VICTORIA’s motorcycle sport community will pay tribute to a true legend of the sport, the late Mr Darryl Hiddle, this week when they farewell him at a service in Diamond Creek on Friday, July 26.
Darryl’s contribution to motorcycle sport began in 1966 and his dedication to his passion has been shown through the various positions that he has held within the sport.
Darryl was President of the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme of Oceania (Oceania Motorcycle Union) from 2000, Motorcycling Australia President from 1992 to 2000, MA Councillor from 1997 to 1992 and Secretary and General Manager of Motorcycling Victoria (then the Auto Cycle Union of Victoria) from 1973 to 1977. He served three terms of MV President from 1984-85, 1991-92 and again in 2000-2013, and is a Life Member of MV and the Newport-Braybrook Motorcycle Club, having been a secretary there for 16 years.
Darryl succumbed to cancer and passed away with his loving family by his side on Thursday, July 18. He was 67.
Bill Clough, Newport-Braybrook MC Life Member and good friend of Darryl, said he will be sorely missed to all who knew him in the sport: “He was a pleasure to work with. He was the best worker we had in the Union (later MV),” Bill said.
“I fought many battles with him, inside the Union and outside the Union. I’ve argued with Darryl more than I’ve had Christmas dinners, but we’ve still been friends.
“Through his hard work and his honesty, he was one of the few senior office bearers that you could go to. He was one of the few in the Union that if you didn’t agree with you didn’t want to know them. Darryl and I would have an argument and still go to the pub and have a beer,” Bill continued.
“It’s an era long gone. I can’t say enough about him,” Bill added.
Tributes for MV’s longest-serving president flowed on Social Media during the week:
“Darryl was a great man. He has done more for motorcycling in this state than anyone would think possible,” one wrote.
“A great man, a tireless worker for the sport, and a bloody comedian. He will be missed,” one stated.
“Darryl was so helpful and friendly and a great source of knowledge. He will be greatly missed,” another added.
Motorcycling Australia’s CEO David White said: “We worked very closely together. We went overseas together, 3 or 4 times a year, and obviously developed not only a close working relationship but a personal relationship,” David said.
“In Victoria, Darryl was quite passionate about the sport, particularly at the grassroots-level, to provide everyone the opportunity to participate. He was particularly passionate about Broadford, and it was he and I that originally arranged the loan from MA to build the dirt track circuit and the manager’s house,” David said.
Motorcycling Victoria administers the State Motorcycle Sports Complex at Broadford and Darryl was one of the key players in purchasing the land that has become Australia’s largest motorcycle sport complex with tracks suitable for road racing, motocross, supercross, speedway, enduro, dirt track and moto-trials only an hour north of Melbourne.
“In Australia, Darryl made a significant contribution nationally, because when there were matters of national interest Darryl had the ability to see a solution that other people couldn’t see. He had a quirky way of going about it and made really interesting analogies,” David added.
“He was an enormous contributor and my closest friend. He’s going to be an enormous loss. The amount of time he devoted to the sport over the last 30 years; nobody will ever replicate that,” David said.
Motorcycling Victoria’s CEO Andrew Weiss also paid tribute: “”It was a sad, sad day with the news of Darryl’s passing, not just for motorcycling in Victoria but in Australia too. Darryl was an incredible person – one of a kind – who always made himself available to help out at the drop of a hat. He was made the Patron of MV in April this year in recognition of all his amazing work,” Andrew said.
“Working with Darryl during these past three years at MV has been an absolute honour, and he will be deeply missed. Our thoughts go out to Lynne and his family at this sad time.”
Darryl’s funeral service will be held at Ashton Manor, 45-55 Main Street, Diamond Creek at 12 noon on Friday, July 26.
All those who knew Darryl, or would like to pay their respects, are invited to attend.