Huon Valley Councillors and staff are deeply saddened to hear of the recent passing of Dr Richard Geeves, a highly respected and remarkable member of the Geeveston and wider Huon Valley community.
We extend our sincere condolences to the people of Geeveston and their namesake, the Geeves family, who are grieving a profound loss.
Dr Geeves, or Dr Dick as he was fondly (and widely) known in our community, was a lifelong champion of Geeveston and the Huon Valley, contributing many hours of his life and career to support the wellbeing of our people.
An esteemed medical professional with an interest in healthy ageing, Dr Dick was a valued member of various committees through the years, including the Positive Ageing Advisory Committee and Geeveston Streetscape Committee. He remained a member of the Tasmanian Forest Workers Memorial Committee until the end of his life.
Dr Dick’s long list of volunteer activities include services to the charity Technical Aid for the Disabled, Meals on Wheels, and the Huonville Anglican Op-Shop. A founding member of the Geeveston Town Hall Green Jackets volunteer group, Dr Dick was renowned for his selflessness and compassion.
In 2008, Dr Dick transformed an old Geeveston residence into a medical centre that has played an important role in supporting good health within the community.
“It may be Dr Dick’s big heart, good humour and small acts of kindness that will be remembered most.”
In recognition of his outstanding services to our community, Dr Dick was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1990 and a Centenary Medal in 2001. In 2008, he was named Huon Valley Citizen of the Year.
Recently, we were fortunate to interview Dr Dick for our Harmony Week Huon Beings exhibition, in which he praised the “great potential” of today’s youth as capable captains of our future world.
Of all his qualities, it may be Dr Dick’s big heart, good humour and small acts of kindness that will be remembered most. It is the stories of Dr Dick helping a stranger out of a spot, and then promptly inviting them home for tea, that remind us to put into practice those neighbourly qualities which make the world go round.
It is with heavy hearts and deep respect we say goodbye to a Huon Valley treasure, a strong role model, and friend to all who crossed his path, the generous and good-natured Dr Dick.
Cr Sally Doyle
Acting Mayor
Photo by Andrew Wilson