The Wollongong community will have a chance to say farewell to a true gentleman behind the lens on Tuesday.
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The life of Illawarra Mercury photographer Hank Van Stuivenberg will be remembered and celebrated at Northcliffe Chapel of Hansen & Cole at 2.30pm on January 30.
Mr Van Stuivenberg, 71, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 24 after a long battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife Eva, children and three grandchildren. The family describe him as an amazingly strong, positive and loyal man who so many knew and loved. He finished working at the newspaper in 2009 after accepting a redundancy.
During his three decade career he touched many lives in his own polite way. He and his camera covered countless sporting and news events including some of the biggest stories in recent decades such as the ICAC investigation of Wollongong City Council.
His boss of many years Kirk Gilmour said he was always affectionately known as “Honky” or “Sensational Hank”.
“The Sensational Hank Van Stuivenberg was a much loved and well respected member of the Illawarra Mercury and its photographic department.”.
“A black and white guy with a gloriously colourful, funny, all embracing outlook on living, Hank had perfected the work/life balance. He truly enjoyed working and loved all that life had on offer.”
Mr Gilmour said his colleague, good mate and Lotto partner was called Sensational Hank in the officer because of his “Sensational” reply and big smile whenever anyone ask him how he was.
“In the Merc's photographic department Hank was our elder statesman and our Kid Eager rolled into one,” he said.
“Possessing an amazing news sense, Hank was always keen to get out the door to take pictures. Countless times arriving at breaking news events before the emergency services.”
“Hank possessed the ability to communicate with anyone from any walk of life. Politicians, academics, the well heeled or the famous were equal to emotionally broken victims of crime or people doing it tough on struggle street in Hank’s eyes. Hank could strike up a chat and have a conversation with anyone.
“Hank was an awesome work colleague and a dear friend. His loss has impacted on many in the Illawarra community. He just had such a positive outlook on life.”
His wife Eva Van Stuivenberg and his family are asking those attending the funeral to consider making donations to the Australia Cancer Research Foundation.
She said he battled cancer for the last three years.
He was a motor mechanic in New Zealand when Mrs Van Stuivenberg met him and said he was originally from Adelaide.
“When we came back from New Zealand he bought a camera,” she said.
“He knew what he wanted his new career to be.
He originally started working as a cameraman for ABC news in the Illawarra region when Janine Cullen was working there as a journalist.
He then worked as a casual for News Limited’s Wollongong bureau before starting full time with Fairfax at the Illawarra Mercury 30 years ago on October 23 1988 when Peter Cullen was the editor.
He had done some casual work with the newspaper before hand and became renowned for using his gut instinct to get great news photos. That reputation remained with him during his entire career.
Sometimes he would even turn up at an event before emergency personnel.
Mrs Van Stuivenberg said after moving to Wollongong there was no way her husband ever wanted to live anywhere else.
He particularly loved the beach and developed a passion for surf boat photography and the surf life saving movement.
“He gave so unconditionally of himself to people,” she said.
“He didn’t judge people. And time for friendship was a huge thing for Hank.”
When people he knew were sick he consistently visited them.
Mrs Van Stuivenberg said there were no grey areas with her husband.
He was who he was and did not pretend to be anything else.
“He was “what you see is what you get”,” she said.
Sensational Hank’s positive nature rubbed off on many.
Mrs Van Stuivenberg said he always said to his children and grandchildren that it you want to do something bad enough you can make it happen.
“The one thing he would always say whenever I or the kids walked out the door was “do your best”,” she said.
“His philosophy was no one can ask any more of you.”
Sensational was always very proud of his children and grandchildren’s work ethic when they tried really hard.
Mrs Van Stuivenberg said her husband became so well known and highly regarded for the way he set about his work that even on a recent holiday in Noosa people would keep coming up to him to say “hello Hank”.
Many stories will be told about his life on Tuesday including his great love of shopping at Aldi.
He said “where else do you go to Aldi to buy a loaf of bread and come out with a chainsaw”,” Mrs Van Stuivenberg recalled.
“A lot of people are going to see some different sides to him. But I think a lot of people know what an incredible, simple, unassuming man, well read man he is. One who loved technology and gadgets. He still had a sense of humour right til the end. We got this little buzzer for him. When I gave it to him he looked at me and said “I am going to give you hell tonight”. He kept buzzing our daughter and she kept going to answer the door. No matter what he was going through he still managed to make us laugh.”
Mrs Van Stuivenberg said Sensational Hank never thought of himself as big as other people did but what is very clear this last week is just how loved and admired he is.
“He had simple, true values of what life was. And friends and family were important,” she said.
Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
