The Wynnum and Manly bayside is home to some of the most talented women making a splash in Brisbane. Get to know some of them here.
Peta Prestidge
Peta Prestidge was appointed as president of Manly Harbour Village Chamber of Commerce when David Farley retired after 35 years. The Chamber of Commerce oversees Manly Harbour Village and ensures it stays as a world-class leisure precinct, just like how Mr Farley envisioned it more than three decades ago.
“I love Manly and the bayside area, and have immersed myself in the local community, leading to my appointment as President of the precinct’s Chamber of Commerce in late 2021,” Ms Prestidge shared.
Before she took over the role, Ms Prestidge served as the general manager of The Consortium Group since 2016. The company is behind The Arsonist and Tide on the Jetty, two of the most popular restaurants in Manly.
As the current president of Manly Harbour Village Chamber of Commerce, Ms Prestidge hopes new and existing members would get more involved, believing that working together for the bigger picture is the key to success.
Nikki Kay
Nikki Kay and her husband transformed Wilson’s Boathouse into Manly Boathouse, now one of the leading seafood restaurants in the bayside.
The Kays gave the space a brand new look with their relaxed outdoor area where guests can walk in and try their bar snack menu, and a patio featuring a fish and chippery, gelato bar, and licensed bar.
The husband and wife duo successfully owned many retail businesses since 1991, which include bulk butcher shops, seafood markets, and seafood restaurants.
They were the original owners of Reef Seafood + Sushi, which was sold in 2018, before they opened a second venue, ReefGasworks in the Gasworks Precinct in Newstead, with the help of their son Ryan.
Joan Pease
When Joan Pease became a representative of the bayside community, Ms Pease helped deliver 24-hour health services back to Wynnum following the establishment of the Wynnum Manly Health Centre.
Ms Pease’s other local achievements include:
- Helping young people into work by restoring funding for the successful Skilling Queenslanders for Work program
- Upgrading local schools with funding for new facilities at Wynnum West, Darling Point and Brisbane Bayside plus a teacher aide in all prep classes
- Cleaning up Wynnum Creek and the removal of derelict, polluting boats
Ms Pease is the patron of the Wynnum Manly Historical Association, the Wynnum Manly Yacht Club, the Bayside Woodturners and Woodcrafters Club and the Bayside Eastern District Orchid Society.
Ciara Metcalfe
Ciara Metcalfeis an Irish former cricketer who was a right-arm leg break bowler. She is considered as one of the personalities who made cricket more popular among women on the bayside.
It started when she played and served as coach for the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club in the lower divisions.
Cricket grew so popular because of Metcalfe’s help, which even led to the merger of Redlands and Wynnum to come up with a first grade team. Since then, the sport keeps reaching new heights in the bayside.
Merle Dippel
Merle Dippel was one of the three original founding members of Winnam Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation, along with Cheryl Jacob and Becky Thomson.
From a $100 donation, Winnam has grown to one of the leading organisations providing affordable housing to the local community. Since starting their valuable work, Winnam has built up more than $17 million in assets.
Read: Wyvernleigh: One of the First Houses in the Manly District
Also known as ‘Aunty Merle,’ Ms Dippel was a founder of the Mariners and is a well-known Quandamooka Community Elder from North Stradbroke Island. She currently resides in Wynnum and was a long-term board member of Winnam.
