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IN MEMORIAM

It is our sad duty to record the passi11g of
our friend, CATHs:v member, and cinema
owner, Geoffrey Edwards.

Geoff died at Kyneton on Thursday the 24th
of August, aged 68, after a battle with can
cer.

Geoff was a true entlmsiast in all avenues
of his endeavour. Over the years he was an
amateur photographer, sound recordist (he
even cut his own records), a chorister, (loved
Gilbert and Sullivan) and, of course, a keen
projectionist- from the age of 14! His fam
ily was involved with "the movies" at
Wedderburn in Cenh·al Victoria where his
father and uncle installed "modern" sound-
on-disc equipment after running silent pic
tures for some years, so it seemed natural
that in time Geoff would progress fi·om hav
ing an amateur interest in cinema to actu
ally owning a "picture house". This he duly
did in conjunction with his sister and long
time carer, Joan. The cinema we all associ
ate with Geoff is of course, "Cinema
Charlton", formerly "The Rex".

The Rex was purchased jointly by Geoff and
Joan in 197 J. Over the years, much work
was done at Charlton. The cinema under
went a number of upgradings and altera
tions, tl1e projection room ending up with
two Philips 70/35mm projectors (the same
machines which brought Todd-AO to Mel
bourne), a 16mm Bauer and a modem
"Smart" sound system.

Geoff lived for Cinema Charlton- But he also had been involved with cinemas at, the Mechanics Hall in Gisborne, The
Theatre Royal in Castlemaine and at The WycheproofHaiJ. He also worked for some years at the AudioVisual Centre of
the Education Department of Victoria.

In a taped interview with Geoff at the time of the CATHS-V visit to Charlton in 1996, Geoff said that he wanted to
obtain his 35mm Projectionist Licence, but to do so he had to work as an assistant (or apprentice) to a practising,
licensed operator. The large cinema chains in Melbourne were not in the slightest bit interested in employing a disabled
n·ainee (Geoff was a victim of polio as a boy). So not to be out-done he decided that to achieve his aim he could purchase
his own cinema and act as an assistant to an employed projectionist while he received his formal training, and so satisfy
"The Powers That Be!"

So Geoff became an apprentice at Cinema Charlton. Joan was in effect the employer, and the theatre's projectionist,
Vince Dabron, who was involved with the construction of the theatre in 1938, "trained" Geoff. Vince and other mem-
bers of the staff at Charlton were all supportive of Geoff and I know that this support, particularly of recent years, was
greatly appreciated by both Geoff and Joan. Geoff was also very much an archivist. He collected many fascinating items
of history relating to the twentieth century and I am sure that this aspect ofltis endeavours will become better known as
time goes by. Already some cinema details have been passed onto CATHS-Y, and the ABC bas made use of his archival
sound recordings!

We will all miss Geoff. Those who knew him well will remember his tremendous spirit and detem1ination. Geoff's
funeral was held at the Uniting Church, Wedderburn, on Tuesday 29-8-2000 at 1.00 pm. A thanksgiving service was
held at the Uniting Church, Duncan Street Fairfield, 30.8.2000 at 7pm. Text and Photo: Peter Wolfenden

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