Wayne Saley got a great send-off from Wauchope RSL Club where he has worked for the past 24 years.
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Past and present staff and directors, and colleagues from down the years came to a special dinner at the club on Saturday January 13 for the man who has been secretary-manager for 14 years.
“It shows how well Wayne is respected,” said his successor, Graham Withers, who was Master of Ceremonies.
He told the audience that Wayne’s original trade was as a print and plate-maker. He then became a truckie and in 1965, he started his long career in the pub industry, working in clubs in and around Sydney.
Eventually, Wayne decided to move his family north, and when a job became available as assistant manager of the Wauchope RSL Club, he applied. For the past 14 years, he has been secretary- manager.
“The club is in a very good position. Wayne brought in the $3 dollar lunch, with is now $6 because of inflation. He led the club through difficult times,” said Graham.
“Wayne’s quick wit and one-liners will be missed. He has passed on his two joke books to me, to carry on the tradition.”
Wauchope is a terrific town and the RSL club is absolutely fantastic. It’s got the name of ‘the friendly club’ and you will never feel lonely when you come in.
- Wayne Saley
On being presented with a generous gift to help with his caravanning hobby, Wayne said he really appreciated it, and that it was very humbling to be honoured.
“Wauchope has been very good to Jan and me,” said Wayne.
“Jan was mother and father to the kids because of my shift work and night work and she never complained about it. Wauchope is a terrific town and the club is absolutely fantastic. It’s got the name of ‘the friendly club’ and you will never feel lonely when you come in,” he said.
“I just want to get out and enjoy myself with Jan and go caravanning. I won’t be a stranger here, because it’s a really good club.”
Speaking on behalf of the board of directors, president Mal Butler remembers Wayne arriving in 1994 and said he was very impressed with his experience.
“There was nothing he didn’t know about clubs. It was unbelievable. We have been extremely fortunate to have had Wayne,” he said.
Wayne’s wife, Jan was presented with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and the guests enjoyed slices of a special retirement cake baked for the occasion.
Letitia Fitzpatrick
Worked as a journalist and assistant producer for BBC news and current affairs in the UK, Ulster Television, Q Radio and the Irish News in Northern Ireland. Moved to Australia and joined Fairfax Media in 2016. Won a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award in 2018 for reporting the Pappinbarra bushfires and the subsequent Rotary appeal which raised $30,000.
Worked as a journalist and assistant producer for BBC news and current affairs in the UK, Ulster Television, Q Radio and the Irish News in Northern Ireland. Moved to Australia and joined Fairfax Media in 2016. Won a Rotary Paul Harris Fellowship award in 2018 for reporting the Pappinbarra bushfires and the subsequent Rotary appeal which raised $30,000.
