OBITUARY

John Richard ‘Geordie’ Ord

7 June 1946 – 26 December 2022

‘GEORDIE’ Ord passed away peacefully on Boxing Day after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 76. His funeral service, conducted by Rev Tom Ede who gave the eulogy, was held at Crib Point RSL on 6 January. This was followed by a private cremation.

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Geordie Ord was born on 7 June, 1946 in Newcastle, England (hence the nickname ‘Geordie’). He was the eldest in a family of five. When he was 17 the family emigrated to Australia and settled in Fremantle. Shortly afterwards Geordie joined the Australian army where he spent four years.

In 1967 Geordie married Maureen Prescott, a Crib Point girl and they settled in Crib with Geordie working at the original Esso refinery. Michael, Kelly and Tim were born in the next few years.

After some time with Esso, Geordie joined a construction company where he worked as a crane driver and became a shop steward. His last job prior to retirement was the desalination plant at Wonthaggi.

However, Geordie was a person who liked to have more than one iron in the fire; during his years in construction he also owned the kiosk at Stony Point and for a time was the chef at the Hastings Club.            

Not long after his arrival in Crib Point, Geordie joined the local RSL where he soon became President, a position he held for 40 years. It was there that he met his long-term partner, Brenda-May. Geordie became involved in a number of sports connected to the RSL such as golf, fishing and darts but he also had a lengthy association with the Crib Point Football Club which awarded him life membership.

During the recent Covid lockdown Geordie delivered meals which were prepared at the Crib Point RSL to residents in Hastings and Crib Point. When not involved in his various community affairs, Geordie could generally be found attending to his well-stocked garden or tinkering in his shed.

Left to mourn the loss of Geordie Ord are his partner Brenda-May, children Michael, Kelly and Tim, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

First published in the Western Port News – 18 January 2023