Garry has it figured out
GARRY O’Neill was born in Charters Towers on Father’s Day.
“My Mum, who is 95, who lives at home on her own and still reads the Bully daily, tells me that I opened a new wing of the Charters Towers hospital and made a pretty exciting day for Dad as I had two older sisters,” he said.
Garry and his family moved to Townsville while he was at primary school and when he saw the ocean for the first time, he thought “wow”.
Not being used to brothers, he went to St John Fishers Catholic boys school for one day. When he told his mum he didn’t like it he was moved to Currajong State School.
“Secondary school saw me attend Pimlico State High,” he said.
“My five- year secondary school attendance was ironically punctuated by two years at boarding school in Charters Towers.”
Straight from school, Garry worked as a trainee accountant at CE Smith & Co and did an economics degree part- time at James Cook University. While studying, he married Michelle, then after graduating studied through the Institute of Chartered Accountants and was promoted to partner and transferred to Brisbane.
“As you would expect it was quite a cultural change but an exciting time for what had then become a family,” he said.
For family reasons Garry returned to Townsville in 1990 and established a financial services business with CE Smith & Co ( Crowe Horwath). One year later, the firm extended its investment services to stockbroking and became known as Morgans.
“Morgans Townsville is effectively a franchise providing stockbroking, financial planning and life insurance Garry said.
According to Garry’s wife, he has interests in a few too many areas but rugby league and horse racing are his real passions.
“I actually represented Townsville at junior level in rugby league, cricket, tennis and soccer.”
He played a leading role with the foundation of the Boca West Tennis Club here in Townsville which had John Newcombe as its patron.
“A few years ago I decided to try and do something to commemorate my Dad, who had just passed away, and also challenge myself,” Garry said.
“I came up with the idea of writing a book on horse racing. It is starting to take shape.”
Garry thinks a key to Townsville’s resurgence is an increase in employment and he believes Yabulu refinery should reopen.
“The appeal of Townsville as a tourist destination would be enhanced by the opening of Cromarty as a nature reserve and the extension of The Strand redevelopment to Rowes Bay,” he said.
“An adult water park and wave pool in that area would be well patronised. As far as entertainment goes I would think more festivals plus a rugby league international against England and a cricket international against Bangladesh would be well received.” services to clients,”