HARDING, Geoffrey Adrian (1924-2023)
Coming from Red Cliffs, Geoff boarded at the College from 1940 to 1941, completing Forms V to VI. His brother also attended the school, Desmond Harding (OGC 1944). A member of Warrinn House, Geoff received multiple house colours for tennis and cricket. While Geoff was a useful bowler, a report of an interhouse game noted the “heroic defence of the tail-enders Farquharson and Harding, who won the match for Warrinn.” In 1941 he was a member of the 1st XI cricket team, and received cricket cap and school cricket colour. Off the field, Geoff played the piano, often performing solo at school concerts.
Following school Geoff joined the RAN in 1944 and served as Writer on HMAS Warrego. After being discharged in 1947, he returned to Mildura. He would go onto become a restaurateur, opening The Rendezvous which would become a Mildura institution. He was a long-time supporter of the school and kept in touch via the local OGCA branch.
Geoff married Pat in 1950 and they have two sons who also attended the College, Graeme (OGC 1965) and Lee (OGC 1971). In recent years, Geoff relocated to Anglesea.
Geoff passed away 14 September 2023, aged 98 years.
Sources: https://mcglynnhuntfunerals.com.au/blogs/current-funerals/harding-geoffrey-adrian-private, Pegasus, Ad Astra, OGC 1938