HYNARD, Gregory Allan (Greg)

1941 – 2025

Gregory Allan Hynard devoted more than 60 years to a career defined by dedication, innovation, and quiet leadership across the fields of accounting, business management, and aged care, including overseeing a major era of growth at Wangaratta's St John’s Retirement Village.

Born in 1941, Greg left high school at 16 determined to find his place in the world.

In 1958, he enrolled in the Accountancy Certificate Course at Paddington TAFE, studying by night while working full-time by day.

Four demanding years later, at just 20, he qualified as an accountant and became a member of the Australian Society of Accountants.

Soon after, he gained further accreditation as a Cost Accountant - achievements made in an era before calculators or computers, when accuracy and mental arithmetic were key.

Greg’s first professional appointment was as Sydney branch accountant for Mercantile Credits Ltd, a national hire purchase company.

His talent and reliability saw him quickly promoted, and it was there that he met his future wife, Faye, who remained his lifelong partner and steadfast supporter.

Over the following decades, Greg built an impressive and varied career.

He held senior financial roles with Challenge Transport, Strata Development Corporation, and Illawarra Meat Company Pty Ltd, where as company secretary he managed finances for more than 20 butcher shops, a wholesale boning room, smallgoods factory, abattoir, and feedlot.

In a time long before accounting software, Greg implemented systems that allowed the company to report weekly financial results for all divisions - a remarkable achievement that reflected both his skill and discipline.

In 1976, Greg established his own public accountancy practice in Woonona.

For the next 13 years he managed the finances of local cooperative housing societies and served hundreds of individual clients.

His reputation for precision, honesty, and professionalism was well known throughout the Illawarra.

In 1989, Greg transitioned into aged care management - a move that would define the final and most impactful chapter of his career.

He was appointed finance and administration manager at Mt Warrigal Retirement Village, where he also undertook postgraduate study in Master of Business at the University of Wollongong.

His leadership ability soon led to his appointment as deputy general manager at Anglican Retirement Villages, Sydney, where he was instrumental in returning the organisation to profitable operation.

In 1996, Greg’s greatest professional achievements came as chief executive officer of St John’s Retirement Village in Wangaratta.

Over seven years, he oversaw major redevelopment and expansion projects, including the redesign of residential units to include individual ensuites, modernisation of the dementia-care facility, the introduction of cook-chill meal technology, and the increase of nursing home capacity from 30 to 60 beds.

He successfully led the organisation through two aged care accreditation audits and established St John’s Terrace Retirement Village, comprising 150 modern independent living units.

Under his leadership, all accounting and administrative systems were brought in-house and fully computerised - a forward-thinking transformation for the time.

In retirement, Greg embraced life with the same energy and curiosity that had driven his career.

He enjoyed cycling, playing lawn bowls, writing poetry, and tending his beloved garden.

These simple pleasures brought him great joy and reflected his thoughtful and creative spirit.

Greg will be lovingly remembered by his wife Faye, children Brad, Nick, Kate, his five grandchildren, four great grandchildren, his colleagues and friends -all of whom were enriched by his professionalism, integrity, and genuine joy for life.