Garry SMITH Obituary

My father Roy Edwin Smith was Gary´s first cousin.
I recall Gary ( 11 years younger) playing league for NZ, with pride. We lived in Dunedin ( now chch) and frequently holidayed with grandparents in Lower Hutt ie Jack Smith .
I was privileged to meet Gary up there, when growing up. He was someone I looked up to. I also met him, when attending a funeral of Emma or Helen Smith ( his aunties and my great Aunt )
Please accept my condolences to the family and wider family, whom I and my brothers are related to.
Murray ( my brother) and I have watched the memorial service on line. Very special .

To Garry's Family. Deepest sympathy in the loss of of a great man. Played In the Greymouth Marist School 1st XV with him.

My son Tom and I have happy memories of watching Warriors matches with Garry at his home. Very astute league observer. Our thoughts with Jenny and Sam ...kind hosts.

Garry was a true visionary bringing innovative law enforcement practices and opportunities to NZ Customs while caring deeply for all "his investigators"
Many of us both still serving in Customs and now retired owe much to him as he saw future law enforcement challenges and solutions long before others and selected personal from his national team to develop capabilities to combat the threat.
Condolences to Jenny and the family, rest in peace Garry you made a great contribution to New Zealand on and off the field.

I was so sad to hear of Gary´s passing. I remember well the good times Paul and I shared with him and all the league players on the Kapiti Coast in the 70s. A great coach a great man. My sincere condolences to all the family

To Jenny and all the family. Sincere condolences. I have fond memories of working with Garry over many years on Customs enforcement matters. Garry was a legend in his Customs career as well as on the sports field. Regards, Phil Chitty.

Our condolence to Garys family from John and Peter Westwood, we had the pleasure of growing up in Runanga and attending school and playing sport with him, may he rest in peace.

In the 1990s Garry was my respected boss at New Zealand Customs, as National Head of Customs Investigation Units. He was a visionary and had an wide international law enforcement network of contacts. He was also a friend and I remember him in the mid-nineties visiting me my overseas post in Sydney, which he had appointed me to. We had a great day on Melbourne Cup day, with a fellow law enforcement liaison officer from New Zealand (Police);- Larry Reid. I also, at his assistance, took him to the North Sydney leagues Club. There I saw his photo on the wall, as one of that Club's revered former professional players. He obviously wanted to reminisce.
Please accept my condolences on behalf of all our Garry's former colleagues in the New Zealand Customs Service. He will be remembered as a pioneer leader in many ways to the success of Customs drug and other investigation prowess that we witness today.

Simon Williamson MNZM
New Zealand Customs Service (Retired)

It is very sad to hear of the passing of Gary.
He was great man, husband, father.
From a Aussie that played with Gary in Wellington 1971-72
R. Smiles

Great memories Garry Bruce Castle