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benjamin macqueen
12 years ago

Hey dad. this is my tribute to you. I couldnt bring myself to write on her until now. But its been 6 months since you passed and i think i can now. We didnt always get along like we should have but in the past 3 years you have been my best friend. I couldnt have ever asked for more help then you have shown me over the years. I wish we could have spent more time together but its done now. Im sorry i couldnt speak at your funeral but even now 6 months later i cant believe this is real. You left behind a lot of people that love you dearly. You couldnt imagine how hard this has been for everyone. We love you.

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Anonymous
12 years ago

What fantastic words Sammy, I think you may have gazumped me!! As I look around, I’m kinda glad Mike doesn’t know just how many people have attended his service today because, what do you reckon Shell ??? . . we would have never heard the end of it !!! I would like to thank everyone who has in some way contributed to the enormous outpouring of love and support that has been shown to Michelle, Ben and Sam, Mum and Mike’s extended family since Michael’s sudden and very unexpected passing. Many have travelled long distances to be here today - your attendance and participation in Mike’s service will be remembered for ever. Thank you Hope and Lenore for taking this service today and for all that you have been to Michelle, the boys and to us. God forbid you ever have to organise a funeral but if you do, Hope's your girl. It wouldn't be a funeral service for Mike if I didnt give someone a plug. We all feel a sense of disbelief at Mike’s sudden passing. “All clear” was the word after Mike’s second heart procedure. As Sam said on Sunday “He was perfect” – “He was at his best ever”. After his health scare and in typical, boots and all Mike style he exercised, ate well, lost weight, gave up the smokes, not sure about the Rum and had regular visits to the doc – he said to Michelle that he just wanted to get well and fit and live life to the fullest. People keep saying to the family just how well he looked and how astounded and shocked they are at his untimely death. Whilst we are all sad and mourn, it is important to gain courage and inspiration from very dear friends of Mike and Michelle’s and others who either sit in amongst us now, or who are unable to be with us who have experienced far greater and more untimely losses and I know Mike and Michelle would want me to acknowledge that, especially as we remember one of Mike’s best and finest mate’s, “Burnsy”. Mike made 51, many dont. Mike grew up in a little town called Gulargambone, about an hour’s drive North of Dubbo heading towards Walgett. Mum said he started out as a good little boy. His angelic disposition started to sully when it was discovered, via a Parish Council meeting which Mum attended as a member, that Mike and a few mates had learnt how to pick the lock at the Gular Anglican Church Vestry, ransack the grog cabinet , finish all the plonk, and completely rattle the Minister who had 30 minutes left before the Sunday service to find something to issue the thirsty bush parishioners. He was 10 years old. He started school at Gulargambone Public School and was then shipped off to The Armidale School (also known as TAS) for his senior education. Mike’s entrepreneurial flair became evident as his education at TAS progressed. Mike would scamper around his locker looking for things to sell to his mates so he could go down to the corner fruit shop to buy ciggies. Failing that he had an arrangement with the fruit shop owner. It went something like this – you sell me a packet of cigarettes and when you book it up to Mum and Dad lets call it something else. Lets call it 3 bananas, an apple, 2 oranges and a punnet of strawberries . . fine, and that charge would go onto the school account. Right, that’s fixed !!!! Whilst my parents were delighted that he was eating so much healthy food they didn’t quite understand why fruit was so expensive in Armidale. Needless to say, his little misdemeanour was discovered. Dad drove all the way from Gular to Armidale in a day to meet with the Headmaster, at the Headmasters request – to talk about Mike. Dad thought he would also drop in and see the fruit shop owner – Dad sorted out the fruit shop owner then headed off to see the Headmaster. Dad finished with the Headmaster, said farewell to Mike, got into his car, drove about half an hour out of Armidale, reached for his packet of smokes in his glove box only to realise they weren’t there. Being the opportunist he was, Mike obviously saw a golden opportunity, ripe for the picking so he helped himself to the cigarettes whilst Dad was meeting with the headmaster to discuss a discipline program for his son. Dad promptly turned around, drove back to the school and immediately removed him. After a short stint doing the School Certificate by Home Schooling, Mum and Dad thought that they would try again . . . this time, off to Scots College Sydney. Not long after his arrival and following an incident, the headmaster at his new school suggested he have an extended holiday, Mum and Dad thought perhaps it was time to try something else so Mike and schooling ended. Mike's 18th Birthday was celebrated on the banks of a creek while he was droving sheep between Walgett and Coonamble – he was a bushie at heart and at last he was free from the shackles of school authority and control. Mike was not a conformist. He did a stint at the Grain Silos in Gulargambone, where he and his cousin Scott, were sacked being caught too many times either sleeping on the job or watching TV. He worked for a while up in Tambo in Queensland jackerooing. His time was up there and he decided to head home. He rang Mum and Dad to say he would be home in about 3 days. Forgetting to notify his parents of his delay, he missed the roast dinner waiting for him and arrived a day or two later – not a word of his whereabouts. He arrives home in a Mike Macqueen special – it was a sky blue ute, every conceivable aerial swinging from it, enough spots to light the Sydney football stadium, fat tyres, twin exhaust, his dog Katie, and the obligatory circa 1970's waving Bye Bye hand on the back windscreen – it was a true masterpiece. In Dad’s