Nicolas HICKFORD Obituary

A tribute to my first real mentor, Nick Hickford.

I learned late last night that my old friend and first great mentor, Nick Hickford, passed away on 21 November. Much-loved husband and devoted father of two, Nick ultimately succumbed to cancer - a disease that takes far too many good people far too soon.

Although we hadn´t been in touch for more than a decade, the news hit me hard this morning.

We all have that one person in our career who quietly sets us on our path. For me, that person was Nick.

I first met him in the early 2000s. I´d just arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand and was knocking on the door of every agency in town. Most said no. Nick didn´t.

As the leader of a small independent agency, The Bridge, he invited me in for a cuppa. We hit it off immediately.

Up until then, I´d been a creative - that´s what had originally drawn me into the industry. But Nick saw something else. He saw someone who could spin a yarn, tell a story, connect the dots, and bring people with them. He was the one who nudged me - gently, confidently - onto the path of becoming a `suit´.

He taught me what it meant to be a strong one. He backed me. He trusted me with responsibility well beyond my experience and gave me the space to grow into it. Looking back, I still don´t know why he took that chance on me - green, raw, unpolished - but maybe he recognised another newly arrived Kiwi trying to make something happen in Australia, as he had been previously, and decided to give me room to shine.

I never properly told Nick how much I appreciated him for that. But he shaped my early career and my whole approach to work - an approach built on strong relationships, earning trust, doing right by people, not sweating the small stuff, and remembering that this job is meant to be a fun one.

He modelled all of that without ever needing to spell it out.

Every few years, long after we´d gone our separate ways, I´d still reach out for a chat, some advice, or to bounce around an idea. And he always made time. Always gracious. Always generous. Always Nick.

He touched a lot of people in that same selfless way. That was who he was - a top bloke, an incredible human, and someone whose influence stretched far further than he ever claimed.

Go in peace, Nick. You´ll be missed, mate. And thank you - sincerely - for setting me on my path, for trusting me early, and for showing me a way of working that I´ve tried to emulate and will carry forward for the rest of my career.

Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time Harvey and family.
Rest in peace

I first met Nick in Christchurch, New Zealand, 40 years ago. He was vibrant, talented, and full of energy-a young man who loved life and was admired by many.

Later, I had the privilege of working alongside him in Auckland. As members of the Auckland Eagles, we achieved great results together, but our bond extended beyond work. We spent time after hours, shared laughs, and attended the same church.

I carry countless fond memories of the fun-and sometimes outrageous-moments we shared. On one of his birthdays, a group of us wrapped Nick in bandages and wheeled him through Auckland´s CBD on a trolley at lunchtime. True to form, Nick gave as good as he got! Another time, Nick, Shane, and I-along with other Eagles teammates-decided to test Jason Smart´s much-talked-about survival skills. We loaded him onto my boat, dropped him on a deserted island in Auckland Harbour with just a tent and a bottle of water, and returned the next morning to collect him. And of course, I´ll never forget my own stag night, when Nick, Shane, and the gang "kidnapped" me, dressed me as a baby in a nappy, and wheeled me through Pak´nSave and into Auckland´s finest restaurants, leaving me in the middle of it all.

Yet Nick wasn´t only about fun and mischief. He had a serious side too-using his many talents to build a successful career in business and marketing.

My heartfelt condolences go out to his family: his mother Jan, his wife Sophie, his children Harvey and Lola, and all his friends and loved ones.

Though I haven´t been closely involved with Nick over the past 20 years, the news of his passing has deeply saddened me. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

I was around 15 when I first met Nick. My family had moved to NZ from Australia and I remember he used to tease me for my strong Aussie accent. He was around 13 at the time and very an outgoing young man. Back in the day we all called him Nicky because why not. I moved back to Australia and years later we met up again as adults and I automatically called him Nicky but I had to laugh as he said, I´m a man now it´s Nick (said tongue in cheek). He played the piano at our wedding and what a talent he had. I´m truely sorry to the family for your loss.

I met Nick when I was 16. Living in Christchurch then, he used to accompany me on the piano every time I had to sing an item. He once berated me for not warming up my voice in advance and I have never forgotten the lesson. He once asked me to accompany him on the church organ while he played the piano. It would have been my first time in front of these people. I was so shy that I turned the volume on the organ down so low that no-one, including myself, could hear it. Nick said he would never play with me again. But we continued to make music together for a long time. It makes me smile thinking of all the good memories together with Murray Tooley; his longtime teenage friend. Nick will be missed.

So very sorry for your loss. A brilliant commercial and marketing mind and an even better person.
Rest well Nick.
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