Vale Geoff Robertson – well loved Adelaide CD
The Adelaide industry is in shock after the sudden death of Geoff Robertson, creative partner of Nation who sadly passed away yesterday.
Robertson was co-owner, with Greg Knagge, of Nation, formed in Adelaide four years ago. The pair had previously led the Clemenger BBDO Adelaide creative department for the previous ten years.
Last year Robertson was elected co-president of the Adelaide Advertising and Design Club.
Adelaide creative director James Rickard told CB: “Aside from being one of the great craftsmen, Geoff was just a thoroughly decent human being. Generous with his time, quick with his wit, happy to share his wisdom and talent. A mentor to a fortunate few, a friend to so many and missed by all.”
Long-time friend and former colleague Steve Callen, now a director at Filmgraphics in Melbourne, posted a comment on FB: “What a wonderful, wonderful human being. Always reliable. So dependable. A great creative and the most incredible father. Just an all round great bloke. You’ll be missed so much by so many because you touched so many lives. All our love and thoughts to Jayne and the kids.”
Alex Fenton, partner at Fenton Stephens in Melbourne, posted this comment on FB: “Geoff came to Melbourne to join our team at JWT Melbourne in the late 80s. His disarming humility and quiet charm belied the modest genius within. Caught up with Geoff some years later at a Caxtons event- it had been a while – (it’s been a while since) – but it was lovely to re-connect with one of the gentlemen of our business. Genuine man. True man. Sweet man. I miss him. Tragic and sad loss. My heartfelt love to Geoff’s family.”
18 Comments
An inspiration to everyone lucky enough to know him. Adelaide just lost a legend.
Good as man. Even better person.
Great guy to work with, great guy to party with. Adelaide has lost a beauty.
One of the nicest of people one could ever meet.
It was a pleasure to know and work with him for all those years.
A gentleman and great craftsman.
Vale Geoffrey
I’ll miss you mate.
Geoff Robertson. What a wonderful, wonderful human being. Always reliable. So dependable. A great creative and the most incredible father. You’ll be missed so much by so many because you touched so many lives. All our love and thoughts to Jayne and the kids.
A generous clever creative bloke and friend who always geeted me with a smile on his dial. Really proud to have worked with you Geoff Robertson. Thoughts with Nation team family and friends.
Awful and tragic.
Geoff was a powerhouse creative. Immense love and thoughts and prayers and everything in between to Greg and the team and his family.
Damn shame. Such a nice bloke.
RIP Geoff. Always loved having a couple of ales with ya mate and a laugh. My thoughts go out to the family.
Very sorry to hear. Thoughts to the family, Gregg and South Australia.
So sad to hear this news. Geoff was a wonderful guy.
So, so sorry to hear the news.
He was an exceptional communicator and a wonderful man.
My thoughts are with his family, friends and associates.
It is with a heavy heart that I type this. Geoff was the one who made me want to get into advertising in the first place. He then took me under his wing in AWARD School. Fifteen years later, I only recently reconnected with him, and his charm and generosity were as present as ever. Working in this sometimes harsh industry is softened by the warm and inspiring people you meet along the way. He was one of the best. RIP
It is with a heavy heart that I type this. Geoff was the one who made me want to get into advertising in the first place. He then took me under his wing in AWARD School. Fifteen years later, I only recently reconnected with him, and his charm and generosity were as present as ever. Working in this sometimes harsh industry is softened by the warm and inspiring people you meet along the way. He was one of the best. RIP
Devastating news. Generous, caring, fun, professional, buckets of talent and a great drinking buddy. A fantastic guy. Will miss you my friend. My thoughts go out to Jayne, family and all at Nation.
As a very young and inexperienced creative director at JWT Melbourne I hired the even younger and even less experienced Geoff Robertson as an art director fresh from Adelaide.And what a joy he was.Talented yet refreshingly unspoilt.We did everything to keep Geoff but his homing instinct for Adelaide was overwhelming.It seems he made the right decision given the success he went on to enjoy there.Mate you will remain in my thoughts.
Such a talented and generous man. Loved working with him and extremely saddened by the news