Educator, Caterer, Host becomes House Captain
21 August 2021
Serving for a number of years on the Waikawa Boating Club house committee has given Susie Caley a good background in what is required of the team. So, no surprise when she was elected, unopposed, at the July AGM to the position of Rear Commodore – House.
But it’s been much more than time at the committee table that qualifies Susie for the role.
Originally from East Yorkshire, England, Susie developed a love of catering through her involvement with the Young Farmers and much later with Outward Bound. Her father was the Principal of an Agricultural College and this too would guide her future career choices.
Once Susie’s girls were full time at school, she qualified in adult education, teaching Food Hygiene in the community and Life Skills to special needs students. There were a couple of ‘interesting’ years teaching at a young offenders’ institution where, “you needed eyes in the back of your head”!
On a holiday to New Zealand, with her partner Martin in 2009, a seed was sown and following personal traumas and tragedy, they relocated permanently the following year. They fell in love with the Marlborough Sounds and eventually took possession of a house up on the Anakiwa hillside. They turned what was an unfinished house into the excellent Okiwa Bay Lodge.
The untamed hillside became a haven for beautiful wild birds and the occasional visiting, not so beautiful, wild pig. Martin and Susie ran the lodge for ten very successful years and loved their time meeting wonderful, fascinating people from all over the world.
The pandemic put a stop to the guests arriving, so Martin and Susie decided to return to Martin’s original skills as a builder of all trades. Susie is fully employed being the ‘gofer’, painter and assistant! Susie says, “I love seeing the difference when a job is completed”.
After a number of years crewing for other people on sailing yachts and racing and cruising boats they bought their own boat; ‘Crusader’ is their pride and joy. Martin says, “It’s the only time he can get Susie to stop working”!
They are looking forward to spending time cruising the Marlborough Sounds and beyond.
Susie is looking forward to her Rear Commodore role and says, “With the help of a wonderful team we’ll do an outstanding job organising and helping out at events. I see it as my way of saying thank you to the club and its members for the love and support Martin and I have always received since our arrival”.