Herald icon Sue Pillay retires

Advertising manager Sue Pillay, an absolute icon at the South Coast Herald, has retired after more than 40 years of loyal service.

Wow, just take a moment to consider all that… and to appreciate, really appreciate, all she has done for the paper and the community it serves.
It didn’t seem possible that this day would come.

In a world where folk flit from job to job, Sue stood the test of time, leaving a legacy that will never be repeated.

Sue started at the Herald in 1980 BC – Before Caxton – when it was owned by the Moss family and situated in town, across the road from the civic centre.

She has often credited the late Tansy Moss for believing in her and giving her opportunities many others wouldn’t have given to an Indian woman in the early ‘80s.
But she saw something special in Sue.

In 1983, the Herald was bought by the Caxton group and Sue would be part of what would be a formidable sales team over the next four decades.

She believed in the Herald as the flagship and fought tooth and nail to defend it and ensure its survival against all opposition.

Although short in stature, she was a formidable force and never afraid to speak her mind.
In fact she knows no other way, with the result that the slightly more sensitive could be offended.

She was direct and one always knew where you stood with her – and sometimes it was advisable that it be a fair or far distance away!

Jokes aside, Sue was the kind of colleague you would want to go to war with: strong, smart, loyal, brave and fair. She commanded respect.
She has seen so much in the industry change. When she started it was black and white photos, lead slugs, and so on.

The digital world was miles away. Facebook, WhatsApp – not even a dream yet.

Over the years she worked for various managers (including Quinton Saggers, Bevis Fairbrother and Michelle Izatt) and with a number of editors (including Linda Hooper, Colleen Haggard and David Rush).

She always played a vital role in shaping the vision of the Herald, her understanding of the local community in terms of the market arguably second to none.

Sue has motivated, urged, cajoled, coerced, coaxed and ultimately inspired her sales teams to greater heights, earning her the nickname ‘Ma’ as a sign of respect in later years.

As a teenager, she attended Port Shepstone Secondary, where she was head girl.
She considered careers in teaching and law, but found her calling at the Herald.

It was the perfect environment for her competitive nature, Sue always needed a challenge and being in sales certainly provided that.

Family has always been vitally important to her, with her office adorned with photos of her two daughters and three granddaughters.
She has also had family work with her, something that is not always the easiest to manage, in sister Shireen and sister-in-law Linda, but it worked well.

She has many fond memories of client dealings, far too many to mention.

In her spare time Sue has particularly enjoyed watching sport – cricket, tennis and football (Liverpool) among her favourites.

Her Christian faith has helped her weather many storms in life, work and in South Africa in general.

She has thoroughly earned her retirement, having fulfilled the role she was called to with aplomb.
While leaving has been difficult, she has come to terms with it and is satisfied that ‘it is time’.

Her only regret is South Africa not winning the Cricket World Cup while she’s been at the Herald!

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