Western Park tribute for former president
The Warragul Football and Netball Club, alongside many others, last week paid tribute to former president Geoff Rhodes who died on October 25.
Club members and friends gathered at Western Park on November 7 to watch the funeral service via a livestream.
Geoff was a former president and longtime committee member.
He was born in Caulfield and moved to Warragul West with his family in 1960. It was on the school bus that he met his future wife Rhonda while he was attending the then Warragul Technical School.
He left school at the age of 15 to join his father Bill and brother Ian in the family butcher shop in Smith St, Warragul.
Geoff and Rhonda were married in 1968. They had three children, Mandy, Wayne and Scott.
After leaving the butchering business Geoff set up a livestock transport service.
He and Rhonda farmed beef cattle at Nilma North.
Geoff returned to the butchering business to help Ian and was part of the business when it relocated further up Smith St to its current premises at number 43.
Geoff again left the business and concentrated on beef farming until he and Rhonda moved into Warragul.
They spent their retirement travelling both within Australia by caravan and sometimes overseas.
Celebrant Mick Jungwirth said Geoff was positive and optimistic by nature.
He said he was a proud working-class man who wasn’t afraid of hard work and reaped the rewards of a strong work ethic.
Warragul Football Club president Michael Ireland said Geoff was an enormous part of the Warragul township and heavily involved in the Warragul club for many years.
“Geoff Rhodes and the Rhodes name is synonymous with Warragul and the surrounding district. He worked very hard and didn’t like to make a fuss about himself.
“He was running our club’s cattle enterprise and was an incredibly generous man with his time and enjoyed seeing families and kids growing with the club,” Mr Ireland said.
He served three years as president in the 1980s and spent 15 years on the committee.
Because of restrictions, members of the football and netball club lined Western Park to pay tribute as the cortege travelled around the oval perimeter.
The Western Park and Neerim District cricket clubs paused their match and joined the guard of honour.
Michael said it was a fantastic turnout and one of the club’s biggest shows of strength during what has been a trying time for many.
The Rhodes name continues to live on at the club, with Geoff’s grandson and granddaughters still involved in both the netball and football sides.
Geoff is survived by his wife Rhonda, children Mandy, Wayne and Scott and grandchildren.