Dick Hyland 'looked outside square'

Dick Hyland was secretary manager of the Rotorua Citizens' Club. Photo / Supplied

Dick Hyland "lived and breathed" the Rotorua Citizens Club.

Mr Hyland, who was secretary and manager of the club for around nine years, died on Tuesday after a short illness. He was 70.

His wife, Ann, said her husband was at the Arawa St club "99.9 per cent of the time".

"He lived and breathed it. He was always looking for another avenue to improve it; where it was going. He had amazing foresight as to what he could do with it."

Among his ideas was the introduction of accommodation at the club. "He looked outside the square.

"You can't just rely on membership and a jug a day."

Mr Hyland's funeral will be held at St Faith's in Ohinemutu tomorrow at 11am. He will be buried at Kauae Cemetery and the funeral cortege will drive past the citizens' club. The wake will be held at the club afterwards.

His death comes weeks after club president Te Waho Pango Putaranui died. Mr Hyland spoke at that service, which was attended by hundreds.

"He had a great relationship with Pango. They worked together really well," said Mrs Hyland. "That was a sad loss and big shoes to fill when he passed. I believe the same rules apply now."

Mr Hyland was born in Rotorua and brought up in Ngakuru. He was schooled at Ngakuru School and then Mt Albert Grammar School in Auckland. He came back to Rotorua and began a panelbeating apprenticeship, then later started his own business on View Rd.

Mrs Hyland said he had 35 years in the hospitality business and was secretary manager of the Rotorua Citizens' Club for nine years.

Club member and friend Terry Morrison said Mr Hyland was "one of the most engaging people I've ever met".

"We both had a passion for horse racing and golf. He was also a great singer. He and Sir Howard Morrison were very close and he was always able to convince, in a nice way, people like Sir Howard and Howie jnr to do some concerts at the club for fundraising."

Howard Morrison jnr is expected to lead Whakaaria Mai at the funeral.

Morrison said Mr Hyland wanted his funeral at St Faith's because he wanted "a Maori dimension".

"He was comfortable in both worlds."