Geoffrey Raymond Power AKA Joff or Geepee
August 1959 - March 2024
Handyman, Joker, Larrikin, Iconoclast.
1980s 1990s, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022, 2023.
Geoffrey Power, Joff to most who knew him, was a warm kind and generous soul he loved a chat and a Cider. And cats.
We first met in 1987. We met, the story has it, at a party I threw at my house. Rumour has it, as well as copious amounts of alcohol, a lawn mower was involved. Take this with a pinch of salt as we all know how sketchy memory can be. I never set out to make it so, but we ended up staying mates and remaining connected for the next 30 plus years.
We shared a house in Bentleigh from 1988 to 1989. It was colloquially known as "The Hutch". A cast of characters dropped by, sometimes staying a night or two others far too long. There was never a dull moment there. And some wild parties. The Gumby party probably being the most fondly remembered.
At some point in the early days we were amused enough by an advert on TV that used acronyms through its entirety that we decided to call each other by acronyms. He was Gee Pee, I was H B there was also A B, and Fester Pee. I seem to be the only one who remembered this, this way.
Many stories were shared and we even had a series of phrases that is probably typical of young men in that age range of mid to late 20s. What this meant was ideas and situations could be express quickly and subtly and only to the handful in on 'the joke'. "Holy Shit Margaret" was one such joke, it had its roots in an obscure album by Cheech and Chong. We were all fans of Monty Python, as well as Douglas Adams' series 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the galaxy', not to mention the probably more obscure Derek and Clive comedy duo. He and I and several others learned of the cult Band TISM around the late 1980s too. We got to see them play live in Richmond one night.
He was my best man at my wedding in 2002.
He was generous with his advice and many other things too, full of empathy, never too shy to balk at and having a bit of a shit stir. Always quick with a joke.
We travelled together on occasion too.
Those places were in rough chronological order:-
- Stephenson's Falls in the Otways
- Tasmania/Cradle Mountain
- King Island.
He had always dreamed of living a life untethered by mainstream concerns, when I met him. Something he achieved when he bought a share in an Multiple Occupancy (or RLC) block of land in far northern New South Wales at a place called Byrrill Creek in the late 1990s. I would visit him when time and finances permitted. By the time he passed away the house had 2 bathrooms air conditioning and a work shed. A far cry from the 'humpy' he originally lived in, when he first bought into the property in the late 1990s.
Below are some pictures of him, myself, some others and our lives together along with his property from mine and others archives.
1980s top
The Hutch crew ham it up in the Kitchen in 1988 or 1989, Me, Norm, Andrew and Joff
The Hutch crew ham it up in the Kitchen in 1998 or 1999, Joff, Andrew, Norm and Fester Pee
At the Cradle Mountain Pub, Geepee, Norm, and Mick
Andrew, Norm, Joff in Tasmania
Andrew, Norm, Joff and Mick on our Cradle Mountain Tasmania trip in the late 1980s
Andrew and Joff at Cradle Mountain
The Hutch Krew in the kitchen of "The Hutch" circa 1998, Me, Andrew, Norm, Joff and Fester Pee
Joff TC and Me at some party in the late 1980s
1990s top
A get together in the grampians, sometime in the early 1990s
On King Island in the mid to late 1990s
On King Island in the mid to late 1990s
The crew outside Mick's place in the late 1990s, Nikki, Geepee, Me and Andrew
Joff in his partially built house in 1999
Joff pointing out of the house towards mount Warning a view to die for.
Joff celebrated his 50th birthday in 1999 by throwing a party at his partially completed house. This was the bonfire before it was lit.
Andrew, Me Joff at Byron Bay Lighthouse in the late 1990s I think?
Andrew looking under the hood of his car while Joff looks on. You had to be there I guess.
Joff, Nik and Andrew at the Lighthouse in Byron Bay.
Joff, Nik and Me pose somewhere in Northern New South Wales
2000s,top
Joff trying on his suit before our wedding, 2002
Joff holding a drink during the pre wedding preparations in 2002
Pre wedding the boys got together to drink alcohol and relax. Deebster, Joff, Me and Brian
The formal wedding party photo, with Nikki, Me, Joff and Susan
Joff and I hamming it up during the wedding reception
Joff assembling the BBQ, wedding gift in the backyard of our then new house.
Joff playing pool at Kamp Krusty 2004.
Geepee (Joff) hamming it up at our house in about 2004
2010 top
Joff's house in 2010.
2013 top
Joff and I after brunch at a local cafe, in the Tweed Valley around 2013.
Joff on a visit to Melbourne outside Melbourne Central in 2013, if you knew him you would understand the significance of this picture!
Andrew Joff and me at the pub in Byron Bay in 2013
Joff and me at his place in 2013
Joff taking a picture of me taking a picture of him and the view!
