The thundering sound of motorcycle engines resonated throughout Goulburn, as a large crowd gathered outside Sts Peter and Paul's Old Cathedral to farewell Garry Guthrie. On May 7 family and friends honoured the "loving, caring, generous, loyal" man.
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Garry James Guthrie, known as 'Tailpipe', passed away after an accident on April 25, 2021.
Garry was born on March 28, 1957 in Ardlethan near Wagga Wagga. He was one of six children. He had three sisters: Marie, Narelle and Robyn, and two brothers: John and Peter.
The family moved to Nowra in 1968. Garry left school in year 11 to commence an apprenticeship with the Post Master General (now Australia Post). In 1980 Garry moved to Goulburn to start the Goulburn Muffler Centre with his brother John. He soon became known around town as Tailpipe.
In 1996 Garry met the love of his life, Wendy, at a cross dress ball to raise money for Apex Clubs. The pair married in 2001.
Wendy said she knew "straightaway he was my kind of guy".
"I loved the fact that he was gregarious, he was full of life, he was the life of the party," she said.
"We've had 20 years of beautiful marriage."
Phil Evans, a friend of more than 40 years, delivered the eulogy at the funeral. He recalled the beginning of Garry and Wendy's romance.
"Garry and Wendy had a passion for gardening and nature," he said.
He said this started early on when he would always leave a rose on Wendy's car when she worked nights as a nurse.
Garry loved Wendy's two children, Joe and Leah, as well as their partners Bec and Matt. He adored his grandchildren and was known as the "fix it man".
He would tell the children: "I can fix anything, but I can't fix a broken heart."
Garry ran the workshop until it closed in 2010. He then worked as a delivery driver before opening a lawn mowing business. Garry and Wendy retired in 2020.
The beloved man was well known for his passion for all things motorcycles. To honour him a motorcade of bikes led the funeral procession after the service. Members of the motorcycle club, friends and fellow motorbike enthusiasts stopped outside the site of the old muffler centre and revved their engines to pay respect.
Mr Evans said Garry was "loving, caring, generous, loyal and always there to help".
"He would always back you up in a fight, or start one," he said.
He recalled fond memories of Garry's "infamous rooster crow", used to show support for his favourite Rugby League team the Sydney Roosters.
Garry was also known as an intrepid traveller having visited South America, Africa, Canada and Thailand with his trusty camera in hand.
Mr Evans said in the 1980s Garry had hunted for gold, diamonds and lost treasure, fished for barramundi, scaled cliffs, paddled down rapids, explored caves and swam with crocodiles during a unforgettable trip across Australia.
Garry was a life member of Apex Clubs, and heavily involved with the Starlight Foundation, Rideathon, and the darts association.
Members of Apex Clubs formed a guard of honour to farewell Garry.
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