Page 16 - Australasian Paint & Panel Magazine Jan-Feb 21

16
News • In Focus
PAINT&PANEL
JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2021
WWW.PAINTANDPANEL.COM.AU
Garry Clear with colleague Rainer Malkki gave up so much of his free time to promote the industry.
FAREWELL TO GARRY CLEAR
room, some of which included TAFE Smash Repair Team, World Skills, joint TAFE/industry projects, curriculum writing and trade tests for new teach- ers,” he said.
“Garry was passionate about his career and proved to be a gifted and inspiration- al teacher who always went the extra mile for his students. He became involved in many areas of TAFE and the smash re- pair industry and built up a close and im- portant relationship between TAFE and industry. He was admired by his col- leagues and students alike for his dedica- tion, enthusiasm and inspirational ap- proach to everything he did.
“I was constantly amazed at the tire- less efforts he continued to display, even after he became unwell. He was always keen to have a discussion about his ideas and aspirations, and this enthusiasm never waned. I was ever in awe of his courage and determination,” Powell said.
Rainer Malkki Autobody Head Teacher at Sydney TAFE said: “His contribution to the industry he loved cannot be encapsulat- edinminutes. Garry’slifetimeofdedication to his craft would require a book the size of War and Peace.
“Garry’s leadership was not limited to his teaching section – he was team lead- er; chief judge; industry expert; skills project designer; convenor; trainer; men- tor; a volunteer but most of all, a good friend to all who worked alongside him.
“Garry’s commitment to providing the very best outcomes for his students was nothing short of inspirational. His ‘Get-up- and-go attitude’ was sometimes exhausting to watch and he was given the nick name ‘Energiser’ by his peers,” Malkki said.
John Rowan who was head teacher of Panel Beating at Sydney TAFE said: “From day one there was no holding him back. Garry was a gifted teacher, his rapport with students and communication skills with young people was outstanding. He could encourage and motivate students at any level, and the ability to demon- strate his own skills without making a big deal of it, earned him great respect from his students.
“In recent years it was obvious that Garry was not well, but whenever I en- quired the same answer was forthcom- ing. ‘It's all good mate’. With Garry the glass was never half full, it was 99.9% full,” Rowan said.
T
THE INDUSTRY HAS LOST
A TRUE GENTLEMAN, ADVOCATE, FRIEND AND EDUCATOR. GARRY CLEAR PASSED AWAY LAST CHRISTMAS EVE AND
WILL BE SORELY MISSED.
HE INDUSTRY HAS LOST ONE OF
its greatest champions and ed- ucators with the passing of Garry Clear Head Teacher Au- tobody Repair and Refinish at TAFE NSW. Always ready to help, always cheerful and an amazing sup- port to his students. Many people wrote tributes to Clear on our social media
channels.
Clear was an expert technician who
had his own restoration business. He gravitated towards teaching around 20 years ago and enriched the TAFE com- munity from the outset. Close friend, Paint & Panel judge Neil Powell said. “I first met Garry 20 years ago when he came to work as a part time teacher of Panel Beating at Sydney TAFE. At that time he was also completing his Bach- elor of Adult Education and still work- ing in his restoration business. The en- thusiasm and knowledge he bought to the position meant he soon gained full time employment and we worked close- ly together for many years on TAFE pro- jects both inside and outside the class-