I don't really remember monte but remember him being very tall and blonde! my mother and father were very good friends in the late 70s to mid 80s with him we were talking about him the other week about the good times had with him and I thought Id do a search to see if I could get back in contact with him. We are very saddened to find he has passed away. Berl, Carol and shascha

Monte was my husband John's cousin. I never got to meet Monte this wasn't to be. I was looking forward to meeting him as he was thinking of coming to visit. I am so sorry I didn't get to meet him but glad we got to know him through Andrew.

My father John Phillip Gildea was Monte's cousin. Though there was 14 years between them, they grew up together in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. As their fathers Phillip and Montague had connections through hotels, the two boys knew each other quite well. So my father John would tell great stories of the scally wags the Gildeas could be. Those early days formed Monte's love of storys, particularly ones relating to his Grandfather Montague Stephen and to some degree his Great Grandfather who had even grander storys. As the elderst child of John and Hazel I got to know Monte in the early days at about the time things got a bit tough for the family. As a child I didn't understand how this could effect a growing boy. But I think Monte grew a tougher outer shell to cover his sensitive creative and artistic side. He was hard to really get to know and to understand. In later life I met with him a few times and wrote occassionally and noticed he had become more warming and sharing. I am pleased that Monte had become more open and left us happy with the magical life he lead. We will miss Monte, but the memories and the storys will live on.

Monte was my second cousin through my father John Gildea. I met Monte in Sydney after Dad had passed away and he shared some memories of Dad with me. At the time, I was about to be admitted as a solicitor in Queensland and had accepted a position with a Sydney law firm. Monte was kind enough to offer me a place to stay when I first arrived in Sydney and that was a real relief being in a big city for the first time. Monte was a real character. He told me that Gildeas were not real family people but you know, I sensed in him that he didn't really want to believe that. I know that my family would love to have known him better and it looked recently that we may have had that chance but too late. And so Monte, we say a gentle goodbye and hope that you will carry on entertaining in the 'heavenlys'! Lezah

Monte was a client and friend of mine . During the 1990's we spent many evenings together drinking at The Establishment and Angel Place Hotel . He enjoyed discussing politics, international affairs and commodity prices ! He was an entertaining raconteur and would tell some engrossing stories . He had a strong personality and could be blunt and would not hesitate to tell someone exactly what he thought of them . I witnessed this on a few occasions . Monte could also be very friendly and charming and would give excellant advice to those who needed it . It was this dichotomy which made him an enigma to some people ....but it also made him a unique person whom I shall never forget and will miss him .