The Funeral Service

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51 comments on “Graeme Smithies”

  1. Despite Graeme Smithies constant efforts to undermine me at KPTS & GPSC, I went on to successfully teach after 1992 at a wonderful Private school in the Eastern Suburbs. 2 TAFE institutes ( NMIT & Kangan ) Teaching Diploma students, then eventually as a Tertiary Lecturer in Health Science retiring in 2006.

    Dave Brereton

    Dip.H.Sc ( N.M.I.T ) B.H.Sc ( Vic Uni ) Graduate Dip. Musculoskeletal Medicine ( Melb )
    M.H.Sc ( Melb )

    Am I still bitter of course not

  2. We have such fond memories of gathering on a Sunday night for a demon of a curry and post mortem of the footy. Would love to catch up and say hi to all. Lovely funeral. Rest In Peace In and Go Bombers. Love Vic and Kelly Abfalter

    Email acorn@bigpond.net.au

  3. Graeme was a committee member of the Association of Retired Principals of Technical Institutions and was a wonderful support for all his colleagues. He represented us in discussions with the Victorian State Superannuation Board, again looking after the welfare of his colleagues. A sharp mind, a clinical approach to any issues that confronted the Association and such an infections laugh that could take the heat out of any tense situation. We all relied on Graeme for advice and direction and he was a wise friend to us all.
    Graeme was interviewed for an Oral History of Technical Education and a recording of that interview is available for his family

    And thank you to his family for such a loving celebration of his life and work.

  4. It was the privilege of my wife, Ailsa, and myself came to know Graeme, first as a student and later as a friend. We lost track of him for many years after we left Parklands High School and Tasmania. Fortunately, through the aegis of the internet we renewed our friendship and very pleased when he visited us in Wisconsin (USA in 2015.
    We will miss him greatly.

  5. My thoughts are with you all today, and for the future. That was a beautiful service for a beautiful man. My deepest sympathies.. He will be missed by so many, but never ever forgotten xx

  6. Graeme you are another great man gone too soon.You were always so supportive of the staff at Keon Park. Thank you. Thanks for providing the good laugh seeing your tummy on the boat.
    Last time I saw you was at the Myer Music Bowl and yes we had a good chat. All I can say is now that after experiences at other schools you were the best A.P. better than all the rest.
    My sincere condolences to Catherine, Geoffrey and the Smithies families
    Charmaine MacDonald

  7. Thank you to the Smithies family for a lovely service that captured the themes of Graeme’s life perfectly. He will be greatly missed.

  8. To the Smithies family, a wonderful farewell to a great and unique man he will be sadly missed. Loved all of Graeme’s eccentricities from the first time I met him on a bush walk with his eggs wrapped in newspaper in his backpack to his sophisticated and elegant presentations brought to the table…..Catherine & Geoffrey you were both so lucky to have such a devoted father remember all the good times, there were so many love Wendy

  9. My condolences to all the Smithies families. Wonderful send off you gave Graeme! He’d be proud of all of you. I knew Graeme from the currie days & a couple of decade birthday bashes. We had great conversations. I suspect I was in the group of” not on the same page”!
    Vale Graeme.

  10. Thank you for such a lovely and moving service. Graeme was a kind, generous and wonderful man. It was lovely to hear of the many facets of his life as to me he was first and foremost, a very supportive ballet dad. Sending my love to you Catherine, Geoffrey and the Smithies family.

    Fiona.

  11. You all did an admirable job under the current circumstances. He will be sorely missed by my family and myself. A man who always made an effort. Be seeing you at the next gig bud.

  12. On behalf of The West Coburg Bowling Club, we wish all of Graeme’s family best wishes thank you for the service

  13. My deepest sympathy to Graeme’s family. The funeral service was a heartfelt tribute to a great man. Graeme was a great friend, teaching colleague and bowling comrade. I will miss having a drink with him, chewing the fat and having a laugh about the world in general but particularly bowls, blues music and the state of politics. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered in the education and lawn bowls communities.

  14. Dear John and Ronnie,
    A very beautiful service.
    I first met Graeme at the West Coburg Bowls Club in 2007. We had the Tasmanian connection and he loved a chat about our holidays and what we were up to in Tas. He invited us to Anzac Day at the MCG. It became a yearly thing of almost 12 years now. I rang Graeme on the Anzac Day this year (lockdown 2020) and we were both watching an old rerun of the first Anzac Day game. We reminisced then about previous get togethers and the fun that we had. I will never forget these days spent with Graeme.
    Graeme was truly a generous and caring soul. I will miss him dearly.
    Fiona Stewart

  15. On behalf of the Cracknell family, we are all going to miss him so much. What a beautiful service for a fantastic loving man. Sending you all big hugs. xxx

