An interest in all things maritime – whether yachting or service to the Royal Australian Navy – inspired the late Geoffrey Evans to establish a trust to support young Australians to take up maritime pursuits and leadership opportunities.
For the last decade, the Geoffrey Evans Trust has benefited many individuals, communities and projects, from surf lifesaving, to supporting high-achieving maritime studies students, as well as early-career researchers working to look after the health of our oceans.
So where did the interest come from? One of four trustees, Bev Hattam, a second cousin of Geoffrey’s, said Geoffrey spent time as a boy at his grandfather’s holiday house at Barwon Heads, Victoria.
“My mother had a lot to do with Geoffrey growing up, and I think the Barwon Heads holiday house was where his love of sailing and the sea came from,” Bev said.
Geoffrey also spent a lot of time going out on barges with his grandfather to inspect the docks. His grandfather was the Geelong and Melbourne Harbour Trust Chairman.
When WWII broke out, Geoffrey saw active service with the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and subsequently joined the RAN Reserve, retiring with the rank of Commander. He was keenly interested in the Navy’s sea cadet movement, even taking a group of cadets to meet Queen Elizabeth II. Between 1956 and 1963 Geoffrey was Aide-de-Camp to the Governor of Victoria, becoming the Governor’s private secretary.
As Federal President of the Navy League of Australia, he sought to promote its aim of “maintaining the maritime wellbeing of the nation”, says Trustee Roger Blythman.
The support of the foundation established through his Will furthers that purpose and encouragement of young leaders.
Geoffrey was made MBE for service with the RAN Volunteer Reserve and received an OBE for service to the Navy League of Australia.
It is fitting that one of the most recent recipients of the Geoffrey Evans High Achiever Scholarship has herself been part of the Navy throughout her undergraduate degree at the Australian Maritime College (AMC).
Mia Findlay said her passion for the sea started early.
“I grew up in Launceston around the water and boats. It sparked my interest in the maritime space, and my passion for puzzles and problem solving led to my interest in the logistics side of things,” Mia said.
These two influences led to her enrolling in maritime logistics at the AMC.
Mia said a highlight of her degree was an industry placement at Malaysia’s Port of Tanjung Pelepas, one of the largest ports in the world.
“We don’t have anything like that port in Australia. I went with a couple of people from my degree and the head of logistics at AMC – it was fascinating to see how massive that port is.
“I made lots of industry connections and saw how the theory we learn in class translates to real-world applications.”
Mia also took up opportunities for placements at the Australian Antarctic Division and Wave Shipping in Brisbane.
She was able to reduce the amount of paid work she did, get better grades at university and take up soccer.
“I think physical health is good to unwind and to maintain a positive mindset, enhancing educational and professional development,” she said.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do all of this without the Geoffrey Evans Trust Scholarship.”
Mia Findlay
The Geoffrey Evans Trust’s guiding principles include encouraging, promoting and/or educating young people on the importance of Australia’s maritime environment.
The Trust has also recently supported several early career researchers at the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies.
Bev Hattan says she has been thrilled to be able to help people by distributing the Trust funds. “And my daughter has said she would like to continue in this role after me, to continue the legacy,” she said.
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Learn more about Giving at the University of Tasmania