Getting to Know:
Geoff and Marian Ashworth

As reported in last month’s issue of the Yarn, our Australia Day and Waitangi Day celebration was well attended by more than 40 members and friends. Geoff and Marian were among them, and signed up as new members of the Club.

Geoff was born in Perth, WA, and the family farmed at York, just east of Perth. He went to school there from primary to junior high. They then moved to Bunbury, south of Perth, to complete high school. He joined the Main Roads Department (Perth) as a cadet draftsman and was with them for 25 years, including three years at Port Hedland (a major iron ore port facility in the Pilbara region of north west WA)

Along the way he earned an Associate Diploma in Civil Engineering. In 1995, he joined BHP Engineering, which was bought out by Hatch in 2000. Geoff has been with them ever since. Hatch (Engineering Consultants) is a global corporation based in Toronto, ON. The company was started in Montreal 60 years ago by Gerry Hatch. Over the years they have bought out Kaiser Engineering in Oz, Goba (Infrastructure Engineers) in South Africa, and H.G. Acres in Winnipeg. They do geotechnical and geothermal engineering for Manitoba Hydro, and Geoff is here for six to eight months working on the final design for the proposed Keeyask Generating Station on the Nelson River. He then expects to be transferred back to Perth.

In his halcyon days, Geoff played cricket and Aussie Rules football. Marian was an “A” grade softball player.

Geoff and Marian have a son, Glen, who is now 29 and lives in Perth. He is a motocross rider and former 3 time state champion.

Marian was born in Merredin, WA, where her parents also farmed. She took her primary school in Westonia and high school (college) in Perth, where she boarded for five years. She worked as a clerk in an insurance company in Perth, which is where she and Geoff met. They were married there in 1975.

Geoff found out about the DUCW from an associate at work here who mentioned our website.

With all their enthusiasm for the Club, we expect to see the Ashworths at more of our functions before they head back home.

Gordon Keatch