BOXING FAMILY’S FATHER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 4

BOXING FAMILY’S FATHER

MR. HUGH HEENEY OLD RESIDENT PASSES FINE PIONEER TYPE The father of three former New Zealand boxing title holders, including Torn Heeney, who also contested the world title, Mr. Hugh Heeney, aged 75 years, passed away this morning at his residence in Owen road, Kaiti. Mr. Heeney was an old and respected resident of Gisborne, and with his death another link with the early days was severed. Deceased was born in County Derry, Ireland, and came to New Zealand 57 years ago. He landed at Lyttelton and after spending 12 months in Ashburton came to Gisborne, where he had lived ever since. In 1884. he married Miss Elizabeth Goughian in Gisborne.

Though it. was as father of Tom. .Tack, and Frank, champions in the boxing ring, that- Mr. Hugh Heeney was best known to the later generation of Poverty Bay people, older residents will remember him well as a contractor of great skill and a real personality. He was a wonderful shoveller in his early days, and hold his own in many a compel ition with rival contractors. A man of comparatively small stature, lie had a tremendous quality of vitality, however. and in his work and play lie typified the class of Irish colonial pioneer which did so much to build ilie material side of life in this enuut i'V-

Mrs. Heeney was of the same type, and hailed from County Cork, Ireland, having landed in New Zealand 'years after Mr. Heeney. They were married in Gisborne, Mr. Heeney having been licensee of the Pnkirikiri Hotel, oil I lie Muiiwai side oi' the Waipaoa River, prior to bis marriage, and embarking on bis contracting career afterwards. KEEN INTEREST IN SPORT In later years he became an employee of Messrs. D. J. Barry, Limited, in which employment his gift for practical work of all descriptions soon advanced him to a position second only to that of the brewery manager. He proved a highly capable and conscientious worker in all that was given him to do, and his honesty and dependability were unsurpassed. He remained with Messrs. I). J. Barry, Limited, for 17 rears.

During the past few years Mr. lleeney had been gradually declining in health owing to heart trouble, and he suffered acutely from the necessity for restraining his former activity. The exploits of his sons in the boxing ring and in other sports —Rugby football being one in which several Heeneys figured as district representatives—were always of the keenest interest to Mr. Heeney, who encouraged his sons in their activities, and was especially interested in the possibilities of Tom. The lleeney family was represented in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force by four of these sons, one, Mr. Frank lleeney, being killed in action.

Surviving members of the family comprise four sons and two daughters, the sons being Messrs. Jack, Arthur and Patrick lleeney, Gisborne, and Mr. Tom lleeney, Florida, United States. The daughters are Mesdames Griffon and Fitzgerald, both of Gisborne. Mr. Frank Heeney. Gisborne, and Mrs. Carroll, Gisborne, are brother and sister of the deceased.

The deepest sympathy will he extended to the sorrowing family by their host of friends in the district, ‘and by all sportsmen throughout the Dominion. A requiem service will be held at St. Mary’s Church at 6.30 a.m. to-morrow, and the funeral will leave the church for the Taruheru cemetery at 2 p.m.