Fifty-one-year-old Marnie Sebire has embraced a unique lifestyle, balancing her role as a French hornist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and captain of an oyster boat. Living in Bar Point, accessible only by water, she navigates a demanding dual career that has reshaped her priorities and sparked a personal renaissance.
From City Life to Waterfront Living
In 2021, Sebire relocated from the bustling North Shore of Sydney to her tranquil home on the Hawkesbury River. The decision came after a period of reflection during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I was thinking about what it meant to be an artist during that time,” she explained. A friend’s property was available, and with her own house sold, she seized the opportunity. “I bought the house and I haven’t looked back,” she added.
Adjusting to life on the water presented challenges, as Sebire was a novice boat operator. “You have to be organised; you can’t just pop down the street for a bottle of milk,” she noted. Grocery shopping turned into a complex process, requiring careful planning to transport items from the store to her boat and eventually into her home. “The biggest thing is how to handle a boat,” she said. Without boat skills, living on a water-access property would be impossible.
Investing in New Skills
Determined to master boating, Sebire enrolled in a maritime course at TAFE. “Out here you’re really reliant upon yourself,” she stated. “I knew that I needed to know a lot more about boating if I was going to be living here for a long time.” The course provided essential knowledge about boat operation, and her commitment led to further training, ultimately earning her a coxswain qualification. This certification allows her to command and operate vessels up to 12 metres in length.
Securing access to a larger boat was crucial for her training. By chance, she met a fifth-generation oyster farmer who offered her the opportunity to work on his vessel. This connection opened new avenues for Sebire, expanding her horizons beyond music.
Throughout her career, Sebire has played with not only the Sydney Symphony Orchestra but also the Australian World Orchestra and even toured with Silverchair during the 2008 Big Day Out festival. Now, her performances at the Sydney Opera House include around four shows each week, requiring significant travel. Yet, the allure of her oyster boat remains strong.
Balancing these two passions, Sebire remarked, “It’s a bit of a balancing act, but to have this within an hour of Sydney blows my mind.” She envisions a future where she can continue sharing her love for both music and the water, finding joy in each day spent in her unique environment. “I’ve done a lot of travelling, and I just didn’t think there was anything like this, that I could balance my music and life on the water,” she concluded.
