Mick Cleary: Family, friends pay tribute to Strathmerton teacher

A retired teacher killed in a tragic accident in Strathmerton has been remembered as the “glue” that kept his town together.

Mick Cleary has been remembered by family and friends.

Family and friends have remembered a pedestrian killed in a horror crash as the “glue” of a small regional Victorian town.

Mick “Fossil” Cleary, 68, died after he was struck while walking in Strathmerton on October 13.

The retired teacher was a “much-loved” member of the Strathmerton community, about 55km from Shepparton, having worked at the local school after arriving in town in the mid 1980s.

His friend and fellow teacher Trevor Mills said the town was better for having Mick in it.

“He was someone who was impossible to dislike,” Mr Mills said.

“What you saw is what you got with Mick — he was the genuine article. He was a real giver and would do anything to make others happy.

“He never complained about anything and got a lot of satisfaction out of helping other people.

“A lot of people have described him as the glue of the community and you can understand why.”

Mr Cleary is survived by wife Yvonne, commonly known as “Yvie”, four children — Adam, Danny, Marcus and Tessa, and six grandchildren — Thomas, Esther, Edward, Flynn, Patrick and Mabel.

When he was younger he lived in Bunyip, Buln Buln, Frankston and Forrest.

His daughter Tessa said she felt privileged to be raised by her father who delivered her on the side of the road when she was born.

“You brought me into this world — delivered me on the side of the road and guided me ever since,” she wrote in a tribute printed in Tuesday’s Herald Sun.

“I’m grateful for the privilege of being raised by you and witnessing your kindness, generosity, wisdom, integrity, wit and eccentricity.

“Above all, I’m grateful for having a place in your massive heart.

“I love you forever, just the way you are. Nothing compares to you.”

But it just wasn’t his own family Mr Cleary had an impact on — it was the hundreds of students who had gone through his classes at Strathmerton Primary School.

Mr Mills said former students still talk about him today.

“It’s unbelievable the impact he has had,” he said.

“Even when he did retire, Mick would come back and drive the bus for school excursions because he wanted to help out.

“But if you wanted to see his real impact it would be all of the Western Bulldogs supporters in the school. Mick was mad about Footscray and now all the young ones are following in their parents’ footsteps who he taught.

“Yvonne was the principal of the school and as a family they’ve done so much for us.”

Sport was also one of Mr Cleary’s great passions.

In winter, he could often be found stocking the bar at the Strathmerton Football Club and then in the summer preparing the wicket for the cricket club.

He is a life member of the Murray Valley Cricket Association (MVCA) and football and cricket clubs.

MVCA president Anthony Holmes said the region wouldn’t be the same without him.

“You couldn’t say a bad thing about Mick,” he said.

“He was a fantastic man who would always make people feel comfortable. If there was someone new on the team, he would be the first to go up to them and shake their hand.

“He was the bus driver when we played in representative competitions. When the team won about 20 games in a row, Mick came up with a song for the boys to sing.

“He would sign the first verse then they would join in.

“Mick was someone you just wanted to be around.”

In a post on social media, Craig Caughey said Strathmerton had lost “one of the greatest volunteers and mentors”.

“Fossil was a life member of our club, a father figure to so many and a friend to everyone around him,” he said.

“He touched so many lives in our community.

“Our club will never be the same without you, Foss.”

His friend, Mr Mill, added: “Mick left a mark on anyone he met and I’m better for knowing him.”

[e-mail]