Lindsay Cane – Royal Far West

What’s your favourite place on the Northern Beaches?
The RFW building – Watching the Surf and the whales from 7th level of RFW building.

Is there something about you that would surprise people?
I’m a long-distance walker. I have walked the Great sandy desert and the Camino twice.

What’s something everyone should do at least once?
Jump out of an air craft.

It’s Sunday afternoon, where do we find you?
Exploring / walking around the piers of Pyrmont and busily preparing for the week ahead at RFW.

If you were down to your last $50 what would you spend it on?
I would give it away.

Business

How did Royal Far West happen?
A Methodist minister from Cobar (Stanley Drummond) bought a bunch of sick kids down to sea. He came to Manly as it’s a destination for country people. He met George Moncrieff Barron (A medical doctor from East Esplanade), they had a chat. He said to Stanley that country children should be as well as any city child should be. They agreed to provide services for country children. They agreed George Moncrieff Barron would look after their health and Stanley would look after their souls.

Today Royal Far West is one of the biggest employers in town, after the Council.  Of my 180 staff, 80% of those are locals. RFW contributes in salaries alone more than $7 million per annum to the local community. That’s a lot of local jobs in the local community to protect.  Furthermore, every week (under normal operations) we bring 70-80 country people into town. These people spend money in the local community.  The economic contribution of RFW in the local community is very significant.

How long have you been operating?
Since 1924

Best business experience?
Too many to choose from. Greatest achievement opening the RFW centre in Manly for country kids in 2018. Getting a world record crowd of 10,000 to the netball world cup when I was CEO.

If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing?
Community service.

Best part of your job or most enjoyable part of your job?
Best part is seeing families become stronger whilst in RFW care / supervision and having them say they are going home with hope and that they are not alone.

Most stressful part of your job?
Raising funds annually to continue the operation of RFW. The operation runs on donations and revenue generated from fund raising activities. Without the support the operation would simply not continue.

What’s the best part of working on the Northern Beaches?
Best part is coming to work every day. Simply a lovely special place to work and live. Close knit village and close-knit town and the special place that RFW has in this community is what makes it all tick for me. I came to work for RFW and after 3 months she decided to stay and has been on board now for 9 years.

Personal

Background Info.  Lindsay was born in Manly – Manly Hospital. Lived on Sydney Rd opposite the man on the tyres. Her father was a volunteer who built the Scout Hall in Ivanhoe park.  A true manly local.

What would you rate 10/10?
A perfect day in autumn. Suns out, breeze is up and we know that winter is around the corner. Just beautiful.

What is the best advice you’ve received?
Be Honest.

What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this week?
Converting all of our face to face services to virtual services on line and now my entire workforce is working remotely to service rural communities.

Greatest strength?
Tenacity

Greatest weakness?
Moving too fast for others.

Does anything scare you?
Not really. Lots of things can scare you. But its the way you see it and approach it. Try not to be scared but see them as challenges and then I can get focused and problem solved.

What’s your most treasured possession?
A gold chain given to me at my 21st from my parents.

What’s your idea of absolute happiness?
Being at peace with the world and others.

Which two famous people would you choose to be stuck in a lift with?
Michael Reagan & Keith Urban.

What travel experience is on your bucket list?
Norweigan fjords and the trans Siberian railway express across Mongolia.

How do you switch off?
Net flicks (I love the big theatre and movies)

What’s your guilty pleasure?
A beautiful dry French rose

Who’s your personal hero?
Doreen Wheelwright (First real professional mentor. Head of the world physiotherapist association)

If you were an animal, what would you be?
A Border Collie. Black and white with white paws.

How would you like to be remembered?
Fair, Honest and a little bit funny.

If we could ask you one more question what would it be and what’s your
answer?
The importance of a Civil Society. Why do you do what you do and what other benefits / contributions do you make over and above financial reward. I think there is nothing more important than a civil society and installing hope in individuals and families brings me more joy and happiness than anything else in this world.