There was hardly any standing room left upstairs in Club Corowa’s Federation Room where Tony Jones of Tobin Brothers Funerals conducted the funeral service.
“Craig was a remarkable individual. It’s just fantastic to see so many people here today – it’s no great surprise,” Mr Jones told the packed venue.
Mr Jones told mourners about his recent chat with Mr Spencer whose life was cut short at 56-years-of-age on Christmas Eve due to cancer. “In talking about the venue, he said there may be a few there!”
Following the funeral, Mr Jones told The Free Press: “It’s definitely the largest funeral in Corowa Rutherglen I’ve seen in many years. There would have been around 1,000.”
A summary of Craig’s community-minded background, as conveyed by brother and best friend Darrell Spencer, was: President of Corowa Chamber of Commerce for 18 years, Corowa Football Netball Club Board member for 12 years, President of Corowa Auskick for four years, ran the Corowa Lawn Tennis Club Easter Tournament with wife Marianne for eight years and was inaugural president of the North-East Tennis Association; along with John Voss and Peter Smith, co-ordinated the NERTA Junior Tennis Competition for many years.
Darrell played 333 games with Corowa Rutherglen, but delivering his brother’s eulogy was tougher than all of those football matches.
Craig Alexander Spencer was born on August 8, 1967 in Corowa. He was the first born child of Alec and Gwen and older brother to Darrell.
Craig attended St Mary’s Primary School Rutherglen followed by Rutherglen High School. During this time Craig worked as a paper boy for his parents in the family-owned Newsagency in Rutherglen.
Upon completion of Year 11 Craig left school for a fitter and turner apprenticeship at Borg Warner in Lavington.
After finishing the apprenticeship Craig didn’t continue in this line of work, leaving to join the family business, Spencer’s Mensland Corowa.
Craig made many friends throughout his life playing a multitude of sports including golf, waterpolo, Aussie Rules, and later in life cycling. Craig played in excess of 200 games for the Corowa Rutherglen Football Netball Club before finishing his career back at his junior club, the Rutherglen Cats.
Tennis dominated Craig’s summers and tennis was where he met the love of his life Marianne in 1997 playing inter association tennis.
“Craig caught the eye of a young blonde from up in the hills near Mitta. A pretty, young Marianne Peters happened to mention to her friend, Fiona McKinnon, that maybe Craig would be interested in playing inter-association tennis in Wodonga,” Darrell said.
“Fiona, and Robert Voss got to work and made sure Craig was included in the Corowa team for the next monthly event and paired the two together for the mixed doubles.
“A beautiful romance blossomed and Craig and Marianne were married on October 24, 1998. Craig was obviously in love and smitten with this blonde bombshell from up in the hills, but when telling me of his impending intention to ask Maz to be his wife, he did also mention, that as Maz was a well-paid nurse who owned her own house, it was also a great business deal.
“It was a very successful deal as Craig and Maz celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in October.”
The happy couple married in Albury and lived in Wodonga until 2000 before they moved to their family home in Corowa.
In 2001, first son Blake was born followed by Zali in 2002, and Aaron in 2003. “Craig was an incredible son to Gwen and Alec, a loving husband to Marianne, and a wonderful father to Blake, Zali and Aaron,” Darrell said.
Many lighter moments in the much earlier lives of Craig and Darrell were shared which indicated the smart business brain possessed by Craig, leading to “a successful and astute businessman”.
“Craig and Marianne purchased the family clothing business outright in 2008 and have grown that business as well as being one of the founders of IWS Australia,” Darrell said.
Chief Executive Officer standard
“If families were corporate enterprises, Craig would be the CEO. He was the leader and the person we would all contact to seek counsel on the many issues of life.”
Highly successful senior netball coach at Corowa, Georgie Bruce, recalled the invitation in 2015 by Craig to talk in his Origin Clothing store about a return to Corowa netball, the warm welcome and being fitted out with the club gear which was “as good as a signed contract”.
“He loved his fashion and latest trends, and I enjoyed challenging him weekly with cheeky remarks about his paisley print shirts, chino pants and snazzy leather shoe ensembles,” she said. “Craig took great pleasure in providing the club with apparel over the years and it was the perfect opportunity for him to meet and greet the new players and their families coming into our club.
“Craig appreciated netball and from the very beginning showed great interest in my role at the club, the vision we had and the goals we wanted to achieve.
