Tributes for former Geelong Advertiser sports editor, Geoff Davie, after sad passing

Geelong is mourning the loss of a much loved and respected media figure and long-serving sports editor after his sad passing.

Former Geelong Advertiser sports editor, Geoff Davie, passed away this week. Photo: Supplied.

Geelong is mourning the loss of a much loved media figure and long-serving sports editor after his sad passing this week.

Tributes are pouring in for Geoff Davie, 65, who served as the leader of the Geelong Advertiser sports desk and was a revered personality across the city.

He had been bravely fighting cancer for the past 12 years before losing his battle on

Wednesday.

Davie met his wife Bron at the Addy, where she also worked in promotions, who described her husband as “a gentleman”.

“He always had a smile on his face,” she said.

“He was a perfectionist. His knowledge of sport was second to none.”

A diehard Cats fan and Geelong man through and through, the pair had moved away in recent years following the return of his cancer.

Renowned as a brilliant wordsmith and headline writer, Davie’s former colleague and current Herald Sun sports editor, Nick Wade, said Geelong’s rich sporting history “was either written by him or made to sing on the pages of the Addy that he oversaw” in recent decades.

“Geoff was an incredible mentor and leader,” he said.

“He was such a generous man on so many levels, professionally and personally.

“His sporting passion and wisdom would light up the sports desk every day.”

Geoff Davie was a long-serving an highly respected sports editor at the Geelong Advertiser.

A talented and passionate golfer and cricketer, Davie was also a published author, writing the book “Cats on the Prowl” throughout his distinguished media career.

The much loved husband and father-of-three knew all the ins and outs at grassroots level, having played many rounds across the region, including his home courses in Torquay and Bannockburn.

Head of Department at K Rock, Tom King, said his impact on Geelong’s media landscape “especially sport” is unlikely to be matched.

“He was must read when it came to the latest news out of the Cats, where I know the players held him in high regard,” he said.

Former Geelong Advertiser sports editor, Alex Oates, said Davie was “always smiling” and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of world sport.

Geoff Davie with Cats ruckman Rhys Stanley. Picture: Facebook

“That’s what set him apart,” he said.

“He also had his finger on the pulse on the local sport scene, had an eye for a good story and he was passionate about his craft.

“He had a great sense of humour and was never short of an opinion on all topics.”

He was also a former president and life member of the Guild St.Mary’s Cricket Club in Newtown and was heavily involved in hockey.

Bron Davie said her husband had been committed to spending the limited time they had left together creating cherished memories.

“He was one of the good ones,” she said.

“We will miss him dearly.”

He leaves behind his three children, Alina, Jossy and Zane.

A Victorian memorial celebrating his life is being planned for March, with details to be confirmed.

Originally published as Tributes for former Geelong Advertiser sports editor, Geoff Davie, after sad passing