By Hollie Harris
There aren’t too many work places where employees truly love arriving at work each day.
Sheena O’Keffe genuinely adores the Noosa Boathouse and all the staff she has worked with over her 11 years so reaching retirement is bittersweet.
Working at the Boathouse since it first opened its doors in 2005, Sheena enjoyed a well-earned retirement party on Wednesday 15 February with the Boathouse Noosa team where they shared many laughs and stories with the vibrant and chatty retiree.
She decided it was time to call it a day and get off her feet and damaged knee.
“I loved working at the Boathouse, I really did. The people are like my family, you know, I was so lucky.
“It was always so comfortable, the owners are amazing, they looked after me all these years and I really did love going to work every day,” she said.
“I told them ‘who else would I ever want to work with?’”
Sheena is a bit of a legend in Noosaville and previously owned and operated businesses on Gympie Terrace and she even has a cocktail named after her on the menu!
“I was the restaurant manager and supervisor, so many different roles. They really looked after me and gave me the hours I loved.
“This job meant that as a single a mum, I have been able to send my kids to private schools and now that they are older, I was able to put my daughter through uni.
“She has now gone on to do her Masters in Psychology in Melbourne. I am so thankful I could do this for my kids,” Sheena said.
Sheena was known as Aunty to all the Boathouse kids.
“I look after all the kids – I’m Aunty Sheena to everyone’s children and will keep doing this now I’m retired – now I just get to spend more time with all the kids,” she said.
So what does retirement have ahead for this bubbly fun-loving retiree?
“I’m seeing a specialist in Melbourne next month to see what they can do for me to help fix my knee as I have no cartilage and then a little bit of travelling in Australia.
“There are so many beautiful places to visit, but Noosa is the very best place to be. Where am I going to go that’s better than this?
“I’m happy, my life is so good and Noosa is the best place to be. I still wake up early in the morning and walk down to the Boathouse for my coffee and chats.
“I talk to everyone in Noosa, I love hanging out at The Boathouse and catching up with friends.”
Sheena encourages everyone to head down to the Boathouse Summer Festival on Sunday 26 February from 3pm and have a beer or wine and say hi!
