Vale - Edward (Woody) Hawthorne, 27 Jul 1992 – 29 Aug 2022
Members will be saddened to learn that Woody Hawthorne has passed away after losing his battle with lung cancer. This is a tragic loss of a vital and widely liked young man. Even more tragic as Woody never touched a cigarette.
Woody Hawthorne was born into sailing. In fact, 9 months after Woody was born, his parents, Rod and Sally, undertook their around the world voyage on their Swan 47, Tropic Star. He literally gained his sea legs before he could walk.
I met Woody when he was a young lad of 6 or 7 years of age via Mosman Prep School. He was part of the same school class as my son Angus. Through fathers and sons’ camps, school sports, sleep overs, and family holidays, a strong bond was developed between the boys and our families.
Woody and the Carpenter kids spent endless hours mucking about on Samarkand and Tropic Star with frequent weekend raft-ups in Broken Bay and Sydney Harbour. He was a happy, inquisitive, and outgoing youngster. Always active building some new contraption or other.
Following prep school, Woody attended Scots College where he gained a reputation as one of their best pipers in the school band for many years. He then attended St Andrews College at Sydney University where he gained degrees in Engineering and Commerce. In 2012 and 2013 he was awarded the Gillespie Prize for “outstanding ability in Information Technology”.
Woody was not a spectator of life. He had a fair crack at anything that took his fancy. In 2016, Woody took a role with Sir Ben Ainslie’s Land Rover BAR America’s Cup Challenge Team. Woody spent 12 months living in the UK and working with the team. More recently, he had been living his dream putting his Engineering Degree (mechatronics) to good practice and working for Sail GP as a Systems and Simulation Engineer.
Woody was a regular crew member onboard Nine Dragons, frequently as bowman. He was also an active member of the Sydney University Athletics Club and the Palm Beach Surf Club where he met his long-time partner, Claire.
All of us who knew Woody remember his infectious smile, his kind heart, and his love of sailing.
A funeral service for Woody will be held at Scots College Chapel, 11.00 am Friday 9 September.
Our sincere condolences to Woody’s parents, Rod and Sally and his partner Claire.
Walter Carpenter
Read more: Vale - Edward (Woody) Hawthorne, 27 Jul 1992 – 29 Aug 2022
GALE WARNING
Monday 7 March
There is a gale warning in place over the next 24-72 hours for Sydney Closed Waters. Strong winds 35-40 knots are expected from late Tuesday through to Thursday.
Please ensure that your yachts are secured
The Commodore's Ball
The Commodore's Ball returns to the MHYC social calendar on Friday 24 June 2022, with an event theme Bond 007 you have a license to dress to impress.
Ticket includes 3 course meal and beverage package for the evening.To book your tickets, click here
Message from the Commodore
VALE MATT PYNE
We are all saddened by the news of Matt’s passing on Monday 17 January after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
Matt officially commenced as Marina Manager at Middle Harbour in December 2011, although many would have known him prior to this as he worked with Geoff Pearson for about 10 years at the yacht brokerage, located at the Club and at Northshore Yachts.
It was his strong boating and waterfront knowledge that set Matt apart. Matt was always available to members, providing invaluable advice on boats and other marine matters. His expertise and innovation regarding the technical aspects of the marina was outstanding, he was always quick to pick up the tools to do marina maintenance or any odd jobs around the club.
Commercially, Matt understood the importance of the marina to the financial success of the Club, he aimed to keep the marina berths occupied and add the odd extra boat to keep revenue flowing.
His dedication and commitment to the Club would be seen many a time when the marina was exposed to storms, or the weather turned threatening. Matt was diligent in taking precautions regarding mooring lines on members’ boats, informing members of approaching storms, and when serious storms occurred, he would be on site securing boats, even if it was in the middle of the night.
Matt was a gentleman, always polite, always able to relate to people and make them comfortable, and he was always happy. Matt was also the "Go-to” man if anyone had a problem or needed advice. His advice was not confined to just the marina but to all matters of life. People would pop into his office to speak with him, he was always quick to say "Pull up a chair " then start listening. One of his many strengths was that he was a great listener, he also had a great sense of humour, and was a positive influence in many of our lives.
As his health deteriorated, Matt retained his sense of humour and was able to answer friend’s questions about his health and turn it into a laugh, this helped us all deal with a very difficult situation.
To his family, wife Suzanne, and sons Sam & Tom, Matt will be remembered as a great Man and is forever part of the fabric of this Club. He was one of those rare people that by their very nature have left his mark. Anyone lucky enough to have known Matt has always come away enriched by the experience of his company
Our deepest sympathies for this terrible loss of such a wonderful person.
Peter Lewis
COMMODORE
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