Effervescent with a high-octane weekly performance, Payne was small for a fullback however, with a heart fitting of a champion, his great defensive skills along with his uncanny leadership in desperate situations and his crafty manoeuvring in attack won him many awards and representative jumpers.

Formerly from the tough Bankstown district and Macksville region, Payne arrived at Ulladulla and immediately got the Bulldogs into another grand final winning mode when he scored 12 tries in the Dogs' first nine games of the 1989 first grade Group Seven season that propelled the locals to defeat Gerringong at Berry Showground 8-2 in a thriller with Brett Davis, Paul Love and Scott Sandilands having blinders.

The following year once again saw Payne lead the tries and point-scoring tallies in Group Seven which ultimately saw the little loveable-larrikin chosen to play halfback for Group Seven against Papua-New Guinea at Nowra Showground.

After a blistering performance, Payne engineered two tries and received huge wraps for his efforts, then as quick as a flash he retired at the end of that season.

Two years ago, Mick's life was immediately changed when he suffered a deliberating major stroke that left the former livewire footballer suffering the consequences of Aphasia, a cruel communication disability injury to the brain.

However, over that horrific anguish of time, Mick has preserved and struggled on against adversity in the only way he knows and old teammates and supporters are sure to roll out the red-carpet for him on Friday, March 5 at Mollymook's Beachside Golf Course from 12 noon in the Bulldogs Annual Charity two-person Ambrose Golf Day event costing only $30 per player with prizes galore and heaps of fun and stories.

For details contact Matt Williams 0429 801063.