THERE was a real warmth in Roly McKenzie. Always genuinely interested in people’s stories and views, Roly made everyone feel important. In Roly, they found a good friend.
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Loyola ‘Roly’ McKenzie died suddenly, aged 68, in the early hours of Saturday morning. Her death has shocked the Ballarat community.
Many knew Roly through her work, alongside husband Graeme, at Eureka Pool and the Eureka Stockade Holiday Park, which her son Luke and his wife Brooke manage.
Family remembers Roly fondly as selfless.
“She was always worried about other people and thrived helping other people in her own family and community,” daughter-in-law Hayley Kane said. “Family was definitely the most important thing for her.”
Roly loved playing with her four young grandchildren – Mia (aged four), Rafi (two), Koa (almost one) and Maggie (nine months) – and would enjoy looking after them all a lot.
Ms Kane said Roly was not really one for having hobbies, instead devoting her time to spending with family and close friends.
The McKenzie family operated pools for the City of Ballarat from 1938 until 2011, when the city’s pool tender was then awarded to YMCA.
Roly and Graeme retired and enjoyed spending time in their Queensland holiday house. After Graeme unexpectedly died in November last year, Roly would often remark to family she felt a little like a lost soul.
They met when Graeme owned the Hideaway Coffee Lounge in Sturt Street. Roly started work in the cafe.
Together they ran the holiday park and pool, advocating free swimming lessons to teach important life-saving skills. Roly was also the full-time carer for their eldest son Steven until he turned 21.
Ms Kane said Roly was a hard-worker, always volunteering about the holiday park where she could.
Roly’s friendly personality and kind nature made her a great fit working in tourism.
“She was one of those people who, you might have only known her for five minutes but you felt like you had known her for ages,” Ms Kane said.
“Roly was really community-minded.
“She was genuinely interested in what people had to say. Everybody she met felt so close to her. She made everyone feel like her best friend.”
Roly grew up in Wendouree and was educated at Loreto. She worked at hosiery factory Morleys and textile company Lucas and Co before meeting Graeme. Roly was also a long-time outreach volunteer with the Salvation Army.
Roly is survived by sons Steven, Peter, Luke and Carl and their families.
