WAYNE REES, MARRIAGE CELEBRANT Wayne was born in Cairns to local speedway champion, businessman and marketeer Rusty Rees and Marriage Celebrant, Dot Rees.  He did his schooling in Cairns then traveled the world ending up in Brisbane working for the Queensland Theatre Company, playing the part of "Eggfroth" in a touring school show called "Eggfroth the Frithed".  Finally he made his way back to Cairns to help run the family business after his older brother died in a motor cycle racing accident.   His first job back was managing the Captain Cook Motel in Sheridan Street.  Later he joined his father running the successful "Rusty's Bazaar" and Rusty's pub.

In 1987 he became an Alderman on the Cairns City Council.  And in 1995 became a Civil Marriage Celebrant.  He has been married to the same woman for 25 years and had three kids.

1. What was your nickname as a child?

Don’t remember having one. If I did have one, it would have been “chubby”.

2. What was your first ever job?

Cleaning cars at Rusty Rees’s Used Car Yard.

3. What did you want to be when you were 20?

I wanted to be an Accountant.

4. In three words – what does Cairns mean to you?

Home, Birthplace, and Community.

5. How many couples have you married?

Lost track.  Must be well over 2,500 by now.

6. How did you feel before your first ceremony?

Excited, nervous, like I wanted to "Poo" my pants, and looking forward to the experience, all at the same time.  The couple I married didn’t know it was my first ceremony.

7. Where is the most outrageous place you have ever married a couple?

I was to marry a couple in the Daintree area, on top of Mount Peter Bott, which is in the shape of clenched fist with a finger pointing up.  The helicopter pilot tried a dozen times to land on top of “the finger”, but he couldn’t get the skids right because of the strong winds.  We aborted that location and ended up landing in a very remote spot near Mt Windsor, at the base of a waterfall. Very romantic spot

8. What was the deciding factor in becoming a celebrant?

My mother was the first celebrant in Cairns, and I saw how she made an impact on people’s lives. To help them celebrate a treasured and important moments in a couple’s life.

9. What motivates you most to go to work each day?

Variety.  Every day is different, different people to meet, different challenges to overcome, and different locations to go to for weddings.

10. What is the best thing about doing business in Cairns?

The fact that you personally know who you do business with.  You mix socially with your competitors and your customers.  There’s a feeling of being part of a community.

11. If you had an opportunity to change careers for a month – what would you do?

Go back to professional acting. Last year I was offered an opportunity to go to Sydney to perform in a play at the Riverside Theatre at Parramatta for a month, but because of the downturn in the economy, the whole project was cancelled.

12. Have you ever had a great idea or innovation that wish you had the time to pursue?

No

13. If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?

One time when I was in London on holidays, I caught up with an old friend who was an Opera singer at the West End.  He took me for a tour of the grand old theatre he was performing in, and introduced me to the stage manager who was an Australian.  The stage manager wanted me to work for him at the theatre, as part of the stage crew.  Apparently he wanted as many Australians with stage experience he could get hold of because according to him, the English didn’t like work, where the Australian would get stuck in and do the job.   Because I was on holidays and didn’t have a work permit I said “No”.  It would have been a great experience.

I should have said “Yes”.

14. Tell us something we don't know about you?

I have performed on stage with The Australian Ballet Company. Tour Managed the Queensland Ballet Company, and danced in every production of The Cairns City Ballet. Yet I cannot dance.

15. Who do you aspire to?

The best Marriage Celebrant there is.

16. If you could re-live one moment in your life – what would it be?

The moment I became an Alerman on the Cairns City Council.  I was so proud and honoured to be able to serve the people of Cairns in Local Government.

17. If you could invite someone famous for dinner (past or present) – who would it be?

Sir Laurence Olivier and Robin Williams. Two great actors.  And what an exciting dinner it would be.

18. When was your last overseas holiday and where?

Phuket in Thailand about 5 years ago.  Went up there to have a look at a chapel that had just been built.

19. Your favourite time of day?

Definitely the mornings. I usually start the morning with a 5klm walk around the neighborhood. Gives you the get up and go, because it’s such a lovely time of the day.

20. What will you be doing when you’re 80?

Still marrying people, being active and continue to live life to the fullest.