Terry Hayes, Mackay WWII veteran dies at 96
Many are struggling to find words to describe the impact Terry Hayes had with his passing described as losing one of the region’s ‘favourite sons’. Read about his incredible legacy.
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Many are struggling to find words to describe the impact Terry Hayes had on the Mackay region.
The World War II veteran’s sudden death at age 96 on Thursday has shocked the community with fellow historian Berenice Wright scheduled to host a talk at OzCare alongside Mr Hayes on Friday.
Mrs Wright said her friend of 60 years was a “very capable” sportsman, “always impeccably dressed but not in a fussy way”, and a tremendously generous historian.
“You meet people who have a lot of knowledge but they’re not willing to share it, but Terry just did it automatically but he was never pushy in any way,” Mrs Wright described.
She said the front door of his West Mackay home was always open to visitors who were without fail greeted with an offer of something to drink.
“He was just interested in people and life,” Mrs Wright said.
“We sat with him last week at the Remembrance (Day) service in the park.
“I’m going to miss him very, very much.”
Mr Hayes signed up for WWII in 1944 at 19 years old, boarding a US ship at Brisbane.
He served with the 5th Replenishment Centre, Royal Australian Air Force, during Operation OBOE – a series of allied operations to liberate Borneo from the Japanese.
The veteran had described it as an “eerie experience” as he watched allied warships “unleash a great big bombardment” on the islands.
His niece Judith McAllister recalled as a child of five or six asking her uncle how he’d gotten his stutter in the war.
“He said, ‘I don’t know if it was from malaria or one day (he) was there shaving in the tent and he looked in the mirror and said a Jap’s face came in the flap.
“It gave (him) a terrible fright.”
She said Mr Hayes was also in a fit of laughter when telling her son how his mate had once rolled into a dugout while under attack but it was full of water.
“He always found joy in anything,” Mrs McAllister said .
Family members said while Terry never married or had children, he was boundlessly generous in his time and love for his family including his nieces and nephews and their children.
Mr Hayes was one of Mary-Ellen and Terence’s four children: first came Terry, then Emmett, followed by Sister Patricia and Eileen.
Mr Hayes cared for his mother after his father’s death, and his “little house on Donaldson St” became a second home to many.
For 58 years, it was the gathering place for lunch following the Mackay Anzac Day march.
“He always made you feel as important as everybody else, though you secretly thought you were very important to him,” his family said.
“It was a gift … he was just a lovely man.
“And if you gave him a gift, he made such a joyous, genuine response, he sort of gave back more to the giver.”
Family members described him as modest with his worldly possessions consisted of “paper and photos” though he did love a good quality pair of shoes, an Agatha Christie mystery, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, and sweets.
They added he had a talent for remembering remarkable details, including what happened on his first birthday.
Mr Haye’s photographic-like memory served him well in his years as a journalist and sports correspondent who steered many columns and myriad articles in the Daily Mercury.
Former deputy editor Mark Sleeman said Mr Hayes was a “true gentleman” with a deep passion for Mackay sport who would write his column on a typewriter before giving it to colleagues to transmit into the electronic system.
Son of former Daily Mercury editor Rod Manning, John Manning, said he remembered Mr Hayes coaching his father in the undefeated Brothers’ U16 team.
“He takes with him an unbelievable cache of knowledge and history; the entire sporting culture of the Mackay district is built around people like Terry,” Mr Manning said.
Mr Hayes may have visited the West Mackay TAB every Saturday morning and could recall the names of horses, their trainers and where they came from, but he never put more than one to two dollars.
His expertise was also openly shared with radio listeners like with his Slice of History segment.
ABC Tropical North host Meech Philpott said Mr Haye’s knowledge uncovered the colourful characters, sports and events from Mackay’s history like the blokes who’d travel to Mackay from around the world to take part in fight nights.
“Who would have thought that?” Mr Philpott exclaimed.
“And a lot of people forget Terry actually worked for the ABC going back many, many moons ago … after WWII.
“I always knew he wouldn’t live forever, but I was kind of hoping he’d be the guy that’d pull it off.”
Many would also remember Mr Hayes from his 35 years at Queensland Rail.
“In those days the trains were very important up and down the coast,” Mrs Wright said, adding Mr Hayes worked in the ticket office.
“That was his way of living but his hobby was history.”
Mr Hayes always dedicated time for fellow veterans.
Legacy Mackay president Leslie Palmer said Mr Hayes, who was the region’s frontman for many years becoming its secretary and then its patron, would be sorely missed
Mackay RSL sub-branch president Ken Higgins said Mr Hayes was a “magnificent person” and “humble in every way” with the cricket stand at Harrup Park Country Club just one reminder of his contribution to the region.
“I’m just so proud he was part of our sub-branch and part of the community of Mackay,” Mr Higgins said.
Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson said Mr Haye’s death was the “end of an era”.
“Terry Hayes was one of the region’s favourite sons,” Mr Williamson said.
“I’ve always associated him as being a guardian of our history, the oracle of anything from sport to all of the landmark eras of the city and growing up.
“(It) will be very difficult to not have (him) around.
“It’s a sad loss … we will be worse off for his leaving.”
