22 March 1940 - 30 August 2013
Michael Kay-Hards was born in Matatiele on 22 March 1940, the first son of Jack and Marjorie Hards.
He grew up in East Griqualand and the Transkei before attending Maritzburg College where he matriculated in 1957.
It was while he was there that he took issue with his ‘girlie’ second name, which had been the cause of much ridicule by his school mates. For some reason, the Hards family had decided that all the children should bear the second name of Catherine for girls and Kay for boys.
He pleaded with his father to either have the name removed or incorporated in the surname, a suggestion to which his father agreed and which brought about the name Kay-Hards by which we all knew him.
After leaving school, Mike moved to Durban where he obtained various part-time jobs to finance his studies for his accountancy degree.
After qualifying, he moved to Tshaneni, Swaziland, where he worked for the Swaziland Irrigation Scheme and started a family.
In 1970, the family moved to eNseleni, then KwaMbonambi while Mike was involved in the provision of some of the first services in what is today Meerensee.
In 1972, they finally arrived in Empangeni where Mike worked for Symons Service Station, City Computer Bureau and Zulmet before starting his own business, Kay-Hards Accounting Services.
Sport was a way of life for Mike and being the competitive man he was, he always strived to reach the top.
Losing was not on his agenda, with the result that he excelled in almost everything he attempted.
He sailed, played tennis, hunted, was awarded Zululand colours for squash, was a member of the Mapelane Ski Boat Club where he served as secretary under the leadership of the legendary George Coates, and was vice president of the Empangeni Country Club in 1984.
A life-changing event for Mike occurred in 1981 when he was introduced to the sport of bowls, which apart from the odd sabbatical, was to dominate his life for the next 32 years.
Apart from serving as Zululand Bowls chairman, his achievements on the greens would fill a book.
In 1982, partnered by Jan Steenkamp, he won the All Natal pairs title, and Mike was on his way.
His ability was soon recognised and Zululand colours, district and provincial honours followed shortly.
More importantly there are many local bowlers who have benefitted from his assistance and advice which was always freely given.
In 43 years as a true Zululander, Mike became something of a legend to those who knew him both through business and sport and will be sorely missed.
A tough man, but fair, Mike leaves behind a proud family – his wife Olga, brother Garth, children Guy, Brett, Louise and Dana, grandchildren James, Christopher, Ross, Ashley, Michelle, Stuart and Erin.
Good bowling Mike.
A memorial service for Mike will be held at the Empangeni Country Club on Friday, 6 September at noon.
