had his 
name on them so they were good for his business," he explains.

Not only would Mr Pearson hand out balloons to passing children, he would also give sweets 
to the youngsters. His generosity was well-known and other people joined in the act, donating 
boxes of candy canes and other confectionery.

Mr Pearson was a well-known figure to people working in the central city. Mayor Sir James 
Barnes and other dignitaries would stop and give him a cheery greeting as he went about his 
work. Life was seldom boring.

On one occasion as he was sweeping outside a night-club he spotted a naked woman doing 
somersaults on the balcony.

On another occasion he was sweeping behind the Town Hall when he spotted a rubbish tin 
which was full to overflowing. On investigating he discovered new lace skirts and women's 
jeans which had obviously been stolen. Mr Pearson found some policemen at the front of the 
Town Hall and alerted them to his find.

Some time later he received a letter from the police, telling him that no-one had claimed the 
property and he was welcome to it. But what was he to do with women's clothing? He went 
to see the woman living next door to his home and she became the unexpected recipient of 
some new clothes.

It was not the first time Dunedin people benefited unexpectedly from new clothes. Mr 
Pearson recalls an occasion when a trucking company was supposed to deliver shoes to a 
business but by mistake dumped them at a tip.

"People came from everywhere to get free pairs of shoes - by the time the trucking company 
realised its mistake it was too late!"

One day Mr Pearson parked his brand new broom outside a shop while he popped in to buy a 
drink. When he came outside there was no sign of the broom. He went to the Police Station 
but the officers didn't seem to have much sympathy for his plight. They suggested he should 
have chained up his broom before buying his drink.

However, the police got to know Mr Pearson well because of the items he used to find in the 
streets. "I found a carpenter's plane once on the steps by the Criterion Hotel - when I took it 
in, the policeman said it was a lovely plane and he could do with one like that. But he was 
only kidding.

"Another time I handed in an envelope which included $40 to pay for a doctor's bill."

When Mr Pearson retired the mayor of the time, Sir Clifford Skeggs, invited him in for a cup 
of tea and presented him with a brand new broom!

Mr Pearson uses it to sweep the path at home. And as he does that he reflects on his years in a 
humble but very necessary job.

"They were the best years of my life," he declares.


This item from the Otago Age Concern Publication  Memories are Made of This
is used with permission
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