Very Sad News indeed Mike.
Geoff was one of the first people I met when I started going to the Pony Club.
A little eccentric, but then aren't we all to some degree, especially us amateur astronomers.
One of the nicest guys you could meet, always happy to help or have a chat.
He will be sadly missed.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
Geoff was a customer, visited us here at Mount Kuring-Gai on a couple
of occasions and I spoke with on the phone now and then over the years.
Plus we would bump into him at the IceInSpace Astrocamp.
I will remember him for his friendly, lively and animated personality.
I had the opportunity to attend Geoff's farewell.
The place was packed.
Family friends and Rural Fire Service mates.
I represented his Astro Buddies.
Plenty of tears and plenty of laughs.
Well I thought Geoff was a bit eccentric and this was confirmed with the countless stories.
The fire chief said Geoff always had a brilliant plan to tackle any situation, but they often didn't always end well.
Stories included Geoff up a ladder, on top of a stool, in the back of his ute, to cut down a tree.
And the time he pulled down a tree with the front end loader, then continued to back it into the dam.
His "son" (in-law?) said of all the crazy things he did, and the near misses, he never expected him to die in his sleep.
Geoff obviously put some thought into his own funeral.
During the photo slide show of his life, they played "Always look on the bright side of Life".
At the end of the service, for the procession, they played the Monty Python song: "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OKay".
Good on ya, Geoff#2
Farewell Friend
We will miss you!
His son said of all the crazy things he did, and the near misses, he never expected him to die in his sleep.
Geoff obviously put some thought into his own funeral.
During the photo slide show of his life, they played "Always look on the bright side of Life".
At the end of the service, for the procession, they played the Monty Python song: "I'm a Lumberjack and I'm OKay".
Thanks Allan,
That's wonderful! Thank you for passing this on. You've made us laugh
as well.
I had the opportunity to attend Geoff's farewell.
The place was packed.
Family friends and Rural Fire Service mates.
I represented his Astro Buddies.
Plenty of tears and plenty of laughs.
Allan thanks for the update and for representing us.
Still hasn't sunk in, gonna miss him heaps.
Gosh, just catching up with this news. Very sad indeed.
My fondest memory of Geoff was when the lid of the Mary Rose blew off somewhere along the winding roads between the Paint Ball place we were at that stage observing from and the F3. I sent out the SOS, and the legend that he was, Geoff went for a drive hunting down the side of roads to find it. And find it he did! Next day there he was knocking at my door with the biggest smile on his face, lid in hand! He had gone totally out of his way to help.
I still giggle at the bright yellow Crocs he used to wear to Lostock. Perfect in the dark.
Eccentric, delightful, always welcomed everyone with equal friendliness and kindness, never a harsh word, mischievous and community-spirited.
My fondest memory of Geoff was when the lid of the Mary Rose blew off somewhere along the winding roads between the Paint Ball place we were at that stage observing from and the F3. I sent out the SOS, and the legend that he was, Geoff went for a drive hunting down the side of roads to find it. And find it he did! Next day there he was knocking at my door with the biggest smile on his face, lid in hand! He had gone totally out of his way to help.
Hi Rod,
That's a fabulous story!
Somewhere along the several tens of km's stretch from the F3 and up
George Downes Drive, Andrew lost the lid to either the 18" or 25" in
the same way. I can't recollect if it was Andrew, or another friend, who
some months later needed to pull off the side of the road one night for
a sudden call of nature. Whilst watering the vegetation, they looked
down in the grass and there was the lid.
Sad news - gmbfilter (from Yarramalong) has passed away
