WITCOMBE, Riley Angelo (Rizza) (1995-2022)Courtesy Graeme (OGC 1973), Frances and Darcy (OGC 2015) Witcombe.Riley attended Geelong College from year 7. He was in McArthur House and received Junior House Colours Athletics Colours. In year 8 he was part of the tennis and football teams. Riley completed Year 12 at The Gordon.
After school Riley completed a Diploma in Digital Photography and Photoimaging at the Northern College of the Arts in Melbourne.
He then returned home and commenced a Degree in Fine Arts (Photography) at Deakin University, Waurn Ponds.
Only 6 weeks into the course (2019) an insidious disease took hold. An extremely rare neurodegenerative disease. According to the geneticist who made the diagnosis, the chances of getting this is one in 40 billion. Riley was only the 68th recorded case in the world. There was no treatment and no cure.
Phil Taylor, McArthur House Master, wrote these words for Riley’s eulogy,
"I can still remember Riley walking up the circular path from the Aphrasia Street bus stop to the main buildings, each year his gait getting more noticeable and the challenge more difficult. But he never complained or showed signs that his physical challenges were becoming too much. I firmly believe, in retrospect, that what carried Riley each day of his educational journey, was the pride that he felt at walking through the gate with his blazer on and McArthur colours on his breast pocket.
I was privileged to teach Riley for a couple of years. In every class Riley came prepared with an attitude of always giving it his best shot. Riley Witcombe was a champion.”
In 2019 the family started fundraising for The Bruce Lefroy Centre at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Research into genetic neurological disorders is ongoing.
Anyone in The Geelong College community is invited to donate to this worthy cause. Tribute donations can be made online at
www.mcri.edu.au/donate by selecting the option to make a tribute gift in loving memory of Riley Witcombe.
Riley passed away at home on 12 August 2022 surrounded by family. RIP Rizza.