Geoff Dougall
Geoff at the tender age of sixteen with little scholastic ability was introduced to the printed word, not as a writer of prose but as an apprentice to one of Melbourne's finest printing houses. Dispatched from the bliss of a hot summer on Williamstown beach by his father who at the time was President of the Printing and Allied Trades Union into the unfamiliar territory of the apprentice with ink on his hands and a fair share of politics which would stay with him for the next fifty years. After completing his apprenticeship he bought an old press and started his own business in his dad's shed going on to become proprietor of his own printing and stationery business for over 3 decades in Williamstown.
The business aroused his passion for Williamstown's heritage as he was often asked to provide his expertise as a printer to publish articles where no other publisher would. Wilson Evans and Bob Leek were great contributors and from them Geoff realised how much of Williamstown's past was being lost. His father served his apprenticeship at the Williamstown Chronicle and with the demise of the local papers, Geoff set about collecting material and photographs from any source he could and along with inheriting Bob's extensive resource base he now has one of the largest private collections of Williamstown's maritime heritage which is used by many academics and writers in their research.
Geoff has written and published two books, the first 'The history of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club, and 'Of Full Steam & Taut Hawsers' The story of the tugs of Williamstown. He is now focused on completing two volumes on the working class suburb of Williamstown.
Geoff was born in Newport and has lived in Williamstown for over 50 years, being involved in many facets of community and business life during that time. He served as a councilor from 1977 and has been a member of an extensive list of organisations and clubs, including many years with the Williamstown Football Club of which he was president of the supporters club that saved the club from amalgamation in 1995.
Living by the sea has been a part of his life since his dad first took him fishing at the age of 6, and boats have been a major part of his life. Geoff sailed with the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, a member of the angling club and served as a past secretary of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club.
He has owned and restored a number of classic wooden boats and in recent years became the foundation secretary of the Williamstown Maritime Association, which saved the former Melbourne Harbour Trust Workshops from a proposed apartment plan in 2004.
The History of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club 2003 McKellar Press
Of Full Steam & Taut Hawsers 2009 self published
The business aroused his passion for Williamstown's heritage as he was often asked to provide his expertise as a printer to publish articles where no other publisher would. Wilson Evans and Bob Leek were great contributors and from them Geoff realised how much of Williamstown's past was being lost. His father served his apprenticeship at the Williamstown Chronicle and with the demise of the local papers, Geoff set about collecting material and photographs from any source he could and along with inheriting Bob's extensive resource base he now has one of the largest private collections of Williamstown's maritime heritage which is used by many academics and writers in their research.
Geoff has written and published two books, the first 'The history of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club, and 'Of Full Steam & Taut Hawsers' The story of the tugs of Williamstown. He is now focused on completing two volumes on the working class suburb of Williamstown.
Life in, and connection to, Hobsons Bay
Geoff was born in Newport and has lived in Williamstown for over 50 years, being involved in many facets of community and business life during that time. He served as a councilor from 1977 and has been a member of an extensive list of organisations and clubs, including many years with the Williamstown Football Club of which he was president of the supporters club that saved the club from amalgamation in 1995.
Living by the sea has been a part of his life since his dad first took him fishing at the age of 6, and boats have been a major part of his life. Geoff sailed with the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club, a member of the angling club and served as a past secretary of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club.
He has owned and restored a number of classic wooden boats and in recent years became the foundation secretary of the Williamstown Maritime Association, which saved the former Melbourne Harbour Trust Workshops from a proposed apartment plan in 2004.
Publications
The History of the Royal Victorian Motor Yacht Club 2003 McKellar Press
Of Full Steam & Taut Hawsers 2009 self published
