“Columbo, the crumpled cricketer.” That was what Bruce Collins, SUCC President, used to call Geoff during his playing days at Sydney Uni during the 70’s and 80’s.

Madds (as he was known) was an extremely talented, stylish right hand batsman. Mere statistics (set out below) do not tell the full story of his ability nor of his capacity to take charge and turn the game on its head when he was in full flight. He always scored his runs quickly – run rate was never a problem for him!

He first came to SUCC in 1974-75, from Shore School via Mosman. Two years in the 1sts at Shore saw him garner a GPS Premiership (along it might be said with such other luminaries at the time as Dave Johnson and Scott Weisener (Norths) and Steve Campbell (UNSW) – in fact no fewer than 6 members of the ‘72 team coached by the late ‘Percy’ Philpott went on to play first grade and some to State duties).

Geoff was a childhood prodigy. The story goes that, upon leaving school and starting his grade career with Mosman, he was promoted to first grade during the 1973-74 season when he was still only 17 years old (first grade cap no. 258). One Allan Border was the (equally young) unfortunate to be dropped to make way for him. Mosman was playing Bankstown at Mosman on a green top. Thommo and Lenny (Pascoe), the opening bowlers for Bankstown at that time (before their later Test duties), were in full flight and Mosman was in deep trouble at 5 for 40 odd when it came Geoff’s turn to face the music.

At the non-striker’s end was Mosman’s then Test player, newly returned from Ian Chappell’s Ashes tour, Dave (‘Fox’) Colley. On arriving at the crease and seeking advice from the senior player on how best to handle the situation, Fox replied only, “Punt high and follow through, kid.” Geoff always said that the stammer that plagued him throughout his life started from that moment.

The following season Geoff came to Sydney Uni and was quickly promoted to 1st grade in 1974-75 (first grade cap no. 506). He played 11 games in 1sts over that and the following season, scoring 247 runs at 16.5, with a highest score of 76 v Cumberland in January 1975 in a partnership of 139 with Greg Wilson for the 4th wicket.

He was at his best when the chips were down, as if a challenge was what it took to make him harness all his considerable talents and energy. The SUCC PG side in 1975-76 was a very talented team with a strong batting line up that also included Tommy Jenkins, Jim L’Estrange and Piet Baird, all future first graders. It was Uni’s best chance of making a PG final for many years, missing out only at the death to ND’s in a hard-fought last round (in those days only 2 teams out of 18, one from each side of the Harbour, went to the final).

Against Sydney at Glebe Oval on a spiteful (uncovered) track in wet conditions, with the season on the line and a difficult target to get, Geoff played one of the most stylish and masterful innings I have ever seen, carving the ball to all parts of the ground while wickets fell regularly around him, to guide Uni to victory with an undefeated 70 odd and man of the match award. When he was in form, there was no-one more elegant to watch – a right handed David Gower! He continued playing with SUCC until 1984.

Geoff graduated from Uni in law, whereupon he practised as a barrister for many years. In his student days he was memorable for wearing a grey greatcoat but always being barefooted, even in midwinter at the mausoleum in Phillip St where the Law School was then located.

He came from a very talented sporting family. His brother Peter not only played 1st grade cricket for Mosman but also 1st grade rugby for Norths, an increasingly rare double as seasons overlapped more and more. Of Peter’s sons, the eldest Andre also played 1st grade cricket for Mosman, Will represented Australia at Sevens Rugby and Jack not only played one game in first grade for SUCC but also played rugby for the Rebels, became a Wallaby and now plays professional rugby in France. Geoff himself was a more than useful rugby player too. It is little known that he played subdistrict rugby for Kings Old Boys in the late 70’s, along the way picking up a Barraclough Cup premiership under Alan Jones as coach.

As a person, Madds was one of the friendliest, most affable people you could ever meet. Always with a kind word and a big grin on his face, he never seemed to let life’s vicissitudes get him down but continued to smile right to the very end.

Geoff is survived by his children, Claire and Peter, and his granddaughter, Isabella.

To all his family, children and grandchildren, our deepest condolences.

Requiescat in pace.

Jock Baird (SUCC 1972-79)