By Duane Ranger (Courtesy of Redcliffe Paceway)
It was appropriate that Kaye Whittaker had her grandchildren with her at her Burpengary East home just before lunchtime last Thursday.
The four boys and one girl – all aged eight, six, and four, might not have fully taken it in, but a couple of them sure were proud to see their ‘Nana’s’ name up in lights.
Just after 11.52am, the Jonah Hutchinson trained and driven Gina Tarantella, easily won the Enjoy Your Retirement Kaye Whittaker Pace.
It was the club’s way of saying thank you for the sterling and loyal work Mrs Whittaker had given to the club since 2013.
“It was quite humbling actually, especially when Chris Barsby (commentator) wished me all the best on Sky Racing. I’ve really enjoyed my time at Redcliffe Paceway, but I’ve got to the point in my life I want to spend more time with my grandchildren and watch them grow,” Kaye said.
“I’ll never forget Redcliffe and I still may bring the grandkids back to watch the horses. Bernie (Ring) and his team have been great. I have many happy memories,” she added.
Mrs Whittaker, who insists on being called Kaye, officially finished at the Paceway on Friday November 27, but when contacted for a story, guess where she was?
“I’m just tidying up a few loose ends like banking and sales jobs, and generally getting things right for Michelle Smith who will be doing my job.”
Kaye started at the Redcliffe Harness Racing Club at the end of December 2013.
“My husband Dennis was a hobby trainer at the time, and I was asked if I wanted to do the job through his friend Kerry Ebert. I’d worked in administration for Ansett a few years back, and before I took this job on Dennis and I owned our own sofa and sofa bed business. That was in 1995, well after I worked for Ansett. The company was called D & K Sofas (Qld) and we owned it for 17 years,” Kaye said.
She said she had seen a few changes in her seven years with the club.
“We’ve gone from being ‘paper shufflers’ for Racing Queensland to running our own club. In my first year everything was thrown back to the clubs. We had to pay all the wages and basically run the club ourselves.
“That was great for our autonomy and progress forward. I still think we are the best club in Queensland, but I’m biased, aren’t I? Redcliffe looked after me very well,” Kaye said.
She was also delighted to be able to work with the younger generation at Redcliffe Paceway.
“I really enjoyed working and talking alongside the horsemen and women, especially the younger ones coming through. They are full of energy and are the future of our industry. They give the place a real buzz, but I do feel sorry for them that hardly anyone watches them live on a Thursday. But at least all of Australasia can see how good they are on TV.”
Kaye was also delighted that she could see out the near $300,000 upgrade, which was completed in October.
A $274,000 Government grant had ensured a new stabling complex, new toilet blocks, and the upgrading of male/female and stewards’ rooms at the track affectionately dubbed ‘The Triangle.’ Government and Racing Queensland officials were present for the opening.
“It was a big project and the club saw it through well. I really wanted to be here for that opening. That was satisfying because it took a lot of behind-the-scenes work for the Club.
“It’s one of many positive things I’ve witnessed at Redcliffe. Track upgrades were another,” she said.
Kaye was born in Clare in South Australia, and moved to Queensland during her Primary school days. She was a boarder at Ipswich Girls Grammar.
She was a flight attendant for Ansett and then moved into administration at Ansett from 1974 to 1989. She and Dennis married 44 years ago and they have two adult children – Tara and Todd.
“We lived in Strathpine for 20 years and then came to Burpengary 18 years ago. It’s going to be a bit strange not travelling the 15 minutes each day to the track, but I have many happy memories, and I will never forget my time there.
“I’m at the retirement age now, and just want to enjoy my family, especially my five grandies,” Kaye said.
Meanwhile, Redcliffe Harness Racing Club president, Bernie Ring, said Kaye’s services would be sorely lost.
“Kaye is a wonderful person and a very astute business woman. Kaye helped me immensely when dealing with authorities. Nothing got passed her. She had club at heart and will be a big loss. I wish Kaye happiness in everything she does,” Ring said.
