22 Fitzgerald Street WINDSOR • 4577 2003 www . Orchid22 . com . au
LOCAL LIFE
Vale Maurie Hyde
previous men of the same name – his grandfather and father , both of whom helped mould him into the man be became .
“ They instilled in me a great work ethic , honesty and to always look at the positives in life – never , ever the negatives ,” Maurie said .
Maurie was born on December 4 , 1966 , and grew up on Lethbridge Park ’ s version of Coronation Street .
“ I was brought up on Struggle Street – the struggle with families to make ends meet but , wow , what a wonderful street on which to grow up ,” he explained .
“ There was a strip of 10 houses where the extended Hyde family lived – dad and mum ( Joyce ) and my two sisters , Fiona and Michelle , our grandparents , aunts , uncles , and cousins .
“ Money was short , but the place was long on love , life and fun !”
Maurie did the learning caper at the local primary school and Shalvey High , which he departed in 1985 with his School Certificate .
“ I started a four-year glazier apprenticeship at Oliver Davey Glass at Smithfield , and I can say that I have been in love with the trade ever since ,” he said .
In 2000 Maurie kicked off his own business – Hyde Glazing – and such were his skills in the trade , the services of he and his expert staff have been in strong demand with builders ever since .
Those expert staff members are
qualified glaziers , Justin Hoffman and Brayden Wheeler , both of whom did their apprenticeships under Maurie , and current apprentice , David Ilyas .
To say Maurie has a love of rugby league , is to say “ Popgun ” Gunn can ’ t breakdance !
“ Like , I suppose most boys in NSW and Queensland , we had just the two sports – league in the winter and cricket in the summer ,” he said .
“ Like all of us , I played backyard cricket and at school , and later did fast bowling duties as a senior with St Mary ’ s RSL .
“ But rugby league was my main passion , kicking off in the under 7s with the local Lethbridge Park club and playing with them through to the under 19s .
“ I then had a bit of a break from the game before returning to play A Grade for a couple of seasons with Blacktown Workers .”
During the depression of the late 80s , the glazing work had a down-turn , but the irrepressible Maurie kept his nose above water doing night shifts as a Armaguard employee at Richmond Greyhounds , and as a bouncer at Revesby ’ s Roundhouse Hotel .
“ As a bouncer , I used words , not brute strength , to keep the peace – with my calming influence , I found I could always talk a bloke out of a blue and get his act together ,” Maurie said .
After moving to the Hawkesbury in 2000 , the lure of league called him back to
Splendour in the grass ! Maurie and Nicole with family members . Throughout his time in this place pursuing a truly fulfilling life , Maurie never let grass grow under his feet .
the game , and at 34 years of age he linked with the Wolves .
“ I played prop in the reserves that first season , and the following year I took over as captain-coach of the side and played through until I retired as a 40-year-old ,” Maurie said .
Maurie has been a great servant to the Wolves as a player , coach , sponsor , supporter and board member – he was vice president under Ross Jones for four years before replacing the retiring Ross at the helm in last May ’ s board elections .
During my interview , the delightful Nicole brought me a cup of coffee and a piece of cake - it was a piece of cake eating it . So , as is my want , I asked the obviously devoted couple how they met .
“ We first crossed paths in 2004 when I was sponsoring Nicole ’ s son , Eton ’ s under 9s team , but both of us were in relationships and nothing came of it ,” Maurie explained ,
“ Fast forward to 2007 and a barbecue at the footy – we got talking , discovered we were on our own again , so I asked her to be my date at that year ’ s Hawkesbury Showgirl Ball .
“ It was a terrific evening , we clicked and have been living a wonderful , fulfilling life together ever since ,” Nicole said .
The couple share six children and have two grandchildren .
“ It ’ s been a great life – family , footy , my career as a glazier and during my time here I ’ ve made enduring friendships with people from all walks of life ,” Maurie said . Non Je ne regrette rien . Maurie does leave us , his loved ones and all who have had the pleasure of crossing his path , will indeed regret his passing .
Orchid
22
Chinese Restaurant
GREAT HOME-STYLE ASIAN CUISINE
Lunch Special from $ 13.80
AUTHENTIC CHINESE CUISINE
CATERING ALL FUNCTIONS
TAKEAWAY & DINNER
LICENSED & BYO
( BOTTLE WINE ONLY )
•
Personal Loans
• Business Loans
• Loans from $ 20,000 up to $ 200,000
All applications are private and discreet . Loans are subject to meeting credit criteria . Terms and conditions and fees and charges apply .
CALL NOW OR APPLY ONLINE TODAY ✆ 1300 LOANCLUB ( 1300 562 625 ) ✆ www . loanclub . com . au
The Loan Club Pty Limited | ABN : 43 092 193 354 Australian Credit Licence Number 383174
Lunch 11:30am to 2:30pm Dinner from 5pm till late Closed on Monday
YOUR HOST & HOSTESS : MICHAEL AND SUSIE
22 Fitzgerald Street WINDSOR • 4577 2003 www . Orchid22 . com . au
Scan to access our website
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 173 // OCTOBER 2024 7