15°C
Vale Ian Grason
The Derwent Canoe Club and paddling community of Tasmania would like to acknowledge the passing of Ian Grason and pay tribute to his incredible contribution to canoeing and its people.
He introduced many young paddlers to the sport of canoeing whilst a teacher in the late 1980s and 90s. He ran a kayaking activities program which changed the lives of many kids.
Ian ran the Board of Canoe education for many years. There was a flurry of activity when Ian was in charge and many people became instructors under Ian's tutelage. His contribution to canoe education was enormous.
Ian was a committed canoeist and was a leader on paddling trips around Tasmania, including the Franklin River. There are many stories of Ian being swept down rapids backwards and out of control. However, he always managed to survive and always had a full rescue kit and food for those with him.
Ian - aka Grizzler - was a colorful figure and famous for his short red shorts. The blunt conversations with expletives. Grizzling about his old Nissan Patrol towing a trailer load of kayaks and the long explanations of the current problems. The ongoing saga of his renovations to his home. This was Griz.
We will all miss him, a caring dedicated friend and peer a mentor and teacher. He contributed a great deal to canoeing in Tasmania!
You will be missed and affectionately remembered ... especially those red shorts.
The Derwent Canoe Club
Where would you like to share this Death Notice?