2016 top
Joff in his trademark shorts and thongs standing in Byrril Creek in 2016
Joff and I, at the Byron Bach Beach Hotel in 2016
2019 top
Joff the Birthday boy at a local restaurant in 2019 for his birthday
Joff Lynne and myself, out the front of the Espy, on our way to lunch, this was a favourite watering hole in the late 1980s for us both.
Joff and Lynne explore the interior of the Espy that had only been reopened and renovated a few years prior
Joff and Lynne deep in discussion with others around the table over lunch at the Esplanade Hotel.
Joff munching on a sausage at our local Bunnings Warehouse in 2019
2022 top
Me and Joff pre lunch in 2022 on his lighting visit with Lynne.
Joff, Lynne, Me and Nikki at a Japanese restaurant in 2022
Nikki, Myself, Lynne, Joff at a Japanese restaurant in 2022
2023 top
Relaxing in Coolangatta with my wife Nikki and his wife Lynne.
Relaxing on the balcony of the Air B n' B in Coolangatta.
Me, Joff and Nikki doing touristy stuff while visiting for my birthday at Coolangatta.
Doing brunch for my birthday.
Me and Joff posing at some tourist spot in or near Tweed Heads
My wife Nikki and Joff making a selfy during my birthday visit.
Joff and me watch the sunset over Coolangatta from 6 stories up.
Joff feeding birds on his deck in late 2023
Joff and me on his deck during a visit in 2023
I you want high resolution pictures of Joff, contact me via email. These current pictures are very low resolution on purpose.
If you knew Geepee, (Joff) (Geoffrey Raymond Power) and have something you want added here contact me,via email, and I will add it when time permits.
My Eulogy to Geepee
Geoffrey Power, Joff to most who knew him, was a warm kind and generous soul he loved a chat and a cider. And cats.
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Stuart, Joff and I shared a house in the late 1980s and became close friends very quickly. It was a ‘Young Ones’ kind of house, affectionally known as the Hutch. We all had nick names for each other. Mine was HB, Joff, Geepee, Andrew was AB. There were others, whose names are mostly lost to the mists of time. There was also a large revolving cast of visitors and inhabitants at the Hutch. Some came for a night and stayed far too long, others delivered pizzas and were never seen again. There was never a dull moment there. And some wild parties. Who can forget the Gumby party? You had to be there though, I guess. Those were crazy, fun times, of laughter, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories.
I want to begin by sharing a recent anecdote. I arrived at Joff’s place after my flight from Melbourne, a couple of Mondays ago, to witness him being attended to so lovingly by Lynne and Judith. As I entered the room, his first word was “Nurse!”. Andrew laughed immediately when I told him this. The joke refers to a Derek and Clive sketch we had listened to countless times in the Hutch, where either Derek or Clive makes a joke of calling for a nurse repeatedly until he can no longer hang on and lets a gigantic fart rip. So, so Joff, in so, many ways.
Anyway we’re here to celebrate the life of Joff, our beloved friend, Larrikin, Joker, Handyman, and some would say backyard Philosopher. He was not just a friend, but a shoulder to lean on, for me and many others. He helped me through my fair share of bad break ups, and too much U2 as well.
I first met Joff in 1987, over time our connection grew immensely strong. Together we discovered the irreverent humour of TISM, chuckled at the comedic genius of Monty Python, and played Dire Straits loudly and often.
We learned to revel in the absurdity and satire of TISM's music, laughed at their unique brand of social commentary, and admired their irreverent attitude to the mainstream. Whether we were dissecting the lyrics of “The Mordialloc Road Duplicator” or singing along to “Everyone else has had more sex than me,”. TISM's world seeped into our lives and conversations. This bolstered our shared sense of humour and camaraderie, which only grew stronger over time.
We loved Monty Python too. Especially the movies. From the iconic sketches of "Flying Circus" to the hilarity of "Life of Brian" and "Holy Grail," Joff and I identified with and enjoyed the absurdity of their humour. We'd take snippets of their sketches and use in them in our day to day conversations at every opportunity. On one cinema visit, a patron behind us had a bag of snacks, most likely chips, that was particularly noisy. Joff promptly shut them up by yelling Russell! We all loved word plays like that.
And then there was Dire Straits, whose timeless melodies marked the turning point in music culture that Joff so brilliantly predicted.
He also honoured me by agreeing to be my best man at our wedding in 2002. A job he handled with aplomb.
But beyond our shared interests, Joff was a steadfast friend and mate. Always keeping it real. He was always there for me and I’m sure many others, through thick and thin. Offering words of wisdom or comfort in times of need. Or indeed sarcasm if the situation called for it.
As we bid farewell to Joff today, let’s treasure the memories we shared, the laughter we enjoyed, and the bond that will forever connect us all. Though he may no longer walk among us, his spirit lives on in the laughter and love he brought into our lives.
Rest in peace, Geepee. You will be deeply missed, but your memory will live on in our hearts forever.