S1|E8 Meet Geoff Passfield: tradie teacher and businessman who decided to make a difference

Geoff Passfield is a very ordinary bloke. He completed his trade as a motor mechanic and went on to be a teacher in the mechanical trades at TAFE. Enjoying the teaching more than the trade, Geoff retrained as a secondary school teacher in the areas of industrial arts, design and technology.

Geoff went back into teaching in the local area before feeling a call to go to Bourke. He took up a position at Bourke High School to re-establish this faculty as a Head Teacher until last year when, due to wanting to stay vaccine free, Geoff like many other very valuable teachers was dismissed. They were dismissed for no other reason than they believed, “My Body is my Choice.” When the current Liberal government made vaccination mandatory for teachers, police, the fire and ambulance departments, nurses, and doctors in fact all health professionals, Geoff had to reinvent his life.

Together, Geoff and his wife Pip own Newcastle Florists at Maitland and he slotted back into a support role for Pip until an opportunity arose to serve people in a different role. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd become the local representative for United Australia for the Hunter Region. Geoff has lived and been connected all his life to the Hunter region and is passionate about this homeland. He feels responsible to represent its people and their future. Due to the labour stronghold in this region, he believes the people are no longer represented as well as they could be. 

Enjoy my conversation with Geoff Passfield; The tradie teacher and businessman who decided to make a difference in the world of politics.