Jayne Kiely is no stranger to our television screens. She began her presenting career on A Question of Sport before moving on to Mountain Dew On the Edge, Weddings and Mitre 10 Dream Home. What’s more, the former track and field athlete and champion long jumper’s other claim to fame was representing New Zealand at the 1986 and 1990 Commonwealth Games. She retired from athletics in 1992 and married her husband Paul. They have two sons together. Now in her 50s, Jayne’s again switched gears and is working in real estate.
Q. What prompted the change of career Jayne?
Jayne Kiely: My husband Paul is an airline pilot so he’s away a lot and my two boys are almost grown. Tom’s 19 and away at University, and Jack’s 17 and in his last year of school before he heads off. They don’t need me as much anymore so I thought I’d get my teeth into something else.
Q. Why did you choose real estate?
Jayne Kiely: Paul and I have bought and renovated houses ever since the first one we bought with a hole in the floor in Queenstown. Indeed, Paul’s great because he can do most of the work himself. And I love interior design so it seemed like a natural progression to continue working with property.
Q. How have you found the meno years (as we call them)?
Jayne Kiely: I have embraced getting older. Further, I love that I started a new career at 50. I think it’s important for women to realise they can do that and be successful. My family don’t need me at their beck and call in quite the same way (although they still do) so I’ve been able to have the freedom to go off and explore a new industry.
Also, I like the fact that I think things through nowadays rather than reacting straight away. This new job of mine has been very good for me to allow others to talk and myself to listen. Another good trait of getting older and wiser!
On a physical level my waist has disappeared and I’ve found I had to change my wardrobe a bit to adapt. I also had hot flushes for a while but I got onto a naturopath for that. However, I do find I wake up in the early hours.
I started taking 40+ and it worked very well at nipping my hot flushes in the bud. Subsequently, I moved onto 55+ and will take it for life.
Thank you for sharing time with us Jayne.
#wearethechange