AFTER nearly 15 years, Kathie and Martin Thackray have found the right people to take over their business, Island Charters Narooma.
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Chris and Cecilia Smith saw the business advertised for sale on the internet and moved over from Sweden to check it out.
Chris is an Aussie and Cecilia is Swedish. They met in Western Australia but had been living in Cecilia’s hometown for the last six years.
Her Swedish hometown is very similar to Narooma with about the same population and a couple of satellite suburbs.
But it is not on the coast and Chris especially was missing being on the water.
Island Charters Narooma seemed a perfect business and an ideal town.
Chris has spent heaps of time on boats over the years. He has done fishing, both commercial and a lot of recreation diving. As well as working at “Horizontal Waterfall” on the West Coast.
They decided to lease the business for the year to see how it went and how they settled into the community.
Chris arrived in September and Cecilia and the boys followed at the end of January because they needed to finalise things in Sweden.
Cecilia is a registered nurse specialising in aged care and is hoping to find a part-time work.
Young Jonathan is 5 and began his schooling in kindergarten this year at Narooma Primary School.
Jacob is 4 and is enjoying a couple of days a week at the day care in Dalmeny. Both the boys arrived with very limited English but are now chattering away happily.
The family has made many new friends and love our beautiful town so decided to not wait out the lease but bring forward the purchase date. Island Charters Narooma changed hands earlier this month!
Kathie and Martin enjoyed their time running the business and had many loyal customers.
They loved chatting with them and sharing our “bit of paradise” with visitors from around the world - whether fishing, scuba diving, snorkelling, whale watching or, in the last two years, taking people out to enjoy Montague Island.
Martin said: “It is a bit sad, but retirement calls. It is time for younger blood to take over.”
They both wish Chris and Cecilia all the very best in their new venture.
Chris and Cecilia are looking forward to running Island Charters Narooma and will with happy smiles provide the same excellent service as customers are used to.
Island Charters Narooma is still “the Ocean Adventure Specialists” – catering for small groups of up to 12.
