Eulogy 23 - John Patrick (Johnny) Hardwick (1947-2023)

 Eulogy 23 - John Patrick (Johnny) Hardwick (1947-2023

(Written by Warren Maloney on 30th March 2023)


Almost with each season now (because of our Age), we are saying goodbye to mates and family members. Of course, it doesn't get easier as we are also saying goodbye to part of ourselves.

I first met Johnny in Grade 4 at SBC - almost 66 years ago. Our friendship times ebbed and flowed and we caught up again in Rotary and through Business and AFL teams  before the frequent chats in Retirement and during COVID. In my mind, he changed little and was a reminder of the constancy of values and lifestyle that we left behind in Essendon.

But John had a special quality of making/keeping friends no matter what they did - priests to criminals, Catholic devotees to radical lefties, even Carlton or Collingwood supporters. Skin colour mattered nothing. Gender understanding became much better with the aging of his 4 daughters and learning from their views/experiences. He was a glass 3/4s full to the outside World, and 1/5 full in his concerns for the welfare of his family.

He had the smile to fill every room, and the larrikinism to make us all join in.

With wonderful luck, he married a diamond in Carole, although batting above his class with the dating of "a Malvern Sheila".

Health problems did not know him for 70 years and then came with a rush and confusion. But he was calm outwardly about the throw of the dice and accepting of the last rituals of closure.

Somewhere between now and then, we (I) will compartmentalise all that but not close it. Young Boys in grey uniforms and Smiles are excellent companions for the whole Journey!


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Commentary 17 - Reflections on Growing Old and King Lear

Image
Commentary 17 - Reflections on Growing Old and King Lear (A thought email exchange with the Jackson Zoom Group - November 2023) Perhaps some thoughts if you are exploring what can be learnt from "King Lear" as you face Old Age in the Moment! The cutting through line is when Lear yells to the winds "  Nothing can come of nothing, speak again. Now Gods stand up for bastards! To have a thankless child. "  The Play can be seen on many levels - a simple tale of Father/Daughters relationship. Or as a provocation of Parent Control that even wants to extend through Legacy to continuing Control after Death. Or a dying power becoming irrelevant! Or the reality of life's ending when you have already forsaken a common morality of the next generation and an understanding of others' needs, and have unwittingly shaped the faults in your own children. Life finishes with some grasp of understanding by this " poor old man " but it is too late - " Speak what we
Read more

Poetry 7 - Studying the Clientele (1978)

Image
  STUDYING THE CLIENTELE (Written by Warren Maloney - March 1978)   The café is open; the first stragglers, tiredly blaze Walk in with an air: The sameness of this – our present schedule.   The weekend was fun – Yes, really a maze. It was fabulous – rather dull – or perhaps cool, Say some of the crowd.   Now, this is middle-week though: and what a bore, Swotting – some frantically, others stolidly – but more And more concentrating – for the end of the term, I must win – or go around the bend – Say some of the crowd.   An hour or two later – the earnest types pass by, Rather nice and polite – their minds far away, The girls rather sweet: the boys so, so hungry, Relaxation or meditation: one must keep things at bey – Say more of the crowd.   Some bustlers and hustlers mingle with the meek, The near natural girl, with the modern outlook – her hair neat and fashioned, And the really nice kid, with his hand in his pocket: what does he seek –
Read more