A cuppa with... SUSAN DEVOY

HAVING REINVENTED HERSELF SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS, THIS DAME SAYS SHE’S REACHED A CROSSROADS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO THE FUTURE, THE BALL’S FIRMLY IN HER COURT

- Leena Tailor

Since wrapping up her role as Race Relations Commissioner in 2018, Dame Susan Devoy has filled her schedule with volunteer roles, community work and a year in Melbourne with her husband and ex-manager John Oakley. But the empty-nesters recently found themselves a different kind of busy, thanks to their sons flying back from Melbourne and the US and filling their Mt Maunganui home amid COVID-19.

Now the world-champion squash star has temporarily left her five men to their own devices while relocating to Wellington to help manage Club Kelburn, a squash facility/ gym that was facing closure. Naturally, Susan, 57, often finds herself out on the court again – even though her latest game resulted in crutches. “John came down and played squash socially and injured his back, then I played and hurt my foot,” she says. “It’s telling us we’re too old!”

When you started playing squash professionally, did you ever think the sport would still be causing you injuries 40 years later?

I was always lucky I didn’t get seriously injured and now I avoid playing. The trouble is, you get out there and enjoy it, then realise you’ve exceeded your limitations. Now I’ve ruptured my plantar fascia!