[Article 16929]Vale Geoff HENRY

Fullscreen capture 15042024 84632 AM

1946-2024

Fullscreen capture 16042024 34211 PM

Wests Player Number 654

Played for Wests 1967–1970

Geoff’s tally of games included 3 First Grade games, 33 Reserve Grade and 42 Third Grade games.

During Geoff’s 4 years at Wests he total 74 points in all Grades

This total is made up with 16 Tries and 13 Field goals

Fullscreen capture 16042024 25717 PM-002

Geoff played junior league with

 Concord United before joining Wests in 1967 after playing in

the Wests Presidents Cup team in 1965 and 1966.

Fullscreen capture 16042024 23033 PM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 32532 PM

Fullscreen capture 17042024 70008 AM

 In 1967 Geoff played in all Third Grade games and Wests went on to beat Balmain in the Grand Final. I spoke to Col Lewis who was the Wests Third Grade captain in 1967 and Col claims that Geoff won the 1967 competition by kicking a field goal in the Semi Final against Parramatta. Col said “If Geoff does not kick that last minute field goal in the semi we would not of played and beaten Balmain in the Grand Final”

Fullscreen capture 16042024 70817 AM

Fullscreen capture 18042024 44037 PM

Nev Hornery scores under the posts against Parramatta in the 1967 Semi.

Wests Players left to right Col Lewis, Geoff Henry and Nev Hornery

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82313 AM

Col Lewis and Geoff at a recent PPM Reunion.

Fullscreen capture 18042024 65155 AM

Col and Geoff 57 years ago celebrating the winning try in the 1967 Third Grade Grand Final.

 Fullscreen capture 16042024 71135 AM

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82943 AM

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82732 AM

Fullscreen capture 18042024 65129 AM

Photo of the John McGrath try that sealed the game for Wests.

Wests players from left to right John McGrath, Peter Burnicle, Col Lewis, Geoff Henry, Rod Smith and Gary ‘Gus’ Gunton.

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82752 AM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 71303 AM

Geoff proudly wearing his Wests jumper.

 *

 Below are a few team photos from Geoff’s years at Wests.

Fullscreen capture 16042024 23246 PM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 24321 PM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 24347 PM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 23655 PM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 23356 PM

*

 

Geoff Henry made his First Grade debut in 1969 when he came off the bench in a round 12 match against Manly Warringah. It was reported in the Sun newspaper after that match that Wests would promote John Maxwell and Geoff Henry from Reserves in an attempt to spark the attack. Both men were selected in First Grade for the round 13 match against Canterbury.

Geoff’s First Grade debut was a very brutal game at Belmore Oval against Canterbury. 

Then Newtown at Lidcombe.

Fullscreen capture 16042024 73559 AM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 73144 AM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 73120 AM

Match Description below from the new Wests Archives website

Fullscreen capture 16042024 31541 PM

Fullscreen capture 17042024 74314 AM

Fullscreen capture 16042024 31718 PM

Fullscreen capture 15042024 83609 AM

Geoff used to ‘fondly’ recall that his First Grade appearances were limited as Tommy Raudonikis, Player No 655 made his First Grade debut a few weeks later and as they say ‘the rest is history’. 

Fullscreen capture 16042024 33721 PM

 Geoff finished his playing career with two seasons for Ryde Eastwood in the Sydney 2nd Division in 1971 & 72. 

In this Grand Final Geoff is playing against his old Wests team mate Bruce Beer.

*

At the time of Geoff’s passing, he was a highly valued Committee Member of the Pratten Park Magpies and until quite recently our Treasurer.

Below are a few photos taken at PPM Reunions.

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82337 AM

Geoff at the 2012 PPM Reunion held at the SCG.

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82225 AM

 Geoff and Nath Cole.

 

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82707 AM

Fullscreen capture 15042024 82420 AM

Some of the 1967 Third Grade winning team at the 2017 PPM reunion.

Fullscreen capture 17042024 75912 AM

Col Davis, Tony Ford and Geoff.

Fullscreen capture 17042024 65823 AM

 “Think where mans’ glory most begins and ends
And say my glory was I had such friends” – Yeats



Comments are closed.