Coolabah, Nr 28, 2020, ISSN 1988-5946, Observatori: Centre d’Estudis Australians i 

Transnacionals / Observatory: Australian and Transnational Studies Centre, 

Universitat de Barcelona 
 
 

13 
 

Tribute to Geoff Davis 
 

 

Justina Hart 

justinahart@mac.com 

 

 

Copyright© 2020  Justina Hart. This text may be archived 

and redistributed both in electronic form and in hard copy, 

provided that the author and journal are properly cited and 

no fee is charged, in accordance with our Creative Commons 

Licence. 

 

 

Abstract: A tribute to Geoff Davis and a poem inspired by meeting him 

Keywords: Geoff Davis, inspiration, generosity 

 

 

I met Geoffrey Davis only once: during the three-day SPACLALS conference at UNE in 

Parramatta in February 2019, to which I had travelled from England to give a paper as a 

UK poet and fiction writer, thanks to an Artists' International Development Fund from the 

British Council/Arts Council England.   

 

After his keynote speech about literature and activism, which I found deeply inspiring 

and which raised new possibilities for my own work, I went up to where he was sitting 

and asked if he might email me a copy. He thanked me and instantly took from his 

briefcase his only spare hard copy of the speech, neatly typed and paper-clipped, and 

handed it to me to keep. 

 

His spirit of kindness and generosity shone through that one encounter. Geoffrey showed 

me how, with a single speech, conversation, or unexpected gesture, you can change a life. 

I shall not forget him.  

 

The following poem was written for a close friend, Joy Vellapah, who I heard had died 

when I was in Cairns after the SPACLALS conference. Joy was of Mauritian heritage and 

she and I worked together at the British Council in Spring Gardens, London, in the 

noughties. This poem had added poignancy for me when I received the news about Geoff. 

 

 

mailto:justinahart@mac.com


Coolabah, Nr 28, 2020, ISSN 1988-5946, Observatori: Centre d’Estudis Australians i 

Transnacionals / Observatory: Australian and Transnational Studies Centre, 

Universitat de Barcelona 
 
 

14 
 

 

 

In Cairns I take refuge 

 

from tropical deluge in a church,  

shake out my brolly. Eight huge ceiling fans  

are switched off as there’s no one here:  

the air’s left to cool itself – blowing  

through open, facing doors like sound  

drifting in one ear and out the other.  

After glancing at the 1918 memorial cross 

and a leaflet informing ministers about new 

same-sex marriage laws, I take a pew,  

shut my eyes, run through all those I know  

who are ill or under my umbrella.  

But I forget the friend who cried for help 

before Christmas; and who, I’m to hear  

that night, died the day I flew out. 

 

 

 

Bionote:  Justina Hart is an award-winning British poet, fiction writer, and singer-

songwriter, who has performed her work internationally. For more information, see 

justinahart.com.