My Son, Michael
I first met MES on the 20th April 1968 and sadly said goodbye to him on the 11th May 2026.
He succumbed to a brave fight against rare Neuroendocrine Cancer after nine and a half years. The life expectancy is only five years.
Tragically, this incurable genetic disease was the cause of his mum Camille's death in 2008.
Michael didn't say much until he was around three years old when the vet came and picked up our new puppy. As the vet drove away he turned to us and said "Tara gone in truck". From that point he was away.
Mike got his first computer, a Commodore 64 in 1982. From that point he started writing software.
I remember someone coming to the front door wanting Mike to develop a programme for a system to extrapolate the odds on a Roulette Wheel.
Michael, whilst at university developed a system for the local bottle shop which included a keyboard linked into the cash register.
Mike cruised through school and university. He never seemed to study, just hovered in the top 10%. Camille and I knew he had an exceptional brain. He was different in small ways. He was quiet, but a torment and a stirrer. As kids when he was bored he would start an argument with his brothers just to liven things up. I remember it often started in our coupe with the three of them in the so-called "back seat". Gavin being the youngest sitting in the middle copping all the mis-placed punches thrown between Michael and Brendan.
You could write a book about Michael's life. He was driven and didn't do things by half. It was boots and all.
He was a good son. When Camille was dying in 2008 he was exceptional. "Don't worry dad, I will look after it ". He set up the main bedroom in our home in Forster with a hospital bed, oxygen generator, home nursing etc. Allowing me to spend time with Camille. Mike loved his mum. When Camille passed he punched a hole in the bedroom wall. We were all devastated when Camille passed.
Michael and I were close, not only a son but a good mate. Due to circumstances we spent a lot of time together. We had common interests, motor racing together when he had a racing team, drinks at the Golfie in the same snooker team. Every year he would take me down to the Grand Prix in Melbourne for my birthday. I was a bit of a mess when Camille passed. He took me across to Monaco in early May to help ease the pain.
Mike suggested we develop a Race Car Simulator. I would design, draw up the mechanical and he would do the electronics etc. Little did I know it was another ploy to take my mind off Camille's passing
Mike never complimented anybody nor did he expect any. There weren't any gray areas, it was all black or white. Fools were never tolerated, on reflection this is why it would be difficult to start a conversation with him if you did not know him. It was just his way.
Michael had few life long friends. You didn't pick him as a friend, he picked you. He was very much a loner, mind you he knew how to celebrate when an occasion arose. If it was a close personal occasion Michael would place $500 on the bar of his local watering hole and tell the barman all drinks were on the house until the money ran out. He would not say a word to anyone often denying any knowledge of it. He was definitely different, maybe it had something to do with his exceptional brain.
Michael has finally lost a battle he could never win. In 2016 when he came and told us he had the same cancer that took his mum from us we knew it was a death sentence. Typically, Mike put up an amazing fight.
It's all over now, Michael has left us. He has left us with an abundance of loving memories. When someone dies, memories are all that are left behind. Words cannot describe how much I miss him. No more "yeh gidday" when he calls.
I pray now he is resting in peace.