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GeoffreyPaulYoudalegraduatedfromSydneyUniversityasaCivilEngineerspecialisinginRoads.Aftersomeyearshisspecialtywithinroadengineeringbecamepavementstructuresincludingmaterialstechnology.Thisspecialtyiscloselyalliedtogeotechnicalscienceandgroundengineering.Geoffwasmycolleagueandfriendfor36yearsintheoldDMRDepartmentofMainRoadsandtheRTARoadsandTrafcAuthorityandlaterinprivatesectorconsultingpractice.HewasabrilliantRoadPavementStructuralEngineerastrategicthinkeracreativeinnovatoracarefulresearcherasuperbmanageragenialpeoplepersonandaloyalfriend.Hewasalsoanexcellenteducatorandadvisorwillingtosharehisknowledgewidelyandgenerously.Geoffshoneasamultidisciplinaryteamleaderpullingtogetherdifferentresourcesandperspectivestoproduceacultureofcohesionandsynergy.IcannotspeaktoohighlyofGeoffscompetencycapabilityanddown-to-earthmindset.Iwillsupportmyassessmentwiththewordsofsomeothercolleagues.KenPortersaysintermsofpracticaldesignimprovementsandinnovationsGeoffwasalways8-10yearsaheadoftheaverageprofessionalroadengineerortechnician.Hewasprobably15yearsaheadoftheroadusersintheperceptionofsaferandmoreefcientroadinfrastructure.Hewas20-25yearsaheadofthepoliticiansthatneededtofacilitatetheseimprovements.AnexcellenttutorandcommunicatorGeoffwasamentortonumerousyoungengineersintheRTAaswellasinterstateandinternationally.GregWonsaysIrememberwhentheRTAwasgettingmanyconstructioncontractclaimsoverearthworkscompaction.ConsequentlywithRDfundingwedevelopedtheautomatedlaboratorycompactor.WhilewalkingoutthebackdoorofthelabIaskedGeoffWhatarewegoingtocallthiscompactorHeimmediatelyrepliedLetscallitPAVPACsuchwasGeoffsquickthinking.WeputacopyrightonthenamePAVPACandthislabequipmentwasmarketedalloverAustraliadesignedandbuiltbyourowncentralworkshops.GeoffAytonsaysoneneverhadashadowofdoubtaboutGeoffshonestyintegrityandtrustworthiness.Hewasarealseekeroftruth.GeoffAytonalsopassedonacommentfromtheyoungJustinMosswhosecommentisanindicationofthedepthofGeoffscontributiontotheroadpavementindustry.JustinsaidThoughIneverknewGeoffYoudalepersonallyhisnameisinsomewayattachedtoeverythingIhavelearntofpavements.DavidPratttoldacolourfulstoryfromGeoffsearlycareeratOrangeafterhiscrewhadjustnishedsomeroadresurfacingGeoffencounteredapuzzledmansearchingforagravelpile.HewasreprocessinggoldtailingswithanewmethodtoretrievefurthergoldbutunfortunatelyhistailingspilehadbeenmistakenforaDMRstockpile.SoGeoffcouldboastthathehadpavedtheroadwithgold.AnotherstoryfromthateraconcernsthetroubledApollo13mission.TheDishatParkeswasoneofthefewtrackingstationsintheworldthatcouldreceivesignalsfromtheApollospacecraftwhenbehindthemoon.ThecommunicationscablefromtheDishwasburiedclosetotheroadwhereGeoffscrewwasworking.AsasafetyprecautionGeoffstoppedthediggingandgotthecrewpaintingguidepostsinstead.RonFergusonsaysGeoffhadconsiderabletechnicalinvolvementandcollaborationwithAustroadsandARRBGroupthroughouthiscareer.lshedtearsonhearingofhisdeath.GeoffYoudaleyouwillberemembered.FromARRBGroupDrPeterKadarsaysIhaveknownGeoffsince1983hewasasupporteranddrivingforcebehindthefull-scalewheelloadtestingprogramforpavements.Manyofthecurrentpavementdesignfeatureswereinitiatedandsupportedbyhim.Weremainedintouchafterhisretirementandsharedexperienceandpassionforourprofession.Livingclosetoeachotherwemetquitefrequentlyintheshoppingcentreandkeptupthefriendship.Iwillmisshimasacolleagueandfriend.Geoffunderstoodtheimportanceofndingcommongroundtocommunicatewithandeducatepeople.Heexcellednotonlyasanengineerbutalsoasacommunicator.Hisenthusiasmwascontagiousandhisprofessionalapproachwasexemplary.KieranSharpwhowastheinitiatingproponentfortheAustralianAMHonourawardedtoGeoffreectedGeoffscontributionstoroadtechnologyhavehadasignicantbenecialeffectonboththedevelopmentandmaintenanceofAustraliasroadnetwork.HeplayedvitalrolesinAustroadsresearchincludingtheAustraliansegmentoftheUSStrategicHighwayResearchProgramtheWorldRoadsAssociationbasedinParisandtheGlobalRoadKnowledgeExchangeNetwork.AfterhisretirementfromRTAhecontinuedtocontributetotheindustryasaconsultantandalsototheestablishmentofandteachingfortheCentreforPavementEngineeringEducationCPEE.In1996GeoffwasawardedtheAustralianRoadFederationsJohnShawMedalinrecognitionofhismeritoriouscontributiontoroadtechnology.In1999hewasawardedtheAusIndustryInnovationAwardaspartoftheNationalEngineeringExcellenceAwardsasamemberoftheRTACSIROteamthatdevelopedtheRoadCrackhighspeedmeasuringvehicle.AfterGeoffsretirementhesuggestedwemeetregularlyandworktogetheronsomeprojectswhichwedid.Ourregularlunchessoongrewlargerandseveraloftheoldganghavebeenmeetingquarterlyfor15yearsnow.ThisgroupwasaproductofGeoffsdrivingenergyandpersonaltouch.TosumupGeoffwasperhapsthemosteminentAustralianRoadPavementEngineerofthelast30yearsandhewillbemissedandrememberedfondlybymanyprofessionalcolleaguesfriendsandacquaintancesaroundtheworld.ADAADECEMBER201403GeoffYoudaleByGavinDonaldATributeto