A memorial service was conducted by Yarrawonga Mulwala Funeral Services in a packed golf club Willows Room on Monday, April 15.
Funeral director Skye Bouchier said the man popularly known as ‘Macca’ was “greatly loved and respected in the community”.
“He dedicated his life to helping, mentoring and teaching others. Macca’s generosity, kindness and deep passion was shared with everyone. He achieved so much,” she said, and that included being married to the love of his life Ivy, affectionately called ‘Darls’ by Macca, for 55 years.
Grandson and professional golfer Dale Lynch recalled the times of Macca being a successful junior football coach out East Keilor way, a junior athletics coach and being a talented footrunner himself which potentially was handy in any hostile situation. And it was tough for any would-be opponent as Darls would step in!
Dale referred to the many tributes on social media about Macca following his passing. “He loved people and stayed friends with all people across the board. He was genuinely interested in people,” Dale said.
“He knew the names of every person. Even when he was in hospital, he knew the names of the nurses and what they were up to! Everyone was equal to Mac.”
Two persons named by Dale for their close friendship and unwavering support to Macca were Merle Duncan and Mary Hockley. Merle and Mary featured in the photograph slide at the service, as did Judy Kruger who partnered Macca in many golf events, including a weekly two bob bet over nine holes. Judy and Macca also enjoyed a wonderful golf relationship.
“Month after month I paid up then one Friday, I got lucky – my first two bob. I treasured it,” Judy said. “I know I earnt it because in his words ‘there are no gimmes in golf’.
“Mac, a true gentleman, a man of integrity, a complete and utter stickler for rules, a dedicated club captain, a board member, a humble life member, a truckie, a leftie, a devoted family member, a birthday singer, a Ben Hogan advocate, a Peter Thomson admirer, a reciter of poetry, a mentor to so many of our juniors and a very competent golfer.” An excellent summary by club board member Judy.
The former Commonwealth Government truck driver was an incredibly good reciter of poetry, often reciting to residents in aged care homes or just delivering effortlessly, a poem anywhere with the ease of one of his gifted golf shots.
Impressively, Judy delivered verses from Banjo Paterson’s Mulga Bill’s Bicycle and The Geebung Polo Club. “The way he told the story of the poem quite frankly had us spellbound,” she said.
“Word perfect and all the actions to go with it! That was Mac.” He would have been proud of Judy’s sentiments. As he would have been with all speakers and performers at the service.
Macca taught youngsters for decades and he was effective in improving their game. “In 1996 I started playing golf through Macca’s junior clinics,” Jay Ar Martin, one of 16 in the clinic, said in his tribute.
“Macca was a fantastic bloke, a great teacher and I have so many fond memories.” Jay Ar is the club’s record 13-time men’s club champion.
‘Welcome to My World’ by Elvis Presley was played at the service – so appropriate. Strumming her guitar, Georgia Lynch, Macca’s great granddaughter sang two songs she wrote, then subsequently revised in respect of Macca, ‘Roads’ and ‘Open Road’. Beautiful music.
Alexander Wilson Mackenzie was a true friend of the golf club, leaving behind a legacy that will be fondly remembered.
A dedicated member, Macca served as club captain from 1989 to 1992 and was appointed a Life Member in 2003.
He was a passionate advocate for junior golf development, volunteering countless hours running junior golf clinics. His enthusiasm for the game was infectious.
Macca was an excellent, low handicap, left-handed golfer and taught youngsters about the playing side and golf etiquette.
An annual award is named after him accordingly. “I’m very proud the club has seen fit to have the Junior Champion Trophy named after me,” he said in 2017 when presenting winner and runner up for that year.
“I’ve had a helluva lot of enjoyment over the years starting way back in Jay Ar’s time. We’ve had a wonderful relationship for years,” he said at the time.
So many people, from far and wide – some travelling hundreds of miles to be at the service including Margaret and Graeme Grant of Trafalgar – had a wonderful relationship with Macca. His dedication to the club and its members will be sorely missed.
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