“He was a passionate and committed board member, past player, supporter and sponsor of the club. He served as vice-president for five years, played over 200 senior and reserves’ games and was an integral part of the football recruitment department.
“His club first mentality and love for improvement, success and succession planning drove him to keep researching new ways to raise money, increase membership numbers and project the club forward. Who could forget his latest legacy – Ripper Roo Lotto!”
Georgie described Craig as “a man of his word, humble, a hard worker driven by an enormous amount of pride, love and passion”. “He was sincerely a gentleman, loyal and selfless. A respectful businessman, a great family man, role model to many and will be remembered as the barometer of our club.”
Along with everyone else, Georgie said how Craig faced and accepted his latest, life-ending challenge was “simply empowering and courageous”.
Fellow director of IWS Australia and great mate Brad Booth said Craig’s legacy extends far beyond the walls of his beloved clothing store ‘Origin Clothing’ and touches the hearts and minds of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
Remarkable journey
“Craig, alongside his mother Gwen and brother Darrell, embarked on a remarkable journey, turning their Mensland store into a thriving business that became a cornerstone of the community. They worked tirelessly, fostering success until Craig and his wife Marianne took the helm,” Brad said.
“Beyond the fashion racks and store counters, Craig was known for his impeccable sense of style. Always donned in vibrant colours, he became a distinctive figure, prompting us to identify him not by his features but by the colour and style of his jacket.
“In the world of fashion and business, Craig stood out as a trendsetter, a man who not only understood the industry but lived and breathed it.
“Craig and Marianne dedicated countless hours to carefully and strategically investing in their personal financial portfolio over the years. With a steadfast commitment to securing a prosperous future for their family, Craig meticulously scrutinised every potential investment, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring its viability and long-term profitability.
“Craig’s influence extended far beyond the aisles of Mensland. In 2011, he played a pivotal role in the creation of IWS, ‘Independent Workwear Specialists’, a buying group that now stands as the largest in the country. Despite the demands of his existing commitments, Craig’s optimism and ambition led him to take on the challenge of running a group with 300 plus stores.
“His foresight and determination propelled IWS to new heights, not just nationally but internationally, creating connections and opportunities that few could have imagined.
“Craig’s brilliance wasn’t just confined to business acumen, it shone through in his ability to communicate. He possessed the rare gift of listening intently, thinking deeply, and speaking eloquently - a trifecta that set him apart. His leadership in important industry meetings was unparalleled, representing IWS with grace and passion.
“Many leaders in our industry admired and respected Craig. Steel Blue’s owner, attested to Craig’s negotiating prowess, recounting how he walked away from meetings feeling not only satisfied but impressed.
“Despite his demanding schedule, Craig remained committed to the industry he loved. Whether it was flying to business meetings in Tasmania for AFL games in the Blundstone box at Blundstone Arena or attending the business meetings at the Australian Open in a box with another supplier, or speaking at our bi-annual conference in front of over 400 people, he embraced every opportunity.
“His recent determination to attend the Christmas party and a director’s meeting in our Gold Coast office just three weeks ago reflects his unyielding spirit and passion for life.
“Maz has been a driving force behind Craig’s successes. Maz and Craig were a dynamic duo, always lighting up the dance floor until the very end. Maz’s vibrant presence complemented Craig’s zest for life and earned her recognition among our peers and suppliers alike.”
Craig’s children chose a poem, read by older son Blake and Tony Jones sifted through 350 photographs to form a wonderful photo tribute presentation of the Spencer family.
Hundreds of past and present footballers, previous Roos’ coaches including Peter Tossol, Marc Almond and Peter German were there, as was Corowa’s favourite son, Sydney coach John Longmire. Past and present club officials including immediate past president John Henneman and current president Graham Hosier and secretary Rowena Black were there. Netballers were there in force. Craig was so admired and the ‘go to’ man on so many fronts.
Football club record holder Kade Kuschert summed it all up: “Craig was magnificent for Corowa Football Netball Club.”
As a mark of respect, many local businesses closed for the whole day. Mourners formed the huge guard of honour along Betterment Parade as the funeral cortege proceeded to the Corowa Lawn Cemetery.
Craig lived a life full of joy and purpose. He was devoted to his family and inspired all who knew him with his amazing contribution to the saddened community.
