New managers at Hangdog Camp
Daphne Dijk, Jaiden and Troy Stevenson. Photo: Neil Wilson.
Troy Stevenson and Daphne Dijk are managing Hangdog Camp for the summer, and they're loving it.
"We've both wanted to live in Golden Bay for ever," said Troy. "A while ago I came here climbing every summer for five years in a row. It's surreal to be able to run this place. I couldn't believe my luck when I heard that the Butlers were looking for managers. Celia, Chris and Patrick are all really good, really lovely to work for; it's a pleasure, not a job. Golden Bay is a special place for us because we became engaged last March on Farewell Spit."
Daphne and Troy and their son Jaiden, who is nearly four, have been at Hangdog since November and their contract runs until the campground gets quiet in the winter. When that time comes, Troy will look for work to see the family through the winter.
"I'd like to find some outside work that's physical," he said. "I've been doing some possum-trapping for the Friends of Paynes but I'm practical and handy so I hope there will be something for me."
The family came here from Tauranga and say they are happy to leave city living behind. They are expecting their second child in July and Jaiden will start at the kindergarten soon. Daphne and Troy say they are looking forward to being part of the Golden Bay community.
"When you live here, you naturally become less materialistic and value things differently," said Daphne. "With both of us on site at Hangdog all the time we can do ‘tag-parenting' and get out to do a climb now and then. It's funny, though, now that we're here all the time instead of being on holiday, we're in much less of a rush to go climbing."
Daphne and Troy keep the campsite clean and tidy and attend to any running repairs that are necessary. They like the way green waste is composted there and the other refuse is recycled via the Takaka Transfer Station. Neil Wilson
