Ode to Michael (Mike) John Sexton
A poem by Cindy Sexton, read by Chris Sexton
There was movement at Queen Victoria Hospital – 68 years ago,
Michael John Sexton was born completely bald – no red hair you know.
Joan and Mick, his Mum and Dad, were elated with this first child,
They planned to make a good fist of it – they did not want him running wild.
As an infant he was raised - in an affluent area named Albert Park,
The Melbourne beachside suburb where they have the occasional shark.
To get ahead both parents worked – Mum in the day and Dad at night,
Daytime baby-sitting drove Mick nuts – he had to change this plight.
Lack of sleep before his work – well Mick finally had cracked,
He marched to Joan’s workplace and demanded she be sacked!
The family unit then moved location as they had built a house in Glenroy,
Promoted as Toorak of the North – to raise their little boy.
The family grew and then Michael (Mike) started school at Oak Park State,
A smart and academic kid - he decided that education was first rate.
A new school opened soon after – Glenroy West - just down the road,
Lots of space and new kids started there - plus much closer to his abode.
Aside the normal curriculum - kids learnt practical skills and played sport,
Like woodwork, kick-to-kick footy, brandy, cricket – a real liquorice all-sort.
Assemblies were held to respect the Queen and at other times to have fun,
Folk dancing doing the Virginia Reel with a doe-see-doe – and get a bit of sun.
He joined the boy scouts and went hunting with Dad – where he enjoyed the great outdoors,
Hiking, camping trips, activities – it beat doing the household chores.
Secondary school involved travel to St Bernard’s Catholic Junior - along The Strand,
Train to Essendon Station with loads of textbooks - quite a heavy demand.
At this stage he had more siblings – Shane, Simon, Bronwyn, Tracey and Cindy Lou,
What a bloody nightmare when they converged upon the toilet for number two.
The home got bigger with the chook sheds converted to 3 bedrooms for the boys,
It was great relief to have them out of the house and cut down on the noise.
Michael studied through the nights - much to his Mother’s worry and displeasure,
He caped a blanket over the window to hide his light and doubled it for good measure.
The family grew again in ’66 with another sister, Gabrielle, the last of seven,
A good Catholic family number - will see our parent’s right in heaven.
Later years still hard at the books Michael moved to the Senior school location,
I think his parents were starting to worry that he would seek a religious vocation.
On weekends he would often help-out at Dad’s Mobil Petrol service station,
Pumping fuel into cars – something no longer done across the nation.
He excelled very well academically - and especially in Ma-tric,
He always wore coke bottle glasses – I remember they were thick.
He then went on to Melbourne Uni for a Science degree and honours in Geophysics,
Then ventured to the University of Hawaii to do his Masters – he certainly had no limits.
A keen distance runner in his 20’s, he jogged and completed marathons with no trips,
On a Friday night he ran from home to Strathmore - to collect the family Fish n’ Chips.
Mike then went onto work down in Antarctica - in fact - he went twice,
A year at Macquarie Island and later Mawson base - he must have loved the ice.
He moved up to Canberra for his job and where he found a new home base,
Meeting his future wife Lorraine at a ‘sheet and two-pins party’ at this place.
They eventually married and had four kids – Michael Jr, Christopher, Anthony and Olivia,
They’re all smart kids too and are handy when it comes to trivia.
At one stage the early family lived in Western Australia – Derby in the main,
Doing seismic surveys in the outback enduring searing heat - oh - the pain.
They eventually settled back in Chisholm ACT - where their house was built,
Mike worked for Geoscience Australia (formerly BMR) which had money to the hilt.
Mike never sat on his hands – he got involved in his kid’s activities to boot,
Reading, Athletics, Footy, organising events and doing the team commute.
He continued the Athletics co-ordination - right up to twenty-nineteen (2019),
Delighted with all the performances of his South Canberra Tuggeranong team.
His job included travel to outback Australia, USA, on ships in major oceans to name a few,
He also had a hobby upholstering chairs and very professionally done I tell you.
I speak first-hand as he re-upholstered six (6) dining chairs in leather for me,
I reckon they’ll last 100 years or more and they provide comfy seats for tea.
Late in his career he completed a DipEd in an endeavour to teach high school kids,
But he loved his Geoscience job way too much and decided not to change for quids.
Alas he retired in 2014 and set about renovating his Flemington Melbourne house,
He consulted Google and YouTube videos for instruction - which he found totally grouse.
Whilst in Melbourne he helped care for his dear old Dad whose health was gradually failing,
Mike managed to fix lots of things at Dad’s house and even installed hand railing.
Growing up – I can honestly say - I did not see a lot of Mike around,
But it was good to get reacquainted in his retirement when he was Melbourne bound.
His parents told me on several occasions this son was the most intelligent person they ever knew,
Extremely skilled as well they felt – there was nothing he could not do.
Sadly, his Dad passed away August 2016 - joining his Mum and sister Tracey,
Months later Mike learned he had a battle of his own - a blood cancer prima facie.
This multiple myeloma stuffed his health for the last four years at least,
Seems there was no way out - or getting over this wicked bastard beast.
He tried all medical avenues – chemo and a stem-cell transplant as well,
The resultant outcome too short-lived – relapsing him to battle - through hell.
Michael was never phased by challenges - he always pitched in and had a go,
Aside from this legacy is his family - covering many generations - it will grow.
Including daughters-in-law – Alice, Ellen, Bec and grandkids Clark, James, George, Thomas and Riley Joan,
This worldwide pandemic meant Mike could only communicate with them by phone.
In an AFL Grandfinal half-time speech, a famous coach once said – ‘Don’t think, don’t hope, do!’,
But Mike he was a thinker, a positive person, a doo-er – rolled into one - true blue.
He was one of life’s rare gems – I now see - where the Geology side fits in,
He had a great sense of humour, a real top bloke - I’m glad we were akin.
He packed a lot in his life including sewing, mechanics, carpentry, renovating and the like,
His parents, brothers and sisters are so proud of him – we love our brother Mike!
Love you always Michael from Cin xxx