Eileen Rogerson (67) is a very dedicated member of the Strata Committee of her block of flats in Ryde, Sydney. We caught up with her as she glared out the window of her third floor unit.
"That's visitor parking. And I'm sure that's Dave from Unit 2 parking there for the third time in as many weeks. Honestly, I don't know how this building functioned before I came on board. I used to have a very important job as the office manager of a law firm in the city. A lot of people answered to me. But as a recent retiree, I have a little more time on my hands now to whip this Strata Scheme into shape."
When asked about her relationship with the Strata Manager, Anastasia Worthfort.
"Stacey? Oh she means well. Sometimes I think I know the strata law better than she does, so my help only makes her job even easier. Also, I hate to complain, but she is not always available when she is needed. I've had to leave three messages for her this morning already about a littering issue that took place earlier."
We asked Jim Pasquale (30), carpenter by trade and Eileen's immediate neighbour, for comment: "Who Eileen? Mate I thought you were supposed to relax when you retire. Not turn a little block of flats into a dictatorship. Where is she now? Staring out her window looking for complaints to make about us? Shit I had one party for my 30th like six months ago, and she's still whinging about it. Man I wish she'd take up lawn bowls or something."
We asked Eileen if she agreed that she was too involved. "I could see you talking to Jim through my security camera. What did he say? That party animal. Did you know he kept me up half the night with one of his parties? In any event, I can handle him. I've handled much bigger challenges than him in my professional career."
We sought comment from other neighbours, who were reluctant to speak on the record against Eileen. However, Sue Bacon (43), a single mother of two, had this to say: "Eileen is aching to drag one of us to the tribunal. It really is best to just ignore her as much as you can, and try to live your life. Although it's easier said than done when she's berating your children about minor infractions of by-laws. Sometimes I think about moving."