The FAAAA has received the sad news that Michael Carr passed away on 18 July 2016 following complications from a stroke he suffered last year.
Mike was born in Victoria and after the age of five, when his family ‘fell apart’, he was brought up in a Catholic home for children. He went to work on a farm at the age of 15, later moving to the bright lights of Melbourne where he worked (amongst a number of other unskilled roles) as a Tram Conductor or ‘Clippy’. He then joined the Navy at the age of 19 where he served as an armourer for 20 years and reached the rank of CPO. He was onboard Melbourne when she collided with Voyager and when she collided with Frank E Evans – and he was still keen enough to wangle a posting to the ship again for the Spithead review in 1977. The Navy and his mates effectively became the family he never had, and he embraced the life in a way that only those coming from a similar background can.
When he left the Navy he worked as a hotelier and in club management. In fact, he was a manager at the Raiders club in Queanbeyan when the Raiders beat Balmain in the late 1980s – their first grand final win. Mike had a T shirt made in anticipation of the victory and apparently sold thousands of them . Subsequently, Mike was a welcoming presence in the Hellenic Club and in recent years he volunteered as a guide at the Australian War Memorial.
He was a keen and talented player and follower of Aussie Rules – indeed, he played for the Navy and got to try out for South Melbourne (now the Sydney Swans). Although he had a soft spot for Richmond, the team he followed was Essendon (i.e the Bombers)
Mike was an ‘old fashioned’ man and much loved by his family and friends. He will be missed by his mates in the FAAA, but not forgotten. He leaves behind his wife Diane, his children Tracey & Graham, Bradley & Bronwyn, Matthew & Lisa, James and Bec and David & Joanne; and his grandchildren Danielle, Ashley, Jack, Zach, Caitlin, Mitchell, Tom and Isabelle.
He was laid to rest at the Chapel of Norwood Park Crematorium on Monday 25 July 2016 and members of the ACT Division of the FAAAA were able to attend to give their last farewells.
