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Lloyd Morrison - Source: Fairfax -
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Lloyd Morrison's brother has spoken of the businessman's final
days, and his dedication to his newly-acquired Phoenix football
club.
The funeral for Hugh Richard "Lloyd" Morrison began at noon in
Wellington today at the Town Hall with more than 1000 people in
attendance.
Morrison, founder of Infratil, died in Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center in Seattle this month from acute myeloid leukaemia.
He was 54.
In his eulogy, Rob Morrison said Lloyd never got to see the Phoenix
play after its acquisition by Welnix, but while fighting Leukemia
in Seattle, he would listen to the games on the radio with a
Phoenix jersey pinned to the wall and call brother Rob with advice
on how they could improve their performance.
He said Lloyd was "very aware from the beginning" that life
expectancy was at a minimum after he was diagnosed with
cancer.
"The doctors have been in to see me - they've told me Im toast,"
Lloyd said to Rob, before laughing at his own joke.
Rob Morrison also mentioned Lloyds penchant for trying new things,
and recounted a day when Lloyd took the engine from a larger boat
and put it on to the familys small runabout, the Puddle Duck,
before taking the family out for a powered-up spin.
"Without warning the entire back of the boat fell off, engine and
all and we promptly sank."
He also mentioned that his brother felt very strongly about the
debate for a new flag for New Zealand - "its a debate that needs to
continue".
Prime Minister John Key described Morrison as "passionate, very
passionate" in a eulogy.
Key said Morrison had "strong views and a willingness to share
those views".
He recalled nearly getting into a fist fight with him at the
Barrett's Hotel Bar in Wellington over economic policy.
"Lloyd was passionate, very passionate, and sometimes that passion
and self-belief spilled over," he said.
Morrison had called the Prime Minister personally to ask if he
would open Wellington Airport's new overseas terminal, "in the
faint hope I might acquire a taste for opening new airports".
"Lloyd, we will miss you and we will be poorer for you not being
amongst us," Key said.
Infratil CEO Marko Bogoievski said in his eulogy that Morrison was
an "iconic kiwi and a proud New Zealander" and said his greatest
achievement was making a personal impact on individuals.
He commented on his "bone-crunching handshake" and his bad habit of
"punching you just under the ribs when you were least expecting
it".
He also paid tribute to Morrison's affinity to his family, and the
joy he got from recounting one of his children's exploits at a
business meeting.
"I think many a time Morrison & Co meetings would start with
family business first."
He said that if there was one word to sum up Morrison, it was
"energy".
"I can't hope to replicate Lloyd's energy or his passion but I can
carry forward his optimism and his confidence."
Images from Morrison's life were shown as hundreds of guests filed
in, showing his five children, his wife Julie and many of his
friends.
Video clips were also played of Morrison to a soundtrack of
Coldplay, showing him laughing and joking and singing along to the
track with his daughter. Many in the hall smiled as they
watched.
The crowd rose as officiant The Very Reverend Frank Nelson, Dean of
Wellington Cathedral of St Paul, took the stage and welcomed guests
with the opening prayer.
"We have come together to remember before God the life of Lloyd, to
commend him to God's keeping to commit his body to be cremated and
to comfort those who mourn," he said.
Guests attending the ceremony included Finance Minister Bill
English, Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson, Labour Party MP
Annette King, Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard, Wellington Phoenix
defender Ben Sigmund.
An alternative New Zealand flag, designed by Morrison, was flown at
half-mast at Wellington Town Hall.
