By Nadine Rogers, Waikato District Council with additional material from Rodger Gallagher
Exceeding customer expectations, a wealth of knowledge, icon in the Raglan community – Steve Soanes hung up his hat on the 29th May on a career with first the New Zealand Post Office and then the Waikato District Council that spanned 49 years. He was farewelled on the morning of 29th by staff and the community at a continuous morning tea in the Raglan council office.
In his many years of dealing with some colourful Raglan characters, Steve has some tales to tell, but what stands out the most is the passion for the Raglan community he has lived and worked in for the past 23 years.
Steve started at the Post Office in 1966 as a telegraph boy making his way up the career ladder to be Post Master at Ngatea in 1978. He was the last Postmaster there when Ngatea was still a manual telephone exchange. In 1988 he was part of the team of four seconded to set up the Waikato Division of the new Telecom Corporation. He then moved to the new NZ Post for a few years at the Thames Chief Post Office. He then left the NZ Post in 1990.
Steve began his career with Waikato District Council on 31 August 1991 as the Area Office Manager for Raglan. This was soon after the WDC had been formed by merging the old Raglan and Waikato County Councils in 1989. The new WDC purchased the former post office building for use as its Raglan Library and Office. This building is still in use today as the Council’s Raglan Office.
Each day Steve’s first job was sweeping the street in front of the office. This helped him get to know other business people from day one and develop relationships that over the years turned into friendships.
Steve’s role has evolved greatly and has allowed him to become an important asset to the community by serving as the Community Board Secretary, the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park Board Secretary and Town Hall Committee Treasurer and Secretary. He has also been responsible for the harbour navigation beacons, the Raglan airfield and coordinator of the Beach Wardens.
From 2002 until 2013 Steve was Raglan Harbourmaster and has also been involved in the Raglan Coastguard where he has been involved in over 300 rescues.
With a keen interest in archaeology and history Steve has been a leading member of the Raglan Museum Society serving as secretary for many years.
On his final days Steve looked back over the last 23 years with fondness and is excited about the next stage of his life, which will see him and his wife Joy travel to Rarotonga and then to Europe.
Asking Steve to share one of his most memorable moments, there were ‘too many to recall’ but he sums his time up as ‘the perfect work life balance and the best of his life.’