By Abbey Cannan
The much-loved legend of the triathlon scene on the Sunshine Coast, Markus Hanley, passed away peacefully at Noosa Care, Carramar on Monday 3 July, aged 90.
For those of you who had the great fortune to know Markus personally or through competing will know that he was the most fun-loving personality and a very determined competitor.
He completed 25 individual Noosa Tri’s, 20 Mooloolaba Tri’s, and two team Tri’s with the ‘Bloody Old Buggers’. It was an amazing achievement for any athlete, let alone someone in their senior years.
Markus thought he’d retired from triathlons after 25 individual Noosa Tris, the first of which he attended at 58 years of age and the last on his 83rd birthday in 2015.
However at 85-years-of-age, he decided to give it another try, but not alone.
It took little convincing to enlist fellow legend Jan Picton, who took on the cycling leg, and Rod Brown, who tackled the 10km run.
Markus entered his first Noosa Tri when a friend suggested they take a look at the event that was then a “newfangle thing”.
“I did my first Noosa Tri and I was hooked,” he told Noosa Today in 2017.
In preparation, Markus told ABC Sunshine Coast he was not motivated by times or records when completing triathlons.
“I get the satisfaction of finishing a race and still feeling good for it,” Mr Hanley said.
“We should all do things to the best of our ability without overdoing things but to be able to accomplish something over such a long period of time,” he said.
“I’m a very determined person when I set my mind to something and that’s what’s kept me going.
“I’m not a brilliant sportsperson, but I’m determined.”
Affectionately known as ‘Bloody Markus’ in triathlon circles, the happy-go-lucky character told the ABC the nickname had stuck since his introduction to the sport.
“When I did my first triathlon, they’re in five-year age groups and the oldest one was 55 to 59 and I did it at 58, so the next year I would’ve been I don’t know what,” he said.
“So I went to the chief of Tri Queensland and he said ‘Bloody Markus, what is it now?’ … and it’s stuck ever since.”
His neighbour Michelle, showed the true meaning of community spirit, looking after him for the last five years, and helping him get into care at Carramar.
“Noosa Care, Carramar staff have taken great care of Markus during his stay with them,” Michelle said.
“He really enjoyed sitting out in the sun in their beautiful, peaceful gardens. The staff were always caring and attentive to his needs. Thank you.
“Markus’s final request was to not have a service, so take a moment to remember this amazing human being, take some inspiration from his life and share your memories of him in years to come.
“Hey, ‘Bloody Markus’, you can now finally hang up the budgie smugglers and have a well-deserved rest. Rest in peace mate, you did a great job.”
The IRONMAN Group Oceania managing director Geoff Meyer said the Noosa Triathlon and Mooloolaba Triathlon teams were incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Markus.
“Markus was a valued member of not only our triathlon community, but also the wider local community and he’ll be missed,” Geoff said.
“Markus had been a part of our triathlon community for more than two decades and we loved having him on the start line in both Noosa and Mooloolaba each year.”
