Geoffrey Minett Pennell

Story

GEOFFREY MINETT PENNELL 18/1/1908 Ð 6/9/1986

Geoffrey Pennell was born in Welling, Kent in 1908. At 16 he went up to London, called at Australia House and was accepted as a Barwell Boy. This was a scheme initiated by a former South Australian Premier to help lads come to Australia to work on farms. Back to London six weeks later went Geoff to pick up a suit his father had ordered for him and the next day Geoff sailed on the Benalla. He was a Barwell Boy but this was no handicap to Geoff, in fact, he turned the experiences of childhood into positive living and truly became a quiet achiever.

Geoff was lucky to survive the voyage. He fell overboard a week out from Cape Town, but stayed dry. He was sitting, listening to a pianist, when a sudden squall ripped the tarpaulin that was sheltering the piano, and knocked Geoff off a rail. He landed, not in the sea, but on the pilot\’s ladder and climbed aboard shaken but not seriously hurt.

Whilst working on a farm at Millicent, South Australia he met Ritsie Hutchesson. They were married in the Salvation Army Citadel at Millicent and it was in that town that their three children were born (Betty, Ken and Ian). He and Ritsie ran the Tea Rooms and Restaurant at Millicent for 18 years before moving to Adelaide in 1946.

In Adelaide, Geoff joined Elders, here he worked his way up to become clerk in charge of the wool classing section at Port Adelaide. He gave 26 years of distinguished service to Elders.

Retirement did not place Geoff on the inactive list. He helped found Victims of Crime and gave distinguished service to this organisation.

From a boy who began life from very humble beginnings he grew to be a person of stature who could rub shoulders with any man, whatever their rank, dignity or status might be. He could converse intelligently on many subjects. Geoff was a good family man and his care and friendship were contagious.

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