Len Goodman AO -22 December 1932 – 10 July 2024
Past District Governor, Rotary International District 9710 (1995-96)
Past District Governor, Rotary International District 9710 (1995-96)
Leonard James Goodman AO, was born in Gladstone, Queensland, on 22nd December 1932. Late of Kangara Waters Retirement Village in Canberra. Len passed away peacefully at Clare Holland House on the 10th July 2024.
Beloved husband and soul mate of Joyce for almost 69 years; Father of Gail and Wayne; Father-in-law to John and Kathleen; grandfather to Emily and Dan; Melissa and Andy; Hannah and James; Tara; James and Cynthia; Liam and Tash. Great grandfather to Frederick. Brother to Daphne (decd); Josie and Ian (decd),Lesley and Jim; Peter and Jan.
Len was a Man of Vision and someone who defied the medical odds for many years.
Len Attended The Southport School in the 1940s. After leaving school, Len undertook an apprenticeship as an electrician, before doing six months National Service with the RAAF; he continued his RAAF service for six more years. At this stage in life Len met his soul mate, Joyce, and they married on 1st October 1955. Their children, Gail and Wayne soon followed.
In 1958, by chance, Len made a decision which was to guide the lives of of Len and Joyce for the rest of their lives.
Len said,“I was at tennis one night, walking down a street in Brisbane past the YMCA and I thought to myself ‘what’s this all about?’ I eventually joined one of the clubs that they had for young men at the time – the Triangles Club.” That initial interaction with the YMCA was just the beginning.
Len started his working life as an electrician with a company that picked up a job to rewire the entire YMCA Brisbane, and they put Len in charge. In the meantime, Len’s involvement with the Triangles Club expanded and he became the Charter President of the Wise Men’s Club, who were a group of men working to support the YMCA.
He discovered that the Young Men’s Secretary at YMCA Brisbane had left, and so he went into the General Secretary’s office in his electrician’s overalls, claiming that he thought he could do the job. The General Secretary evidently thought so too because “from there on, that’s what I did.”
His time was spent working with the clubs, organizing camps for young people, community events and spreading the name of the Y. He recalls Joyce being involved in this journey, often coming on camps with him and helping out.
Len was with the YMCA Brisbane for 5 years before he ventured north to a little YMCA in Rockhampton for another 5 years, then back to Brisbane, and before long headed to Melbourne where he joined the YMCA National team as Associate National Secretary an
d Director of the Victorian Region to do leadership training, liaising, and Government lobbying. Len also represented the YMCA on the Youth Council Victoria, of which he eventually became the chairperson, and where they also formed a taskforce on youth employment.
Len stayed in Melbourne for 8 years before making the move to Canberra to be the Deputy Executive Director. “ Len was ready to move out of National and “get things done” so the move to Canberra was well timed. He carried on with the employment initiatives as the government was giving out grants at the time. After 2 years, Len stepped into the CEO role from 1979 – 1984, for the Canberra region.
Len said,“I was at tennis one night, walking down a street in Brisbane past the YMCA and I thought to myself ‘what’s this all about?’ I eventually joined one of the clubs that they had for young men at the time – the Triangles Club.” That initial interaction with the YMCA was just the beginning.
Len started his working life as an electrician with a company that picked up a job to rewire the entire YMCA Brisbane, and they put Len in charge. In the meantime, Len’s involvement with the Triangles Club expanded and he became the Charter President of the Wise Men’s Club, who were a group of men working to support the YMCA.
He discovered that the Young Men’s Secretary at YMCA Brisbane had left, and so he went into the General Secretary’s office in his electrician’s overalls, claiming that he thought he could do the job. The General Secretary evidently thought so too because “from there on, that’s what I did.”
His time was spent working with the clubs, organizing camps for young people, community events and spreading the name of the Y. He recalls Joyce being involved in this journey, often coming on camps with him and helping out.
Len was with the YMCA Brisbane for 5 years before he ventured north to a little YMCA in Rockhampton for another 5 years, then back to Brisbane, and before long headed to Melbourne where he joined the YMCA National team as Associate National Secretary an
d Director of the Victorian Region to do leadership training, liaising, and Government lobbying. Len also represented the YMCA on the Youth Council Victoria, of which he eventually became the chairperson, and where they also formed a taskforce on youth employment. Len stayed in Melbourne for 8 years before making the move to Canberra to be the Deputy Executive Director. “ Len was ready to move out of National and “get things done” so the move to Canberra was well timed. He carried on with the employment initiatives as the government was giving out grants at the time. After 2 years, Len stepped into the CEO role from 1979 – 1984, for the Canberra region.
Len was a YMCA staff member for over 27 years, after he left the Y Canberra in 1984 he continued to be involved with community events; he was a Life Member of the YMCA.
In 1998, Len joined the Burgmann College Council at the Australian National University, becoming the longest-serving Chair of the Council, from 1998 until retiring in 2012, During his tenure at Burgamnn College Council, Len worked with then College Principal Rev Dr Lewis Rushbrook and the Council to establish the Post Graduate Village at Burgmann College. After securing approvals and funding construction began in 2003 and the College’s Postgraduate Village opened in 2004.
In 1998, Len joined the Burgmann College Council at the Australian National University, becoming the longest-serving Chair of the Council, from 1998 until retiring in 2012, During his tenure at Burgamnn College Council, Len worked with then College Principal Rev Dr Lewis Rushbrook and the Council to establish the Post Graduate Village at Burgmann College. After securing approvals and funding construction began in 2003 and the College’s Postgraduate Village opened in 2004.
