Marty Waters: Tributes flow for popular culinary figure after sudden death

A culinary icon known for his ‘strange’ sense of humour and passion for music has died suddenly, leaving a devastated community in his wake.

A NORTHERN NSW culinary icon known for his cheeky nature, “strange” sense of humour and passion for music passed suddenly at the weekend, leaving a community devastated.

Marty Waters, the name sake of Marty’s at Caba, a family run restaurant and music venue at Cabarita Beach, died in the early hours of Saturday morning due to suspected diabetic complications. He was 53.

Mr Waters has been described by his friends and adoring regular customers as a genuine, hardworking and passionate man.

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Marty Waters, owner of Marty's at Caba

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The son of a chef himself, Mr Waters began his career in Melbourne before moving to the northern NSW coast in the early 1990s, and working at Avocado Land, Markwells Seafood and Byron Bay Beach Resort.

He had later opened a deli-style restaurant, Delectables, in Cabarita, then Cottage on Coronation before settling on his dream space of Martys at Caba a decade ago.

“Dad was very outgoing and had a following of customers who would be at every place he worked,” his son Dillon Waters told the Bulletin yesterday.

“People who have worked for him talk about the two sides to him, one was sitting there paying you out and the other was doing everything he could to help you get ahead in life, whether it meant writing references or finding you a better job.

“He didn’t care about money. If you needed help he was there.

“He also had a really dark sense of humour. He didn’t care what he said – you might be offended for a moment and then laugh it off with him.”

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Marty Waters the much loved owner of Marty's at Caba passed over the weekend.

A Cold Chisel and Rod Stewart fan, Mr Waters spent six nights a week at the popular restaurant working alongside his wife Wendy.

He had introduced open mic nights at Marty’s to the help the local music scene.

“He would bring young musicians in and then give them a regular slot so they could work up to other gigs,” Dillon said.

Mr Waters was a father to one son and two step sons, a grandfather to five and became a great-grandfather just weeks before his passing.

“Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to meet his great grandchild.

“He had developed diabetes and liver issues. He was on the waiting list for a transplant and was working through all of that.”

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Marty and Wendy Waters at Cottage on Coronation Restaurant. Reporter: Shawn Durkin

Granddaughter Tylah Finn, who worked alongside her “pop” for 10 years, said his “love was unconditional”.
“Life just isn’t going to be the same without him,” she said.

Hundreds of tributes has been posted on social media pages since news of the death broke.

Many described the chef as the “happiest man” they knew.

The family hopes to have a public memorial to honour the chef early next week and will update the community when final arrangement are made.