Pratten Park Magpies are saddened to advise of the passing of Michael ‘Mike’ Prichard last night, 21st January, after a long battle with dementia, aged in his mid 70’s.
Mike in his Granville Diggers jumper.
Mike played his junior footy with the mighty Granville Diggers Club.
Mike also represented the Magpies in our 1970 President Cup team.
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Vale Michael Raymond Prichard.
Written by Steve Winbank.
Firstly I would like to extend my condolences to Cheryl, Michelle, Tanya and the extended
family. I have been asked by Mike’s family as a long time friend to say a few words about
Mike.
I have known Mike Prichard for most of my adult life. To say he led a full, eventful and well
lived life is a monumental understatement. It was certainly some ride. You know
sometimes, in life when you meet someone who makes an everlasting impression and you
never will forget them. Mike was one such person.
At times he could be opinionated, gruff, and argumentative but mostly he would display
that quirky, mischievous and sometimes sardonic humour that endeared him to many
people across all walks of people. He was a consummate communicator and story teller
who could comfortably mix with the ‘top end of town’, including such football luminaries as
Jack Gibson, Arthur Beetson, Phil Gould and Nick Politis, but could also relate to the
‘colourful racing identities’ that punctuated his life. Forget about Donald Trump, “The Art of
the Deal” was a Mike Prichard trademark.
Mike was the archetypal Australian. He loved his family, football, golf and a good time.
He was a very handy golfer and at one stage a single figure handicap golfer. He liked to
have a drink and a punt. He liked celebrations especially with family, friends and work
colleagues. Christmas, Birthdays, family and work’s parties or a social get-together at the
local. Mike being front and centre with a joke and a song. I was fortunate enough to share
in some of these good and memorable times.
I first met Mick in the 70s when he payed in the Wests Junior League with Granville
Diggers. He was a tough, uncompromising and skilful forward, well respected by his team
mates and opposition. Mike was a member of the Diggers Wests Juniors A Grade
premiership team in 1972. He was was that good he was selected to play for the Wests
Juniors District President Cup team in 1970. Some of his Premiership and A Grade, and
Presidents Cup team mates are here today.
Mike’s love of Rugby League developed from his time at Macquarie Boys’ High where he
attended and represented the school. He was a good scholar, however his true ‘education’
was the ‘street wise’ and survival mode learning he cultivated outside of school that
prepared him for the real world. Also it was here at Macquarie Boys’ that he developed his
life long support for the Parramatta Eels.
Part of Mike’s uniqueness was his vocational c.v. Not your normal persons resume. He
wanted to be in control of his working life.
up his working life are ,’Who wants to be Millionaire’, and for those of you old enough to
remember, ‘Minder’.
Here is a brief run down.
He worked for Rothmans as a Sales Rep and Manager, ran and owned a Tobacco
Business at Drummoyne, oversaw and was involved in golf course design and security at
Paradise Gardens (later to become Riverside Oaks, one of the premier Golf Courses in
Australia), collaborated with Tourism Coffs Harbour, was mine host Hotelier of the North
Richmond Hotel, was heavily involved with the Sydney Roosters as part of their Marketing
Promotions and Hospitality Team, organised, networked and raised funds with The San
Miguel Charity Foundation at North Richmond and more recently was designer, owner and
CEO of Panthers Adventure Golf at Penrith.
As you can see he certainly gave it a good crack, always striving to lock in that last elusive
‘million dollar question’. He almost got there.
The reference to ‘Minder’ is that some of us used to good naturedly and with tongue in
cheek call Mike “Arthur” as in Arthur Daly the wheeler and dealer of the TV Show.
Mike’s, ‘a nice little earner, Tel’ as Arthur would say, to supplement his income, included
selling footy cards and having settling day for his punting clientele at Plastos Hotel on
Friday afternoon. In 1984 Mike negotiated and was contracted to display the 1983
Americas Cup winning Australia II on Australia Day at Parramatta. He would also partake
in various “cash in hand” jobs that came up from time to time. He even became a qualified
electrician.
“I could be so good for you”……………………………….
One of Mike’s enduring legacies, especially for those who were involved, was his dogged
determination and commitment, when in 1988, the then State Government tried to sell off
the Parramatta Police Citizens’ Youth Club, without first relocating the Club. This would
mean the youth of the area would be without a vital community service and asset.
Mike became involved, called into question government and police officials motives behind
the sale and ultimately, successfully stymied the sale. His face off (excuse the pun) with
the then Minister Richard (don’t call me Dick) Face is still remembered by those present
and involved to this day. Unfortunately the Club has been sold off recently but thanks to
Mike, the Club survived for a number of years.
The Prichard hospitality went far beyond food and drink. It enriched the spirit with debate,
humour and song. From politics to sport many a gathering ended in solving the world’s
problems with Mike usually declaring only the Labour Party can deliver the policies and
blue print to run the country. He might have inherited this mantra from his father George.
Mike was also a member of the Pratten Park Magpies, a past players network and
regularly attended yearly reunions. A memorial sash was presented to the family from the
Magpies today.
He was also a member of Family of League and attended a number of fund raising events.
friends. To see a once sharp mind slowly declining was distressing for all who knew him.
But through the love of his family and his usual courage and determination he fought right
to the very end.
who even though you know their faults, you still like them.”
He lived his life to the full. There will never be another like him.
To paraphrase Frank Sinatra, one of Mike’s favourite singers “He did it his way”.
RIP Mike.
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Steve Winbank, Mike Prichard, Steve Ghosn & Peter Young.
Photo taken at one of the Famous Ken Gentle Chinatown gathering in 2021.
‘Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends’ – W. B. Yeats