Skip to main content

Members Kay & Steve Macaulay

On Wed 14th Oct 2026, members were very delighted to listen to two highly engaging presentations by members Kay and Steve Macauley.

Our members thoroughly enjoyed Kay's presentation of Steve and Steve's presentation of Kay - both not knowing what had been written about them.

Kay went first and spoke about Steve. He was born, raised and educated in Melbourne (Preston PS, Thornbury HS and then Melbourne University gaining a degree in Commerce & Economics and Education).

Steve is the eldest and has two younger sisters (twins). Steve has fond memories of family holidays at the family shack on Phillip Island. As a youngster Steve enjoyed scouts and lots of team sports. He also barracks for Collingwood. He met Kay in 1970 at the Heidelberg Town Hall and due to their shared love of music, their relationship flourished whilst dancing the night away at many venues across the city. They were married in 1974.

Steve commenced his teaching career in 1974 at Waterdale Girls HS, followed by Coburg HS and Kings Park HS and after the move to Ballarat, he was at Beaufort Secondary College which included the final seven years as Principal. He also spent one year in Melbourne working for Ericcson as part of a teacher release to industry program.

Steve is a published author of a book about how to type. He retired in 2011 and since then has worked in a few different jobs including the Victorian Teachers Games, being an international teacher at Federation University, working for the Victorian Electoral Commission and Canadian Independent Living.

Kay and Steve love to travel

Steve then spoke about Kay. Kay was born in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, along with her two sisters, into a loving family, to Ted (worked in a pub) and Joan (worked in a factory); strong working class people. She went to a catholic school where the nuns encouraged her to not consider post school education as they felt she was destined to be married and have a family, ‘so don’t bother’.

Instead of studying to be a teacher at University, she went to Business College to study typing and shorthand, to then join the workforce as a secretary. Kay is a person with enormous personality, energy, enthusiasm and ideas so along with having two children she was soon back in the workforce.

After moving to Ballarat, she commenced a part time job at the Ballarat branch of the Australian Chamber of Manufacturers, which later amalgamated with the Metal Trades Association to become the Australian Industry Group. Given her enthusiasm and creativity, it wasn’t long before Kay became the Regional Manager; the only female at that time to do so. She worked tirelessly to raise the profile of the manufacturing industry with many different approaches and involvement in many organisations.

She featured regularly in the Ballarat Courier and had the ear of the politicians too. Kay has received many accolades during her career with one highlight being made a member of the Manufacturing Industry Hall of Fame. In 2014 Kay retired but took on the role of a director on the Board for VLine.

Kay of course has contributed to our club, as has Steve. She too, like Steve enjoys being a grandparent of four, along with travel and voluntary work.

Steve thinks there should be a statue of Kay