Mr Easterby, died aged 78 in Goulburn Base Hospital last Tuesday, following complications of a lifelong battle with diabetes.

He managed the Club for 20 years until March, 2000 when the amputation of his legs from diabetes forced his retirement. But his involvement at the facility stretched back to 1973 when he started as a casual barman.

Daughter Lana Toparis said her father loved being part of something and making a difference.

“He was tough but you had to be when managing something so large,” she said.

“He could get things done and had a good relationship with the members...He had a very well rounded view of the community, just loved the club and treated it as his own.” 

Born in Gunning in 1938, Mr Easterby and his family, including brother Des and sister Gabrielle, moved to the Crookwell district. Their father had left when Garry was just four. He won a scholarship to Saint Patrick’s College, Goulburn for his secondary education and completed the leaving certificate. His family could not afford for him to take up a second scholarship at the College to complete his education.

“That’s one of the reasons he had very strong views on our education,” Mrs Toparis said.

At age 15, he started work on his uncle Tom Kennedy’s farm at Crookwell, living in a tiny hut on the property. He also undertook other work on district properties.

Mr Easterby was a keen sportsman and played hockey and cricket in his younger years and later, bowls. He was honoured to be selected in a local cricket team to play against Pakistan at Kenmore Oval. In his spare time he excelled in ballroom dancing competitions in the Crookwell district.

With one eye on the future and a certain lady, Barbara Avis, Mr Easterby opted for a “steady job” and trained as a psychiatric nurse at Kenmore Hospital. It allowed him to buy a house in Short Street, Bradfordville, where the couple continued to live after their marriage in 1962. 

Like many of his generation, Mr Easterby took up a second job as a casual barman at the Goulburn Soldiers Club. Then he became barman, catering manager, followed by secretary manager in March, 2000.  

Mrs Toparis said community was always at heart.

“He visited someone in hospital and realised the TVs weren’t working so he arranged to get them fixed. He was also very interested in the hydrotherapy pool (at the then Saint John of God Hospital) and the council jumped on board with the club,” she said. 

Sport wasn’t left in the lurch, with the club donating generously to local organisations. Mr Easterby was also a life member of Goulburn Lions. Together with the late Barry Spencer, he started the Goulburn branch of Diabetes Australia. Mrs Toparis said this was important to him as he had suffered the disease since his twenties.    

“He was the most positive person I ever met. Every day was a great day with Dad,” she said.

“He was a jolly person and had the strength of a giant, despite being a small man in stature and for us that’s the biggest thing we remember.”

Current Soldiers Club general manager Toni Mitchell described Mr Easterby as tough but fair and this in turn had pushed her to new heights.

She recalled his role in coordinating a low-interest Club Development Loan for the council to build Goulburn’s indoor heated pool. Under his management, the Club also donated significantly to help the council buy the current Visitors Information Centre site.

Mrs Mitchell worked with him from 1991 to 2000.

“He had a very strong constitution and never ever complained about his lot in life or his health,” she said.

“He was a very determined man who taught me a lot of what I know. I probably wouldn’t be in the position I am today without him.”

Mr Easterby is survived by wife Barbara and children Dale, Lana, Grant, Dean, their partners and families, brother Des and sister Gabrielle.

His Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church at 1.30pm Tuesday, with burial to follow at the Goulburn Lawn Cemetery.