Geoff followed his late father, Maurie, into Freemasonry when he joined the former St Johns of Rochester Lodge.
He was presented with a service medal at Campaspe Valley Lodge in Echuca recently.
Geoff attended Rochester Primary School, Rochester Higher Elementary School and Echuca High School before he commenced training as an assistant engineer with the former Shire of Rochester.
He moved to Melbourne where he worked with the City of Camberwell before moving to the City of Knox, where he worked until retiring as deputy chief executive.
He was awarded the public service medal in 1994 for his service to local government.
As a young man Geoff was an exceptional sportsman, winning many awards in athletics, cricket, football and tennis.
He won the Rochester Centenary Cup in athletics as a teenager in 1954 but ultimately made his name in football.
After playing with Rochester Football Club he was recruited to play VFL football for Hawthorn but his career was prematurely ended through injury.
Geoff remained a financial member of the St Johns of Rochester Lodge despite living in Melbourne until it amalgamated with several in Echuca to form the Campaspe Valley Lodge, which now meets in Echuca.
The presentation was made jointly by John Glover and Stan Taig with Harry Gibson leading the celebrations honouring Geoff during a supper that followed. Stan was thrilled to be involved in the presentation because he had been friends with Geoff’s late father, Maurie, during the time he had been a member of St Johns Lodge.
Despite enjoying retirement in Torquay with his wife, Jill, Geoff hoped to spend more time with his friends at the lodge in Echuca in future.
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