Our Mascot

There is a story and a name behind our mascot. His name is ‘Mick’- The Big Hearted Tiger. Mick is actually a gentleman by the name of Michael (Mick) Manning. Mick is the owner of a funeral company (Mannings Funerals) in Sydney and was also the best mate of our father who passed away in October 2005 from cancer.

Mick and his family were always there for our dad. He visited him at home and in hospital, paid his bills for him, loaned him money from time to time when dad had none, and in essence was the personification of the values and ethos we have at ‘Little TiGrrs’. We value mateship, honesty, loyalty, courage, and integrity. You should also have a sense of fun. Mick and his wife Christine have this and more. The phrase “Never give up on your mates, and never give your mates up” is one that could well describe the relationship that Mick and our dad had. They are both extraordinary men in their own way and we have learned some of life’s most valuable lessons from them.

We hope that the values we have at Little TiGrrs will in some way apply to the children who visit our centre. In this day of political correctness, suspicion of others, discrimination, bullying and plain old bad manners and poor sportsmanship, we want kids to grow up to know what the term mateship really means in Australia. Mick was all this and more to my father and we are eternally in his debt. Every time we see a child laugh and have fun and possibly find a new mate at our centre we will be reminded of Mick and Dad.

Mike and Warren