Cleveland Point will forever be a special place and reminder of Ed Hendy, who died on September 13, aged 75 years.
Ed’s wife Sonia said ambulance officers stopped there on the way to the hospital and allowed him to take some time to enjoy his favourite place before he died.
“They were absolutely brilliant,” she said.
Ed moved to the Redlands in 1974, having been born in Melbourne and worked in Papua New Guinea.
He spent 25 years with the Queensland Ambulance Service, serving as officer in charge at both North Stradbroke Island and Cleveland ambulance stations. He was also a member of Redland SES.
Ed was also a member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland for more than 20 years.
He worked on projects to improve and develop Redland Museum, drawing on his ability as a handyman who had previously owner-built two homes and renovated numerous others.
A keen sportsman, Ed coached young basketball players, having played the sport at a high level in Victoria.
He was also a founding member of Redlands Police and Citizens Youth Club.
After heart surgery in 1996, Ed ran 11 Gold Coast Half Marathons and Cleveland Point was his favourite place for morning jogs.
Ed played golf twice a week at Howeston Golf Course, Birkdale and Sonia said his Rotarian friends continued to play with him throughout his illness.
Ed adopted Brisbane Lions as his team, and held membership and the same seats at the Gabba for 17 years.
He spent time travelling overseas and touring Australia, enjoying multiple camping trips across the Nullabor, up to Darwin and down through the Kimberleys.
“If there was a dirt road, Ed saw it as a challenge and many wonderful side trips were enjoyed,” Sonia said.
He is survived by wife Sonia, daughters Sharon and Michelle, sons-in-law Matthew and Patrick and granddaughter Claire.
A funeral was held at the Great Southern Garden of Remembrance on September 23 with a wake at the Lighthouse Restaurant, Cleveland.
“In speaking at the funeral, our granddaughter said Cleveland Point would be a place where she could always come and speak to her grandfather, in particular let him know who finally sits on the iron throne in Game of Thrones,” Sonia said.
“The family would like to thank the wonderful Redlands Palliative Care unit at the Redlands Hospital for their generous and loving care throughout Ed’s illness.
“Blue Care and the Queensland Ambulance Service also added their special touches to Ed’s care in his final days.”
