The following tributes to the late Sir Geoffrey Henry are from a memorial page on the Cook Islands News website. This will be the final collection of messages in the newspaper. Readers are invited to share brief personal condolences at www.cookislandsnews.com

To the family of the late Sir Geoffrey Henry, KBE, President, Cook Islands National Olympic Committee Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

On behalf of President Dr Robin Mitchell and the executive members of the Oceania National Olympic Committee we extend our sincerest and deepest condolences on the loss of Sir Geoffrey Henry.

Our Olympic family in Oceania share in the loss of one of it’s leaders and we would like to thank Sir Geoffrey’s family for sharing his time with us as part of the Olympic family in Oceania.

Our prayers with the Henrys

Our prayers are with his family.

We will miss you

Sir Geoffrey Henry you will always be in our hearts and both Jack and myself will miss you so much. Aere rau te papa ote Cook Islands

At peace

Our heartfelt sympathy to Aunty Louisa and family. May your heart and soul find peace and comfort now and forever.

Thank-you for the hospitality

Dear Louisa and family, we will never forget the hospitality we were shown by Geoff and yourself when we arrived as Australian volunteers in 1985. Geoff was then minister of works and I had come to the Cooks Islands to take on the role as deputy secretary civil engineering. Please accept our sincere condolences. Rest in peace Geoff.

A lasting legacy

My condolences to Louisa Lady Henry, the Henry family and the Cook Island Party, in the passing of Sir Geoff. The Cook Islands has lost another of their political icons, but no doubt, Sir Geoff’s legacy will live on.

Sir Geoff and my husband (the late Sir Tom Davis), as everyone was well aware, were political opponents in grand Cook Islands style.

Undoubtedly, they both had their flaws and attributes, strong wills and loyal supporters.

However, what most may not know is that around the turn of the century, they made peace with each other and enjoyed numerous friendly conversations in my presence.

It was heart warming to witness this, after being closely involved in the feisty political campaigns, during the early years.

In addition, Sir Geoff and my husband developed quite an amicable respect for each other as they came to relate on common ground.

They realised that though they had different or opposing methods for governing, they both cared deeply about their country and wanted the best for their people.

Last but not least, on behalf of the directors, staff and graduates of South Seas University, I convey our deep gratitude to Sir Geoff and his former staff for their support with South Seas University.

It is in this spirit with much respect, which my husband would have wanted, that I pay tribute to Sir Geoff Henry and convey to Lady Henry, her family and the Cook Island Party my heartfelt sympathy.

Farewell from Radio 4EB

Kia Orana from Brisbane, Queensland. On behalf of our Cook Islands Radio programme on Radio 4EB 98.1 and the Cook Islands community as a whole in south east Queensland, our thoughts and prayers go out to all of Sir Geoffrey Henry’s family, friends and the Cook Islands nation.

He leaves a great legacy for all and was and still is a huge influence on our lives.

Personally, last year I was blessed to meet him along with my wife as he was the Cook Islands representative for the Gold Coast’s bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2018.