Michael Gerard Crotty.

Michael, was born on January 15, 1955. He was the third of five children, and only son, of Raymond and Lola Crotty. He lived with his family in Glendale. He grew up in a two bedroom house with his sisters. He loved playing backyard cricket and tippy league, going fishing at Speers Point and Cockle Creek with his Dad and building and racing go-karts with neighbourhood kids.

Mick was always a high achieving student excelling in all areas of the curriculum. He was not only an academic student but was an excellent sportsman. He was elected prefect in his final year of school, where he enjoyed patrolling bus duty and keeping the younger kids in line (which was echoed in his teaching career).

Mick completed his schooling with outstanding results receiving a scholarship to attend the University of Newcastle to study a Bachelor of Mathematics followed by a Diploma of Education. Mick supported himself through uni working at the local trots, at the blast furnaces at BHP but his favourite uni job was working at the NSW Sports and Recreational Play Centres. It was here that he met a young lady named Debbie Forrest.

Mick and Deb decided very early on in their relationship that they were meant to be together and would face any hurdles or challenges head on. And nothing was too hard for them to overcome. This attitude continued throughout their marriage, particularly as Deb supported Mick in their most challenging year 2020.

Mick finished his university studies and was posted to South Grafton High School for one year. Mick and Deb married on November 19, 1977 in Deb's hometown of Kempsey after Deb completed her teaching Diploma at the Newcastle CAE. Mick and Deb spent their first few months honeymooning in a caravan in South Grafton. Then they received their dual posting to Inner West Sydney - Mick at Ashfield Boys High School and Deb at Newtown Primary School.

They renovated their first home together in Chippendale. Deb recalls it to be the worst house in the worst street in the worst suburb in Sydney! Yet they made it into a loving home. Renovating became a huge part of their lives. The once rookie renovators were still renovating at Warners Bay painting fences in Mick's last days at home.

In 1983, Mick and Deb joined the ranks of parenthood when their first daughter Emma was born at King George V Hospital. It was clear that Mick had found his calling - he was a devoted father.

After six years at Ashfield Boys High, Mick and Deb moved to Lake Cargelligo to further Mick's teaching career. He was appointed the Head Teacher of Maths and Science at the local Central School. Deb was also an infant's teacher at the school until she went on maternity leave to have their second daughter, Miriam, at Griffith Base Hospital in 1985.

Mick enjoyed the challenge of living in the Central NSW - embracing having a fruitful vegetable garden, tackling mice plagues, living through drought, playing golf and cricket on dirt courses and playing in the local squash comps.

1987 marked another move for Mick's career as Head Maths Teacher at Taree High School. In 1988 their third daughter was born at Manning Base Hospital in Taree - Danielle.

Mick always loved living in Taree. Taree is where Mick and Deb formed lifelong friendships through their many school friends, sporting friends and neighbours. Mick made friends everywhere he went. He was just so likeable.

In 1994 Mick and Deb's only son Samuel was born at Manning Base Hospital and their family was complete.

Mick was an avid sports fan. He loved all sports - whether it was playing or watching it! He had great stories about his twilight cricket days in Taree, coaching Sam's soccer team for many years, playing in golf championships, and most recently his love for ten pin bowling in Warners Bay. The family were so touched to hear that Mick's ten pin bowling friends held a minute's silence in his honour at their game.

From a very early time in Mick's career it was obvious that he loved his chosen profession. He was an excellent mathematician - he loved anything to do with maths. He would spend hours preparing lessons for his students, or tutoring them, and continued to do this right up until he retired. His students loved him and in return he often received beautiful gifts and cards thanking him for mentoring them.

Mick was also a senior Maths HSC marker for 10 years. He always loved the challenge of marking thousands of papers as it kept him up to date with the latest developments in mathematics teaching.

In 2010 Mick extended his teaching career beyond the mathematical arena and became the deputy principal at Taree High School - a job he found very challenging and rewarding with staff and students. He finished out his career at Taree High in 2014.

Mick was so proud of all his children and loved telling anyone who would listen about their achievements. He enjoyed watching his kids perform at physical culture, eisteddfods, rowing competitions, tennis tournaments and soccer matches.

Mick was also very proud of all his children's partners. He always considered himself to be so lucky to have gained three sons Kyle, Matt, Matt and another daughter Chels. In recent years, Mick never missed a Cooks Hill soccer game and was the biggest supporter and pseudo coach for Sam, Matt, Matt and Kyle! Mick could be seen pacing the sidelines and providing valuable soccer advice to the team.

Mick was always ready to help any family member with renovating, painting, digging, gardening or building a deck. Mick was still trying to complete tasks in the weeks before he passed away.

In 2015, Mick and Deb decided to move closer to their ever extending family and bought their Warners Bay home.

Mick was the ultimate grandfather (known as "Papa" to his grandkids). His family feel very sad that his grandchildren will not grow up with the best Papa around.

Even though Mick had retired he decided not to totally give up working, he took on the role of part-time truck driver for the Awabakal mobile doctor service. Mick would drive the truck to Karuah, help set up the truck and equipment so the people at the local Aboriginal mission could attend their medical appointments. Then he would chat with the locals, show photos of his family on his phone to whoever would look at them, go for a walk, read the paper, hit golf balls, do puzzles and drive back again in the late afternoon.

But Mick's greatest love was Deb. And for 45 years they did everything together. Soul mate is often mentioned in our society but very few people can actually own the title - Mick was Deb's soul mate.

In 2019, Deb was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mick helped her through this difficult time waiting patiently by her side while she endured her treatment. They were all so relieved and ecstatic when Deb beat her cancer and were all hoping 2020 would be their year.

On February 15, 2020, Mick was diagnosed with Lymphoma of the brain and central nervous system. The following week, he underwent surgery and started chemotherapy immediately. Mick taught himself to walk, read, write and get back to some sort of normality. After four long rounds of chemo, Mick came home for four amazing weeks. He underwent a final round of chemo in mid July 2020, but with little success.

Mick battled this insidious disease while enduring long lonely days in hospital because of the very tight restrictions placed on visitors due to COVID-19. This meant he only could see one family member for two hours per day for many months. The family are so proud of Mick's strength, positivity, determination and fight to the very end.

Mick passed away with his family by his hospital bedside on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

Mick was a devoted husband, loving father, the best friend to all his grandkids, fun uncle, cheeky brother-in-law, respected teacher and great mate to many.

A GoFundMe page has been created honouring Mick with all funds raised going to the Mark Hughes Foundation in the fight against brain cancer. At the time of reporting the total raised was close to $20,000.

This is an abridged version of the eulogy prepared by the family and read at Mick's funeral on August 11, 2020.