We congratulate Geoffrey Block (“Blocky”) for being announced in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours roll as a recipient of the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to education in Victoria.
Geoff Block has been a teacher at Maryvale High school/ ͷapp since 1977.
He has held numerous roles in that time and has been a principal class officer within the college since 2003.
Geoff has been a visionary influencer and leader throughout his time at ͷapp.
Geoff’s particular gifts to the ͷapp/Latrobe Valley Communities covers three main areas.
- Geoff’s dedication to the education and wellbeing of disadvantaged young people in the Latrobe Valley has been the hallmark of his work in inner Gippsland over 40 years as an educator and leader.
- Geoff has been an innovator and early adaptor especially in the area of pathways for senior students. Most particular he has been pivotal in implementing and developing VET provision for young adults and in the creation of the Gippsland Education Precinct as a major destination for Gippsland Students.
- Geoff helped begin the sister school relationship with Kou’an. School in Taizhou China and has since coordinated and facilitated numerous student study tours both to and from China. He has overseen student trips through the VYLC and VYLI as part of this work and numerous trips as well. He has worked to ensure that many students have enjoyed and learnt from these trips that without his help would never have been able to afford this life changing opportunities.
Well done Blocky.