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TESTIMONIALS
"Stick Together" - ink artwork by me!
On this page you will find comments and references from people I have travelled with in various capacities.
"Any of you who have experienced
organised tours will know that the personality and skill of your tour leader
will have a distinct impact on your enjoyment of the trip. We hit the jackpot
with Sally as our tour leader on a recent tour. Our group were all
"seniors" and all set to enjoy ourselves however there were
significant challenges for Sally to manage on a daily basis (and sometimes hour
by hour) due primarily to the health issues of some of our fellow travellers.
It was easy to observe how Sally's
experience combined with her confident and pleasant manner was appreciated and readily responded
to by both service providers and the tour party. All in all the trip was
excellent and Sally's presence was definitely a key component in the overall
success and enjoyment for us.
I think the thing that stands out
for me is that Sally obviously enjoys people's company. She is observant of
people and surroundings and hence excellent at trouble shooting. She thrives on
new experiences yet has experience to draw on when things aren't as they should
be. In addition she has a delightful laugh and a great sense of humour. Put
simply, she is the ideal travel companion for any age."
Jenny Crowley, Palmerston North - Retired Nurse
(Maher Tours Queensland Winter Retreat group, August 2018)
"I met Sally for the first time on July 31st 2018 when I
began the Maher Queensland Winter Tour. This was a two week holiday and Sally
was in sole charge of eighteen people. They were from all kinds of backgrounds,
some in couples and six of single status but all of retirement age.
During the tour two people had serious health issues that
needed medical intervention. Sally responded promptly to these needs and made
arrangements that included doctor's consultations, hospitalization and the
methods of transporting them back to the group. She spent time with these
ladies but not at our expense- she somehow juggled the two situations and kept
in touch by phone throughout.
Our schedule ran like clockwork. Sally briefed us clearly
and accompanied us daily, keeping us entertained with her delightful sense of
humour as well as making us feel very safe and cared for. She shared meals with
us and took a number of photos which she later shared by email. All in all she
did a marvellous job as tour guide and inspired total confidence..
There is more to Sally than efficiency. Two members of our
group had special needs as both suffered from poor memories and a vague sense
of time and place. Both were liable to wander off and experience distress. At
all times Sally knew where they were, advised them on what was happening next
and often kept them close to her in a friendly and positive way. I feel sure
that without her attention neither ladies would have had such an enjoyable
time - which they certainly did - without impacting on others with their frequent
anxieties and confusion.
Throughout the two weeks in Queensland Sally never lost
patience or a sense of humour. Her energy seemed bottomless. The group gelled
as a unit and much of that is due to her skills as a leader and to her
perception of peoples' needs.
A supreme organiser and very warm and caring person is my
summary."
Jenny Clare, Havelock North - Retired social worker with
the elderly (Maher Tours Queensland Winter Retreat group, August 2018)
"In August 2018 my wife & I were part of an 18-member organised tour
group Sally led - a 15-day trip up the Queensland coast of Australia from
Brisbane to Port Douglas. The group was comprised of persons in the 70s to
mid-80s age bracket. Unfortunately
my wife became suddenly very ill and was hospitalised, only to be diagnosed
with Influenza A [bird flu] a week into the trip. A second member was
also four days in a different hospital with unrelated respiratory problems.
These
two episodes were certainly a test of Sally's resilience and coping
mechanisms! This lady can multitask and is able to handle any problems with
calmness & diplomacy, no matter how serious the challenge may be. The
trip proceeded as scheduled with no one's needs neglected.
I
would have no hesitation in recommending Sally to accompany people requiring
support on an offshore trip, in either a group or one-on-one situation. My
experience suggests she displays impeccable credentials to successfully
carry out her passion."
Ross
Kerr , Blenheim - Farmer (Maher Tours Queensland Winter Retreat group, August 2018)
"Recently I went with a tour group to Queensland. Our Tour
Guide was Sally Blyth and what a treasure she was. I cannot speak highly enough
of her efficiency, caring, pleasantness and calm when things didn’t go
according to plan. She had a lot of extra pressure because of illness among the
travellers which she dealt with magnificently. After many trips with various tour
groups I can, without a doubt, say she was the best guide."
Lorna Satchell, Christchurch - Retired (Queensland Winter Retreat, August 2018)
Maher Tours Queensland Winter Retreat Group, August 2018 - Magnetic Island
   Tahitian Cruise with Muriel, age 92
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