Wednesday, 16th March 2016
A
t the 15 March 2016 OGM SYC Member Geoff Henderson was awarded Life Membership. Our congratulations to Geoff.
Mike Stahmer (Proposer) and Richard Jones (Seconder) nominated Geoff and the following is an overview of their nomination.
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Geoffrey Henderson joined SYC to sail in International Cadets. After a short time as crew, he quickly came to skipper his own boat “Lulu” and he stayed with the class until 17 years of age. As a family man, Geoff’s 3 children all sailed cadets. The girls took to social sailing, however, his son Andrew has made sailing his life, winning high accolades on the many “Wild Oats”, and currently the America’s Cup team Oracle.
Geoff has owned (often in partnership) and sailed several yachts. “Sweeney Todd” was a 30 ft custom built boat. She raced in the 1977 Sydney-Hobart as the smallest boat in the fleet and came 2nd in Division D. Three years later came “Limpid Lizard” a Cole 26. Skippered by Geoff she had many successes – The Junior Offshore Championships, Association Cup wins and success in Melbourne to Devonport race. Next came “Rumbeat”, a Farr 1104. Again Geoff achieved many successes, Bass Strait crossings and a very memorable Melbourne-Hobart westcoaster. Geoff has been acknowledged by all who sail with him to be a keen yachtsman and an excellent skipper. At all times he has promoted the joys of sailing and has been instrumental in the training of all who sail with him, many who are now club members with their own boats. However, record of sailing is just one aspect of Geoff’s time with SYC, and for the countless hours devoted to sailing, he has also contributed considerable personal time and effort to his club.
Geoff was OTB Captain for 4 years and during his time the OTB community thrived. He was instrumental in the upgrading of rescue boats through fundraising, Easter at Metung continued to grow in numbers, World Cadet Championships were held at SYC, and with an eye to the future of junior sailors from SYC, Geoff was key to the starting of the Junior Overseas Fund – now the Junior Development Fund.
From there Geoff continued to provide service to the club, through race management and serving on General Committee. He was heavily involved in the Melbourne to Osaka races as Safety Officer.
In 2003 Geoff became Commodore, a progression from cadet sailor to the highest level of service to his club; the first club member to go from Cadets to Commodore. The role of Commodore was hectic at this time as SYC was planning and implementing a massive building progamme including FMP1, the Ken King Centre and the design for the new clubhouse. To date, Geoff is actively involved in maintaining and updating the club’s library.
In consideration of all the years of loyalty and countless hours devoted to SYC, and its members, we the Proposer (Mike Stahmer) and Seconder (Richard Jones) recommend the SYC Committee proceed with the necessary procedures to grant Life Membership to Geoffrey Henderson.
In setting out the nomination both Mike and Richard acknowledged the contribution made by the late Philip Kaufman.
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If you see Geoff around the Club be sure to congratulate him on his Life Membership.