Vale Geoffrey Thomas

By Ken Casellas

From his early days as a student at Dalkeith Primary School, Geoffrey Thomas has been a fervent supporter of the Claremont Football Club, and now his many friends at the club are mourning his passing.

He died last week, aged 74 following complications from heart surgery. A funeral service will be held at the Karrakatta Cemetery on Wednesday of next week (June 17).

Thomas was a renowned and respected aviation journalist with an extraordinary knowledge of the industry, and he was always generous in sharing his wisdom.

He began his involvement with the aviation industry in 1970 as a dispatch officer, purser and loader for MacRobertson Miller Airlines in Port Hedland, Tom Price and Exmouth. Since then, he has worked in newspapers, radio and television.

Thomas was the Australasian Aviation Journalist of the Year in 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2016, and he also received dozens of international awards.

A true gentleman, he will be missed by his many journalist colleagues and friends.