Michael Ambrose McLaughlin

Dear McLaughlin family, Please accept my sincere condolences for your profound loss. May Mike rest peacefully now. Dad kept us all in the loop over the years after his catch ups with Mike. I have fond memories of Mike being very actively involved in our Minkey and Hockey days at Willetton. Especially those that brought such childhood joy... Coordinating many Minkey/ Hockey seasons, wind-up presentation and discos, and notably the weekly supply of the treats! (I distinctly remember the killer pythons) in the blue Mitre 10 tent which was manned by the "2 Mike's" (Mike McLaughlin and Mike O'Callaghan). May you celebrate his life, treasure the memories, and find comfort in the support of friends and family.

Dear Jane and Family Michael Ambrose McLaughlin Michael (Moggy) has been my mate all my adult life. We first met working in the Public Service Board back in the early 1970’s. Moggy was the Mechanical Appliances Committee Secretary, and I was an O&M Officer, often trying to get his approval to purchase equipment for departments. He was always hard but fair in these dealings. Anyway, not before too long we established a friendship, primarily through our common bond with the Swan Districts Football Club. We would meet at the footy each Saturday afternoon and were joined by Neil Hunter (Grunt) and my brother Les (Slim), and quickly established what was referred to as the “Grunt Moggy Slim and Youngy Stand, Est 1974”, or the lads on the hill, and even produced a large banner that we displayed in the outer at Bassendean Oval each home game. That in effect was the beginning of an everlasting mate ship between us that has been maintained ever since, even with Moggy in absentia and Slim and I relocating to Tasmania some 10 years ago but getting across most years to join the lads on the hill at the footy and sometimes for coffee at Dome or elsewhere for a meal. For me the last time I caught up with Moggy was for a coffee at Dome in Bassendean to celebrate his birthday last year, that being in July 2023, together with Grunt, when Slim and I were visiting Perth. In the early days young Ian would join us, and we would have a kick of the footy at half time. What great fun. At times Katie and Beth would join us as well and it seemed like one big happy family getting together. We all loved the footy watching the Swannies and have had many great and memorable times. It wasn’t just the footy and watching the Swannies, but also the considerable banter between the lads on the hill and catching up the numerous other blokes that have joined us in more recent years. They are all fine fellas, and I know Moggy, as well as the rest of us, enjoy their company very much. Moggy’s job at the footy usually involved bringing the coffee in the Thermus to share whilst we took turns at complementing that with bringing the cakes to consume after the half time break that involved a kick of the footy. On one occasion Moggy issued me with my cup of coffee and as I started to drink, a cockroach (all be it plastic) was floating on top, which needless to say startled me much to the joy of the lads on the hill. It became folklore, but Moggy was always up for such pranks! In recent years Moggy of course struggled somewhat with his poor health, but he always battled on without complaint. Incredible stuff really, we all thought. He made that one last appearance with the lads on the hill in the footy final in early September 2024 just to be with them and watch his team play. And this was after being in hospital to the best part of a month immediately prior to that day. I was able to watch the game and the lads on the hill, all in a row, on TV through the Streamer service. I always felt Moggy was a stabilizing impact on my behaviour and conduct, particularly at the footy, whenever I got too emotional or critical of a particular event, he would address the matter with me to “settle” me down, so to speak. I always valued his contribution in this regard. Lauren and I will be moving back to WA in 2024, and whilst I won’t be able to see Moggy, he will always be with me. In my office I have a framed picture, in my office, of Moggy, Grunt, Tallan Ames-the Swans captain and myself in the clubrooms after winning the 2010 WAFL premiership. Also, I retain a couple of pictures of the lads on the hill at the footy from recent years, one at Leederville oval and the other at East Fremantle oval. I have them fixtured on my work desk, always. Take good care Jane and family Love from Steve (Youngyeeeeeeeeee) and Lauren