Fay was born and bred in the beautiful suburb of Balmain. At the time, it was considered the slums. While only young, Fay recalls telling a man where she lived and he said, “Oh… I am sorry for you.” Fay replied wittily with, “I was brought up that it’s not where you live but how you live.”
While working at Unilever House in Sydney’s Circular Quay, Fay recalls a particularly funny memory. “I went in very early one Saturday morning, about 5 am, to help with statements - and I had plans to finish early and go to the beach. Near work, I was stopped by a policeman who asked me what I was doing. Even though I was dressed for the beach, I told him I was going to work. After a few more questions, he let me go but watched me as I walked away. The night watchman let me in, and the policeman looked shocked as I turned around, waved at him and smiled,” said Fay laughing.
One thing Fay absolutely loved was the beach, and remembers wonderful summers spent there with family. “Every weekend we’d catch the tram and walk down a steep incline to the beach. The water at Nelson Park was so clean and deep and we used to watch big ships coming into the harbour,” said Fay.
“Once, my nephew jumped off the tower and into the water - even though he couldn’t swim. He was with his father who wasn’t watching. I saw he was in trouble and screamed that he couldn’t swim, so a bystander jumped in to save him,” said Fay remembering the day clearly. “My nephew had no fear.”
Fay loved the water so much that she joined the water follies. “We went to the local pool and performed synchronised moves. I really enjoyed it, especially diving into the water,” Fay said, then added, “We even got into the papers.”
When asked what advice she would give to younger people, Fay said, “Always do what you like to do. Not necessarily what your parents want you to do.”
