Mark was a popular and recognisable figure around the Bay with his shock of silver hair and easy-going demeanour.

A regular at the racetrack with his beloved horses on which he lavished so much love and attention, the racing game was in his blood from a very young age.

Even in his last few weeks Mark was at his stables at Cullendulla most mornings before daylight, and after being at home for a few hours he would return for the afternoon shift and keep himself busy until dark.

He excelled at rugby league, another sport he had a great passion for.

“Mark played the game like he did everything else, hard, straight and no mucking around,” Tigers’ president Bob Mitchell said.

“While there were some as equally as tough as Mark, there was none tougher that ever laced up a boot for the Tigers.”

In a game at Nowra against the Warriors, Bob said, then local radio broadcaster Bernie Regan took one look at Mark’s grey mane and told all and sundry on air that the Bay Tigers must be kidding to send out an old man in a first grade game.

“Mark went on to pick up man of the match honours and an apology from the same man,” Bob said.

“He worked as a butcher at his dad’s shop in town, at his shop in North Street and as a barman at most of the town’s public venues finishing up at the Bayview Hotel where he dispensed the brown ale along with a bit of wit and humour.  

“He doubled up as a bouncer at the pub for a while and many an unsuspecting troublemaker felt the iron grip on his neck from the old grey. 

“The town has lost a great man and we have all lost a great friend.”

“Vale Mark.”