eyes, Mike was officially a hoon. Not only did Mike arrive but a week later the unpaid invoice for his shiny new fat tyres that he purchased on his way home arrived in Dad's mail box addressed and invoiced to Dad Needless to say, things were a little icy for a while upon his return At about that time, Mike borrowed Dad's new falcon to take to Coonamble for Rugby training, much against Mum's advice. He hit some lose gravel on his return journey and broadsided dads brand new car through a barbed wire fence, one of his nine lives gone . . he managed to get the car back onto the road. Thank heavens he was in one piece and the car was driveable. Obviously he was late getting home. Little did he know that the old man was still awake. He heard Mike arrive home. Dad sees a silhouette of Mike, quiet as a church mouse, tip towing from the side door of the house through to his bedroom and says to Mike “ How is it”. The Silhouette stopped midstride and says “Not good”. The family had to wait until day break to fully understand the artwork Mike had created on Dads new cars duco You can imagine what shock horror (and sometimes joy) we had as his younger brothers watching all of this play out in front of us – busted again !! Mum said to me . . . talk to this person about Mike, talk to that person about Mike, they may have some funny stories. I said to Mum. Who doesn’t have a funny story about Mike? There is so much to write and talk about Mike, so so much. At what point do you stop. If I thought it would bring him back I would talk forever. Our dear brother Andrew recalls a story where Mike was on his way to a fancy dress party somewhere in Gular and something had happened to his vehicle. Mike pulled over to the side of the road to check things out. Being the mechanic he thought he was, he crawled under the car to see what was wrong. A car pulled up beside him and the occupant of the car got out of the car, crouched down to see what was going on, said to Mike “You OK under there, Sister? Mike slides himself out from under the car in a full Nuns habit only to advise the Policeman that everything seemed OK and he would be heading on shortly. After spending time around Gular working as a station hand on various properties including great family friends the Taylors it was time for his Yamba Chapter to begin. He packed up his swag, his dog Katie and moved over to Yamba to help Mum and Dad in their Yamba Real Estate business as Dad was recovering from Open Heart Surgery. As Mike always did, he got involved in the community – especially through the Yamba Rugby Club team, the revered and feared and mighty Yamba Buccaneers. Michael became the President of the Yamba Rugby Club between the years of 1989 – 1991. His major task was to ensure that there was a full team every Saturday – that was the first building block. At times, that meant an early start some Saturday mornings of the away game, travelling from house to house, rounding up team members who clearly had forgotten what time the bus was leaving. Sometimes they were all still at Speeds house, drunk from the night before so that made things easier. . at least they were all in one spot. Mike did the weekly Saturday radio rugby spot on the local 2GF. He was a great progressive and proud President . . . average footy player but a great President. 1989 Mike and Michelle married in this very church in 1989. Gaining strength from his union with this amazing person, the fog lifted and a sense of achievement in all things he did started to ignite his soul. Mike owned projects. Give Mike a task and he would complete it diligently. He was a tireless, hard worker. I stood at one of the many fences he built on his property the other day and looked at the detail, precision and workmanship. His property says so much about him. Hours and hours of his own work. His property is impeccable and a true testament to Mike and Michelle. As a friend of the family said yesterday, Mike and Michelle didn’t do things by halves. Mike outshone so many in his commitment to task and in his pursuit of excellence. I had the pleasure of working with Mike for about 2 years in the family business. I watched Michael’s perfection and pride show in his day to day work. His real estate window was his pride and joy. He realised just how important his real estate window was. . . it was an eye to the soul of the business. I would sit in the office waiting for the phone to ring whilst Mike would busy himself waiting for phone to ring. That is what made Mike a success – he didn’t stand around waiting to be spoon fed, he went out and found. It wasn’t long before Michael had gained himself a reputation as a savvy real estate operator. After about 10 years, Mum and Dad sold their business. Mike stayed on with the new business owners for a short while then opened his own business Mike Macqueen First National. I would delight in driving into Yamba and seeing Mike Macqueen First National signs everywhere. WOW – thats my brother . . Unknowingingly to Mike , I boasted about him regularly as did all his family. Assisted by Michelle, with Jean Bultitude in their early days and their future competent staff they grew Mike Macqueen First National to become Yamba’s leading Real Estate Agency (without question). It was a well oiled Machine and the Mike Michelle combination presented a business that was dynamic, admired and envied by many. They cared for their staff, trained them, reaped the rewards of staff longevity – their staff still now, today, continue to speak of Mike and Michelle's impact on their lives. Who better to manage and grow Yamba’s major rent role than Michelle. There is nothing this girl cant do (apart from pulling a calf which happened the day after Mike died). Thank heavens your Mum, Jude is such an accomplished cattle breeder. Keep your calf pullers in your boot Jude just in case you get the call and don’t forget to throw Pop in also. You love and support will bring Shell through these tough times just as your love and support guided Mike through his life's travel. Michelle and the family are very touched that Russell Burton, Current National Chairman of First National Real Estate Group has flown in from Adelaide to be with us today as well as Ray Ellis, Current CEO of the First National real Estate Group who has flown in from Melbourne, amongst other First National Network Owners and