It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Geoffrey Graham Rowbotham. He left us on July 13th, 2024 having lived a full life of love, kindness and service to his community.
Geoff was a long standing citizen of Ipswich - he moved from Bundaberg to Grenville Street, Ipswich in 1947 when he was 10 years old. Geoff attended Ipswich Central Boys School for years 4,5 and 6 and then Ipswich Grammar School before going onto Teachers Training College.
Our father had a wonderful ability to resonate with children. His kind manner and endless patience, with the ability to deliver the most boring of topics with a humour made him a very successful teacher. He made a positive impact on the lives of so many people, so much so that people would approach him in the street 40 years on to thank him for his service. His children and grandchildren received the greatest benefit of this rare skill since he taught most of them to read!
He taught at Raceview State School for much of his time in Ipswich but he also taught in Mt Isa and later in his career he worked at the Bardon Professional Development Centre and the Ipswich Resource and Development Centre. His final focus was on adult education where he designed the first computer training program for prison inmates, giving them a skill for life. He received a Public Service Medal for these services in 2008.
His first love was military, he discovered Cadets when he was in highschool and joined the Reserves while he was at teachers training college. We assume that his plan was to join the Forces full time when teachers college was complete, however that all changed when he was injured during field training and lost his right eye. He was in the Reserves for the rest of his life including OC Major at 34 Water Transport Unit at Kangaroo Point in Brisbane.
Please join us for a celebration of Geoff's wonderful life on Friday July 19, 2024 at 11:30am at St Paul’s Church, 124 Brisbane Street Ipswich. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Legacy.
Forever in our thoughts, Geoff will be dearly missed by family and friends.
