Guy Dustan – Temperature Guy Manly

What’s your favourite place on the Northern Beaches?
The upstairs bar at Four Pines in Manly. Best service in Manly + great beer – the perfect combination.

Is there something about you that would surprise people?
I have never lost an arm wrestle.

What’s something everyone should do once?
Swim in the ocean when the water temperature is below 15 o centigrade – if you can last 3 minutes, you will feel more alive than you ever have!

It’s Sunday afternoon, where do we find you?
Taking a nap or watching an AFL game on TV.

If you were down to your last $50, what would you spend it on?
I have been down to my last $50. I gave it to a homeless person to buy a coffee and a treat.

Business

How did the Temperature Guy happen?
During Covid the people that were regularly writing the water temperature on the pillar could not get down to Manly because of the travel restrictions. I was asked to take over for two weeks.

How long have you been operating?
A little over 2 ½ years.

Best Business experience
Being recognised as one of thirty Australian’s “leaving their mark”.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
Sleeping in.

Best/most enjoyable part of your job?
Seeing the impact it is having on the community.

Most stressful part of your job?
Posting on Instagram after finishing the numbers. I am always terrified the post won’t go out – either something will go wrong with Instagram, or I make a mistake and delete the reel. (which I did twice in the first week).

Weirdest thing that has ever happened at work?
Finding a “message in a bottle” on the beach next to the numbers two weeks after drawing a message in a bottle as my design of the morning… explain that one!

What’s the best part of working on the Northern Beaches? Why did you
choose to work here?
Simple – it’s the best place in the world.

Personal

What would you rate 10/10?
Nothing, perfection is an illusion.

What is the best advice you have received?
Two pieces of advice. If you follow them both, life becomes simple.
1. You never go broke by giving.
2. Life is a bank. You must make deposits into an account before you can make
withdrawals.

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this week?
Laughing uncontrollably with a friend about something ridiculous.

Greatest strength?
Courage.

Greatest weakness?
Self-discipline.

Does anything scare you?
Snakes and dancing.

What’s your most treasured possession?
My grandfathers pay book from the time he served at Gallipoli.

What’s your idea of absolute happiness?
Finding purpose and meaning in my life.

Which two famous people would you choose to be stuck in a lift with?
John Lennon and Julia Baird – plenty of beautiful songs and fascinating stories to pass the time.

What travel experiences are on your bucket list?
A voyage from New York to London on an ocean liner.
Walking all the way from Manly up those steps to Freshwater.

How do you switch off?
No problem, it’s switching on I find difficult.

What’s your guilty pleasure?
Weet Bix with Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes on top.

Who’s your personal hero?
My grandfather Gus.

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A platypus – it must have been designed by a focus group.

How would you like to be remembered?
Fondly.

If we could ask you one more question, what would it be?
Qu: When will I stop doing the numbers?
Ans: Top secret.