Cairns Regional Councillor Cathy Zeiger shares her first job

SPENDING her days working for the community is not too much of a stretch from Cathy Zeiger’s first job.

Cairns Regional Council's Cathy Zeiger with her horse Okey in 1978.

WORKING for the community has been the hallmark of Cathy Zeiger’s working life.

The Cairns Regional Council councillor was 14 when she started work mucking out stables and teaching horse riding in Sydney.

Ms Zeiger’s story is part of Cairns Post’s5000 Jobs in 50 Days campaign aiming to find work for the region’s jobless.

“I worked there until I was 17, mainly on the weekends and even after I had finished business college and was working as a secretary for Avco Finances,” Ms Zeiger said.

“My parents were paying for me to have riding lessons every month, but I wanted to ride every week or more! I struck an agreement with the owner to muck out the stables, feed the horses, lead around beginners for hours and then as I improved my skills I taught beginners.”

The teen’s responsibilities were not glamorous – picking up horse poo, raking stables out, feeding and grooming horses and helping others to get on their horses.

But Ms Zeiger said she loved the job.

“I loved being outside and around the horses,” the councillor said. “When I did get my hour or two ride I would take off into the bush.

“I remember hours of trotting along the trails, just me and a friend on our horses.”

Working is not just about enjoying the fun bits, Ms Zeiger said.

“If you want something bad enough, you will work hard, even doing the yuck jobs,” she said.

“Put in the work and you’ll get the results.”

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Originally published as Cairns Regional Councillor Cathy Zeiger shares her first job