First National Staff. As an individual, Michael was recognised for many achievements in his industry. Mike won many substantial awards at both National and State levels within the First National network including Twice State Gold Achiever, State Silver Achiever, Chairman’s Circle Award and the award he was most proud to be given, the highly prestigious Kaye Heath Memorial Award In Recognition of Outstanding Service and Commitment to the First National Network. In an email Ray sent to me yesterday I quote his words “The Kaye Heath Award represents First National Real Estate's highest honour. It is presented to members of the network who are judged as having contributed above and beyond in their service to First National Real Estate” • Mike was 3 years State Chairman of the First National Regional Council • He was 3 years National Rural Chairman of the First National Real Estate Group . . . known for his keen support of rural businesses and • eventually rose to take the Head Position of the organisation as National Chairman of the First National Real Estate, a position he held for 2 years All up, for 10 years, Mike was a Director of the First National Real Estate Group. It was very evident that this was Mike’s very own personal shining time. As Shell said yesterday .. its was his life . . it was his love and you were his other love. It was challenging, engaging, informative – something to get this teeth into. He travelled extensively, Board meeting here, seminars there, overseas trips. He was completely absorbed in this challenge. Michelle has been Michael’s rock of Gibraltar. Our family (Dad included) has always agreed and spoken of the enormous support, guidance, love and sensibility you bought to Mike. You stabilised him (however hard that must have been) , you gave him direction, you drove him, you loved him . . he loved you . . the Mick and Mick Team –an extraordinarily successful communion of two people. I know that 10 years of First National Directorship at times took him away from you, from Ben and Sam, from Yamba however difficult it may have been at times, for you and the boys you graciously supported his journey though those years He loved his boys very much and when we spoke he always spoke of their achievements. He had a mateship with them that ran very deep. Mike was a really positive energy. Dwelling on negative things was not his ball game. He would retreat from a fight. I suspect that is how he collected such a tribe of comrades. At the core of this a devoted wife has lost her husband, two devoted sons have lost their Dad and a devoted Mother has lost her son. We have all lost a great mate. The community has lost a leader. Front page of the Daily Examiner reads “Business Leader's sudden death” Who gets a front page headline like that – only someone highly respected, well liked and well known. Losing the monstrous personality that was Mike is a hard loss, to his family, to his staff, to the bevy of mates he collected over the years, to the community, to all of whom have remained faithful friends. He was just a hell of a great guy, great sense of humour and a sense of the kook and someone you wanted to be around. We have all lost Mike in whatever form that takes and however that feels on an individual level. He left us as a revered respected loved person who contributed above and beyond to this world. He left us at the top of his game – what better time to part. Michelle, Ben and Sam we are your family and we stand by you, side by side forever as I am sure his community will also do for you. After his health scare, we all sensed that the story of the bigger picture was becoming more evident to Mike. Mum stood by his bedside and by the phone anxiously willing his return to good health, knowing only too painfully the nuances of heart disease. Always beside him all of his life, she loved him unconditionally and was his Number 1 supporter. Always guiding, outstandingly loyal, steadfast with a few blews thrown in. As Mum says, they werent in each other's pocket, but they knew where to find each other. If I was asked to sum up his life like an 80 minute game of rugby and put it to air on the 2GF Saturday morning rugby spot, it would go something like this Macqueen was our open side break away. He plays well in that position, after all it is one of the most strategic positions on the field. Well his first 20 minutes werent that great, he back chatted the referee and had a couple of penalties awarded against him. He settled into the next the 20 minutes, found the weakness in the opposition's backline, penetrated the play, scored three superb tries and was instrumental in the teams convincing lead as they headed into the change rooms at half time. Macqueen took over the Captaincy in the second half and bought real cohesion to the side under his leadership. An unstoppable will to win descended upon the team, leadership appeared to come easily to Macqueen. Then you wouldn’t read about, about 10 minutes into the second half Macqueen gets creamed by buy a knock out tackle and has to be carried off. It was a devastating blow to the team. Macqueen was instrumental in the team's success and the final result was a convincing win. For his extraordinary efforts this week our revered 3 points for best player goes to Mike Macqueen Mike left us with great memories, however the pain of separation is what troubles us now. Over time those great memories will come to the forefront of our mind and give us comfort. After all Life is a balance, the pain of the loss is as equal as the joy of the love and the kinship shared. For a boy from the bush, self taught – self made Mike - it has been a truly remarkable life. See ya Mick . . love you Brother

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Ronny
12 years ago

My fondest memory of Mike is a conversation I had with him when he told me his background. He talked about how much he loved his life, but what I remember most is the respect and love he expressed for his mum and dad. I am glad he had stopped working the long hours he had previously - I used to tell him he worked too hard, and one day on the river there was Mike, out fishing in his tinnie. I gave him a cheer, and he laughed and held up his phone to show me he was still available if anyone called! I will miss him. Ronny

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