A Tribute to Garry Moverley – By Lindsay Knight
Some very sad news was received by Bowls North Harbour with the recent passing away of Garry Moverley. Garry was such an asset to BNH providing over 20 years of Umpire Officiating. Nothing was ever a problem for Garry and his dedication and passio0n to the sport of Bowls was undeniable. Our sincere condolences to Terry and the Moverley Family for their sudden loss. Please find tribute from Lindsay Knight as follows:
Bowls North Harbour, and in particular the Birkenhead and Sunnybrae clubs and the Umpire’s Association, have lost a stalwart of the game with the passing of Garry Moverley.
Garry died on Sunday night aged in his early 80s.
Garry served bowls, always with a pleasant but efficient manner, in several roles, as a competent player, administrator and in recent seasons as one of the Centre’s umpiring mainstays. He officiated both at Centre and national levels and helped organise many of the umpires’ tournaments.
He came from a strong bowling family, with his father Arnold an enthusiastic player in the Auckland Centre with the Edendale club.
Garry and his late wife joined the Sunnybrae club in October, 1984, and he soon became one of its key members, winning several club titles and serving in many administrative roles, including a term as president.
Though a respected skip, Garry never won a Centre title, but with the Sunnybrae club was in a winning team in the executive fours.
He moved to Birkenhead in 2009 and at that strong club had the distinction of winning two club titles, in a four skipped by Dennis Matthews in the 2011-12 season and in a four skipped by Doug Parlane in 2015-16.
He was especially proud to have skipped an all-family combination at the national championship in 2001, his brothers Des and Nowell, who also passed away recently, and son, Terry.
Terry was then in his first season and as well as a junior title, the pairs in 2004-05, went on to achieve the honour which just eluded Garry, an open Centre title in the triples in the 2008-09 season.
Terry, who has followed Garry in administrative roles and has been the Birkenhead club’s long serving secretary, described Garry as “one hell of a great Dad and he will be missed by his three sons and the extended Moverley family.”
A requiem mass will be celebrated for Garry at St Mary’s Catholic Church, next Tuesday, May 31, at 11am. All of Bowls North Harbour community will be as one in saluting Garry. May he rest in peace.