What community members posted on Facebook:
Vicky Bugeja: Such sad news. A true gentleman, rest in peace Terry. You will be missed. Deepest condolences to your family. 💐
Lee Brake: End of an era. Condolences.
Fran Mann: Sincere condolences to Terry’s family. He was a true gentleman.
Joanne Downes: Rest in Peace Terry 🙏🙏🙏 - you were a truly wonderful human being, and a gentleman in every sense of the word. Thank you for all the knowledge and history you bestowed on us over all those years 👏👏👏
Nola Higham: Very sad news. Condolences to Terry’s family. Rest easy Terry Hayes. You certainly earned your rest. You’ll be greatly missed.
Di Hawke: Vale Terry. I once heard Terry speak. Introduced myself. He asked me family names and then pointed out people I was related to in the room! A great loss to Mackay and condolences to family.
Anne-Maree OShea: Sincere condolences to Eileen and all his extended family. A true gentleman, RIP Terry!
Andrea Lantry: I remember when my father passed away and you played rugby league with him you turned up and explained what a great player.
Ally Blines: Rest In Peace Mr Hayes (Uncle Terry) such dignity and quiet strength is rare and you were a model for us all.
Kate Balderson: I feel very blessed to have known Terry through his work with our Mackay Libraries team. RIP Mr Hayes
Dale Pershouse: RIP A great Mackay treasure
Johnny Manning: What a legend. The entire sporting culture of Mackay and district was built around this man. He coached my dad’s undefeated u/16 Bucas Rugby League team in 1950. An endless well of history and knowledge. Vale Terry Hayes
James Carless: RIP Terry
Lyn Kenny: Please accept my deepest condolences Terry was such a wonderful person he will be greatly missed 🙏🏼😢
Di Rasmussen: Condolences to you all ❤️
Robyn Hudson: Rest In Peace Terry Such a gentleman
Judith Davies: Deepest sympathies to the Hayes family. Terry is going to be greatly missed and his wealth of knowledge will be lost also. RIP Terry,
Gail Glendinning: Rest In Peace Terry you have earned your place in Heaven. Condolences to your Family and many friends.
Ryan Van De Velde: A great man of the turf too
Col Benson: Condolences to Terry‘s family. We have lost a living treasure and a legend.
Matt Ramsay: The world has lost a vault of knowledge and a truly wonderful man, I will miss our over fence yarns about all things cricket. Sincerest condolences to all the family.
Andrea Lantry: Such sad news about Terry Hayes, who I called Uncle Terry! My friend was Uncle Terry’s niece.
Sandra Field: Condolences from a former Daily Mercury employee. RIP Terry.
Bruce Sharpe: Oh no such a loss for Mackay😔 I always looked forward to his articles in the Daily Mercury RIP
Robyn D Mackenzie: So sad to hear. Our sincere condolences to all Terry‘s family and friends.
Chris Cahill: Thank you Terry for being a wonderful family friend. You will be sadly missed. RIP. Sincere condolences to the Hayes and Shuttlewood families. Love Healy and Cahill families.
Chris Pace: What a legend, I had the pleasure of working with and learning from Terry at The Daily Mercury for a couple of years whilst also playing for Brothers.. always giving of his time and loved a chat. Sincere condolences on his passing.
Les Scott: Mackay’s best sports reporter for over 6 decades. RIP Terry Hayes. 🏉
Michael Harris: Thank you Terry for keeping the Brothers traditions alive. Your knowledge of the clubs history will be greatly missed. Your one of the all time Brothers greats.
Desley Thorne: Rest In Peace Terry. Condolences to all who’s life he has touched. Thank you for all the History you have retained for us all.
Jackie Sherriff: Deepest sympathy to Eileen and Clive and family. Terry’s passing for them will be huge. Terry was one of Mackay’s finest, his work and skill will be greatly missed. RIP
Cecily Hinton: Deepest sympathy on the passing of Terry a very caring person. Love and prayers 💞🙏
Damian Lewis: Very sad to see the passing of a true icon of Mackay. A gentleman and a scholar, particularly of sport. And what a memory. Vale Terry.
Rose Christensen: What a contribution you have made to Mackay Over the years! Loved our many chats and meeting at Rats ofTobruk each year . You took the time to chat to the St Pats students and inspired them with your stories & knowledge. Thank you Terry u were a wonderful giving man 😔 peace be with you 🌹 Rose
Peter Sheedy: RIP Terry, a walking encyclopaedia on Mackay’s sports news as well as sports news more broadly but always the quintessential gentleman. Condolences to the family.
Elizabeth Molnar: Mr Hayes was at Morotai at the same time as Dad, he younger and in air force, Dad in army. I remember his house on Donaldson St,.
Paul Maguire: Absolute legend , one in a million .Challenging to appreciate the huge spread of Terrys skills & energies covering, community service incl Legacy ,historian ,journalism, Sports , Horse Racing & his contributions to Brothers over some 80+years simply awesome.. Sadly missed ..🌹
Annette Griffin: Our thoughts are with the families and friends of Terry. Always a gentleman with interesting stories and information to share. From the Johnson family ❤️
Curly Bell: People are often described as one of the greatest in their chosen career and to me Terry Hayes was the GREATEST
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