With fond memories and thoughts. Love from Tom, Billee and the Morwitch family

I worked with Maurice at Taronga Zoo over about a 6 year period. There were 2 phases to his "working towards retirement". The first phase was pre hip replacement set back, where Maurice was a working dynamo. He moved with more agility than an 18 year old (even though his joints had passed their use by date 10 years earlier) and had a sharp mind with 50 years of construction experience. Maurice was inspirational. Not being satisfied that he was doing enough at the Zoo, Maurice dabbled in other people's construction nightmares. He used to whisk me away to some local residence owned by the Marist Brothers to inspect termite damage or sketch some alterations or addition for friends and family. You could always count on getting quick and concrete advice from Maurice, no matter what the subject matter. Maurice was not a fence sitter, or a procrastinator. A deeply religious person, Maurice's life was always about "doing the right thing" and if others didn't, well, heaven help them!!! When Maurice left for overseas with Nola, you could see he wanted his cake and to eat it too. I guess he was concerned that in his late stage in life, he may not get his old job back at the Zoo, which he loved dearly. Maurice's trip however was timely and he experienced many great things in Europe and Turkey. I when he got back, I remember Maurice telling me how his leg wept onto the carpet in the aeroplane, it was infected so badly. Maurice had gone through a stressful ordeal, yet he remained chipper. Maurice wanted to get back to working. I skilfully negotiated with the GM at the time that the Zoo could not get by without Maurice. We eventually got him back, this time armed with an electric scooter and walking cane....what a formidable creature he became. I always recall the bright orange flag speeding past low hedges, the whir of the scooter's electric motor screaming for forgiveness. Waving his cane at anyone who would dare cross his path. He tooted the horn regularly; he was what the CEO of the Zoo was looking for in the Zoo's exhibits....."Colour and movement" with substance to boot. Nothing slowed Maurice, he was back and making contractors regret the day they even thought of being dishonest. At the same time Maurice always acknowledged when credit should be given. He was a balanced, fair man. Zoo contracts got bigger and more money was at stake. Maurice got up the nose of the "Big Boys" which I enjoyed watching immensely, but some others did not. When Maurice was distanced from his job by the bureaucrats, he knew his time was up. At Maurice's farewell I applauded the contributions Maurice had made, and deplored the processes that were constructed to protect the contractors. Maurice remains one of my heroes because he told it the way it was. Maurice was a rare person, a dying breed that understood his place in the world and how best to contribute. Maurice was much loved by his family. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and regularly talked to me about them. I shared his joy and always hope my own family would be just like his. I admired his nomadic ways regularly moving house and state. Nola, I know you played a significant roll in all that I have observed and said about Maurice. The word good is often over used, but Maurice was a GOOD man in the true sense of the word. I have and will keep many fond memories of Maurice. Thank you Maurice, may you now rest in peace. Eddie, Romina, Sam and Alex. The SWAT family