Tamaris Livera - a profile by Jean Sloane
I would like to introduce you to my new friend: Tamaris Livera, a kindred spirit, I think; a soul mate even. Could I be so fortunate?
Tamaris had a successful career in the banking industry for 25 years but the pressure to perform became relentless. “7% annual growth on $1.2 billion is a lot of pressure,” said Tamaris. She had always wanted to be a real estate agent and after considering the move for a few years, she invited the opportunity to be made redundant in 2015. By 2017 she was a licensed agent. “I love it,” says Tamaris. “I want to be a good, hard working agent,” she says. “And because I have so much experience on the financial side, I bring a lot more to the role.” Tamaris is a self-confessed workaholic but what she loves is being of service to people. “Because I am true and honest,” says Tamaris “I think people trust me. I like being able to make a difference in their lives.”
I love the fact that Tamaris’ favourite words seem to be, “I love” She certainly has a breadth of interests. “I love cooking,” she says. “I love people” “I love travelling” “My love, apart from cooking is New Zealand art.” “I love art.” But, her many loves are not passing fancies. She cooks, she travels, she visits with artists around New Zealand and she collects their work, ceramics, paintings and glass. “New Zealand is really talented,” says Tamaris as she beams with enthusiasm over the many cups of coffee she has shared with artists across the country. “There are some wonderful people here. Every piece of art I have tells a story of where I’ve been and the people I’ve met, and I really like that.”
I love the fact that Tamaris has a depth to her that ensures the more I tell you about her, the more there is to learn. One might describe her as ‘like an iceberg’ but only to demonstrate that there is far more beneath the surface. If Tamaris were an iceberg though, she would melt. She has a genuine warmth about her, a kind soul and a humility which is endearing.
Tamaris says, “I’ve been so fortunate. I’ve had a really fantastic life. I’ve had a lot of strong women in my background: my mother, my grandmother, my great grandmother and my aunt.”
Tamaris tells a beautiful story about a woman named Alice; a woman Tamaris affectionately refers to as her aunt. Alice lost her mother when she was very young. At the age of five, when her father remarried, he packed Alice up and dropped her off at the home of another family in Colombo where, as a domestic, she was beaten and ill-treated. Only a child herself, she would take the other children to school and wait for them all day. Eating only one meal a day, often after 8 p.m. Three years on, at eight years old, Alice hid in the bathroom at the school. When later discovered she was brought to the home of Tamaris’ Aunt who was a teacher at the school. Alice was brought to Tamaris’ grandparents’ home and they agreed to keep her safe, hiding her until the search parties went away. She was the daughter they never had. They took her in and Alice simply never left. She had finally found refuge and a family that would love and protect her.
“Alice is such a role model to me,” says Tamaris. “she is one of the most beautiful, confident women. Despite all the adversity in her life, she never blames anyone and never has anything but a good word to say about anyone. She is such a sweet person.”
Today, June 15th is Alice’s birthday. She is 83 years young and lives here in New Zealand. In typical style, Tamaris is celebrating her Aunt’s special day with a big Sri Lankan meal.
“We love to celebrate in my family with good food and good wine,” says Tamaris. “The most important thing however is good company.”
Tamaris says, “I have a lot of loves in my life. People are my first love. Without people, I wouldn’t do very well. I also love cooking.” As she scrolls through her photos to find some samples of the Sri Lankan dishes she makes, she talks about a Dutch Breakfast Cake called Beudher that she makes at Christmas. Tamaris can’t help but comment on other pictures as she scrolls through. Some of her dog Alfie, a very cute little Cavoodle, “Another love of my life,” says Tamaris. Pictures of her children Nicola, Joshua and Daniel. “I’m so proud of them. I just love my children.” And a picture of her best friend and husband Bill who she says is “long suffering.” Given Tamaris’ very well-adjusted attitude toward life and living, I dare say, she is exaggerating about her husband’s “suffrage”, but she says, he’s a great guy. Thankfully, he likes to travel too. One of Tamaris’ many loves.
Tamaris has returned many times to Sri Lanka; she has fond memories of her childhood there and says it is a beautiful country. “You must go, it’s a fabulous place. The coast is beautiful. You can visit the tea plantations, the ruins of ancient kings, game sanctuaries and the “Gem Pits” where they mine rubies and blue Sapphires.
Tamaris tells me that Sri Lanka is known as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean but I think the real pearls are its people. Tamaris being the example of a naturally, perfect one. Aren’t I lucky to have a new friend like Tamaris?
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