  16. Hi Catherine & Geoff,
    Just a quick note from the Southern Glues to pass on our sincerest sympathies at this very sad time.
    Graeme was an amazing human being and we all truly enjoyed his company every single time we caught up. So many memories and laughs!
    Graeme had an incredible capacity to listen and understand and our boys would, without fail every time comment on what a great bloke he was driving back over the river to Sandringham.
    The service was a fantastic tribute and you all spoke so beautifully. Susie, Ryan, Tom and I all watched in silence (well until the tears started with your speech Catherine).
    Look forward to catching up soon and hope the pain passes at least a little over the coming months.
    We will all miss your old Dad a lot.
    Lots of love,
    Wayne, Susie, Ryan & Tom xxxx

  17. Dear Graeme,

    It was always such a pleasure working with him through our Keon Park days when Graeme was AP. Always up for chat, advice, support and best of all – that laugh! An absolute encyclopedia and help-desk, always making time for whatever was the issue.. I will treasure catching up just a couple of years ago at a terrific function – the history of our Union from TTAV & TTUV days. My sincere sympathy to Catherine, Geoffrey, Graeme’s brothers and the wider Smithies family.

    Lynne Oliver

  18. Again today Catherine – you have made your amazing Dad so proud. Beautiful heartfelt words!

    Thinking of you all in Melbourne and hoping to be all together again soon. Single malt should be shared!

    xx

  19. Thinking of you all today.
    A beautiful send off to Graeme.
    So many of us couldn’t be there in person so the video link helped to some degree.
    Love & hugs from me to all of you.
    Denise Hetrelezis

  20. It was a privilege to have worked with Graeme at Gladstone Park. As another Bombers tragic, he’ll be missed at retirees lunches.

  21. Thank you for a really wonderful tribute to Graham. He will be missed as a great mentor to me at GPSC but also as a friend at the bowls club. Sadly missed but not forgotten

  22. On behalf of Chloe, Ryan and I, we extend our most sincere condolences to Catherine and family, Geoff, Smithies family and friends. May you rest in peace Graeme. Love always Suzanne.

  23. A truly lovely celebration of Graeme’s life, thank you. We crossed paths with Graeme at Keon Park Technical School where he was a fabulous Vice Principal, he was incredibly supportive of both Trevor and myself. I was at Northcote High later when Graeme spent a term as acting Assistant Principal. Living locally we frequently bumped into Graeme in the fruit section of Coles where he was always up for a chat. Our thoughts are with Katherine, Geoffrey and all of Graeme’s family. With love Dianne Frost and Trevor Thomas.

  24. Dear Smithies family – what a wonderful tribute to an extraordinary man. The warmth, bond and love from you all as a family is just beautiful to see and although we could not be with you in person, we were watching with much enjoyment to hear the stories of an amazing man and a life well lived. Our love and support is with you all as you grieve the loss of Graeme, your father, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend. Much love, Karen, Ella and Greta.

  25. My deepest condolences to you all.
    I only met Graeme a few times and the one I remember most was when he was the temp assistant principal at my high school and called me into the office over the PA as a joke. At the time i didn’t find very funny but my father (his cousin) thought it was hilarious!

  26. We are going to miss you mate. Thanks for getting me through year 11 all those years ago. Thank you for all the dinners, talks, and lots of beer and wine!! Say g’day to Piles for me!!!

  27. This was a wonderful celebration of Graeme’s life. Thank you for sharing it with us. We send our love to Catherine, Geoffrey and the Smithies family.

  28. That was an excellent memorial service for Graeme, Thank you for inviting me to say farewell to my friend. Go bombers

  29. A fantastic tribute to a special man. Graeme was obviously very well loved . Condolences to his lovely family – Suzanne and Russell Crellin

  30. That was a beautiful service for Graeme. He would have been very pleased.
    Rest in Peace Graeme Smithies

  31. My deepest sympathy to Graeme’s family. The funeral service was a heartfelt tribute to a great man. Graeme was a great friend, teaching colleague and bowling comrade. I will miss having a drink with him, chewing the fat and having a laugh about the world in general but particularly bowls, blues music and the state of politics. He will be sadly missed but fondly remembered in the education and lawn bowls communities.

  32. Rest in Peace Graeme, you will be sadly missed. Our deepest condolences to his family.
    Brendan, Tracey & Lucas (WCBC)

  33. That was such a wonderful service, such strong family bonds and great friendships. Great memories of a full life well lived. We’ll always remember our mate Graeme and he’ll be greatly missed.

  34. Sorry for the loss Catherine, and the rest of the family. Will enjoy a whiskey for him this afternoon.
    Regards, Leigh.

  35. Graeme was a great bloke who worked tirelessly for West Coburg Bowling Club and will be sorely missed. Irreplaceable.

  36. It was a great pleasure to work with Graeme during his time at Gladstone Park & after we both retired catching up with him at the ‘Retirees Lunches.’ He will be very much missed.

  37. Graeme was unique, wonderful, funny, caring and a wonderful friend and colleague. I am saddened to hear of his passing and pass on my best wishes to his family and friends.
    I will miss your wisdom, understanding and support dear friend.

  38. On behalf of the Staff and Students (past and present) of Gladstone Park Secondary College, we pass on our sincere condolences to Graeme’s family.
    Graeme made a huge contribution to the school over the years and left a lasting impression.
    Kind Regards
    Lynne Gutterson

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