Mourners share memories of former dealer

The life of Graeme Marsh, a former car dealer, businessman and philantropist, has been celebrated during a service in Dunedin following his death last week aged 89.

Born and raised in Dunedin, he founded Marsh Motors in Crawford Street before purchasing Zephyr Caravans and then in 1963, with his late brother Eric, acquired the Cooke Howlison dealership.

Graeme, pictured, managed the business and led a growth strategy that saw it buy Blackwell Motors Holden in Christchurch in 1979 and a year later it opened Dunedin’s largest specialist truck workshop.

Cooke Howlison is part of the Marsh family-owned Oakwood Motor Group, run by Graeme’s son John Marsh, which now has 13 dealerships in Otago and Canterbury and employs more than 300 staff.

The motor industry was one of Graeme’s many business interests over the years after his career developed from chartered accountancy to corporate management.

Other ventures spanned from engineering and technology companies to control of rope and twine manufacturer Donaghys. where he was managing director from 1988-97.

He also served as national president of the Motor Trade Association, president of the Otago branch of the New Zealand Society of Accountants, and he was a member of the Australia and New Zealand Business Council and the Prime Minister's Enterprise Council.

In 1995 he was awarded a CBE for services to export and the community, in 2014 he became the first Honorary Doctor of Commerce from the University of Otago, and he is also recognised in the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame.

Graeme, who died on June 8, leaves behind his wife, Eunice, their four children, nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.