Ohinemuri Regional History Journal 42, September 1998
With the death of Marion Davidson Darley on 14 July 1997 one of the last links closed on an era of family ownership of community newspapers. Mrs Darley (nee Hunter) and her husband, the late Rei Darley, owned Thames Valley Newspapers Ltd., which published several newspapers in the area.
Born in Auckland in 1912, she was educated at Parnell Primary School and Epsom Girls Grammar. After attending business college she worked at the Auckland Farmers' Freezing Co. Rei Darley was also employed by the same company and they met when he accompanied her home after work during the Queen Street riots in 1932. In 1934 Rei moved back to Pahiatua to take over the family business. Shortly after this move Marion and Rei married.
In April 1939 they purchased Mr W D Nicholas's publishing company in Paeroa. Both Mr and Mrs Darley worked in the business as did all the family at various times. A record of their involvement in the publishing business is related in an article in Journal 36, entitled 'Paeroa Gazette 1891 - 1991' (page 33).
Mrs Darley served on the committee of the Paeroa Plunket Society and was president for many years. They moved to Waihi Beach in 1954 and in the 1960s she became, along with her husband, foundation members of the Bowentown Boating Club. Mr Darley died in 1986.