Murray Noel McWatt, the founder of the earthmoving, cartage and aggregates business McWatt Group Ltd, was sent off in style on Sunday morning with a huge procession of trucks and vehicles forming part of a funeral cortège.
His death notice says he passed away suddenly on the farm on February 12 aged 67.
The notice reads: “Loving husband of Catherine. Cherished father of Shane, Emma and Aaron. Absolutely adored gramps of Lachlan, Bailee, Harrison, Charlotte and Isla.”
A service to celebrate his life was held at Rydges Formosa in Beachlands on Sunday morning.
McWatt is the founder and one of the directors of East Tamaki-based McWatt Group and commenced business as an earthmoving contractor in 1975.
He started out with one truck and took over some clients from his father’s business which was also an earthmoving business.
Since then the company has grown and now [as at December 2019] employs 37 staff and has a fleet of 25 trucks, seven truck trailers, 12 diggers, 21 utilities (utes) and nine motor vehicles.
A Facebook post by PIL-Truck Sales carried video footage of the funeral procession and said, “Today was an extremely sad day for the transport industry. Murray McWatt, you went out in style, surrounded by literally hundreds of friends and family who loved and respected you.
“Condolences to the McWatt family and Jason Rose on this huge loss. Jason, you and your team did Murray proud today. An epic turnout fitting for this true legend of the trucking community.”