Len and Joyce’s involvement with St John’s Church is well known. They were also involved with outlying communities in the Parish.
On Sunday 19 December 2021, 4th Sunday of Advent, a special service was held in St Andrew’s Wamboin (part of the Sutton Road Mission District) to bid farewell to Len Goodman AO and Joyce Goodman OAM for their 36-year association with the combined congregations of St Peter’s Sutton and St Andrew’s Wamboin and Len’s service as a Lay Minister during those years. Bishop Mark Short and his wife Monica attended the service to farewell Len and Joyce.
Bishop Mark presented Len with a framed Certificate of Appreciation acknowledging his ministry for more than 36 years in the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn. The Ven Dr Royce Thompson also presented Len with a framed Certificate of Appreciation from the congregation the Sutton Road Mission District for his long standing ministry and friendship to the members of the congregation.
On Sunday 19 December 2021, 4th Sunday of Advent, a special service was held in St Andrew’s Wamboin (part of the Sutton Road Mission District) to bid farewell to Len Goodman AO and Joyce Goodman OAM for their 36-year association with the combined congregations of St Peter’s Sutton and St Andrew’s Wamboin and Len’s service as a Lay Minister during those years. Bishop Mark Short and his wife Monica attended the service to farewell Len and Joyce.
Bishop Mark presented Len with a framed Certificate of Appreciation acknowledging his ministry for more than 36 years in the Diocese of Canberra & Goulburn. The Ven Dr Royce Thompson also presented Len with a framed Certificate of Appreciation from the congregation the Sutton Road Mission District for his long standing ministry and friendship to the members of the congregation.
Australia’s capital city is surrounded by mountains, the plains and the sea. There are many rural and remote settings in which people are injured or have life threatening illnesses. When accidents occurred, patients were dying on their way to hospital simply because of the time it took. Occasional mercy flights from the Defence Force rotary wing unit then at Fairbairn, was called on from time to time until the Helicopter unit was moved to Queensland
Occasionally, medical personnel could call on sporadic mercy missions from the Navy’s fleet air arm at Nowra, or use inadequate road transport.
South Care commenced on 1st October 1998, thanks to both Senator Gary Humphries and ACT Minister of Health at the time, and to District Governor Len Goodman AO who put the whole community behind the venture in his capacity as District Governor of Rotary International District 9710, and then as Chairman of the Southcare Trust Fund.
Rotary District D9710’s involvement began in 1995 when, as DGN, Len’s attention was drawn to the need for a dedicated local chopper, by a Rotarian whose daughter suffered a suspected spinal injury in a Water Skiing accident on the Shoalhaven River. She had to be supported in the water awaiting a helicopter coming from Sydney for retrieval.
Occasionally, medical personnel could call on sporadic mercy missions from the Navy’s fleet air arm at Nowra, or use inadequate road transport.
South Care commenced on 1st October 1998, thanks to both Senator Gary Humphries and ACT Minister of Health at the time, and to District Governor Len Goodman AO who put the whole community behind the venture in his capacity as District Governor of Rotary International District 9710, and then as Chairman of the Southcare Trust Fund.
Rotary District D9710’s involvement began in 1995 when, as DGN, Len’s attention was drawn to the need for a dedicated local chopper, by a Rotarian whose daughter suffered a suspected spinal injury in a Water Skiing accident on the Shoalhaven River. She had to be supported in the water awaiting a helicopter coming from Sydney for retrieval.
This coincided with the ACT Government trying to get a service based in Canberra - so DG Len recommend to the Rotary District Assembly that District 9710 adopt, as a District Project, raising $50,000 and to engender a community demand. The proposal was adopted unanimously and contributions began to flow in community support was always important to SouthCare and proved to be a great catalyst in uniting the efforts of the ACT and New South Wales Governments to support the project resulting in establishing the then “SouthCare Trust Fund”
And so on 1 October 1998, “SouthCare” landed on the lawns in front of New Parliament House and SouthCare was off and running . Minister Gary Humphries appointment Len Goodman Chairman of the Trust Fund.
D9710 clubs have continued magnificent support through 22 years - both in cash and kind. The latter includes for the Base; Tumut, Bombala and Batemans Bay Helipads - and sponsorship of various pieces of specialised aeromedical equipment.
Having secured naming rights sponsorship- “SouthCare” became “SnowyScheme SouthCare” then “SnowyHydro SouthCare
In 2016 a NSW Government survey of state wide aeromedical services resulted in the calling for wider contracts to consolidate operation of the services. This resulted in TOLL Industries successfully tendering for a fleet of eight new, State of the Art Choppers - including one permanently based in Canberra. The Company’s Bell 412EH was passing its 38 year “use by date” and a new one was needed.
The service is now fully funded by both ACT and NSW Governments. Consequently “the SHSC Trust Fund” was wound up after raising nearly $10 million from sponsorships, local councils, community and personal donations
Len Goodman AO stood down in October 2006 after 8 years as Chairman of the SouthCare Helicopter Rescue Service, then continued to liaise with Rotary and Lions throughout the region.
Past District Governor Len Goodman AO is missed by the many people he assisted along the way, those he mentored and those whom came to know him. We join his family in grieving his death.
In farewelling Len, recognising his contribution to the greater community, we may quote President John F Kennedy, who said:
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”.
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”.