Vale Geoff Mercer
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It is with great sadness that we inform the Australian rogaining community of the passing on Saturday (12th April) afternoon of Geoff Mercer. Geoff was a passionate rogainer through the 1990’s and early 2000’s. He served the Australian Rogaining Association as Secretary, and was the organizer and course setter of the 2002 Australian Rogaining Championships. He was also a life member of ACTRA and President for many years. Geoff’s was a great source of wise counsel and thoughtful guidance for many people both competing and organizing events. Over the past decade his growing family and other life priorities meant we didn’t see Geoff regularly at rogaines as we had previously but he had recently returned to the sport he loved. On Saturday he was participating in the ACT Rogaining Championships with his life partner and multiple ARC Champion, Alex Tyson, when he suffered a massive heart attack. Alex and the four other teams that quickly gathered at the spot worked tirelessly for the five hours it took for the emergency services to reach this very remote location but the damage had been done in that first instant. Geoff was 51 and in addition to Alex, leaves behind their two daughters aged 16 and 18. The thoughts of the entire Australian rogaining community are with them and the rest of Geoff’s family. We will remember Geoff as a passionate rogainer who contributed greatly to our sport as an administrator with the ACT and Australian Rogaining Associations. May he rest in peace. |