Tributes
On behalf of the Garnett family, I would like to send all our love and condolences to the Parsons family. Growing up as Penny and Tom’s granddaughter, I always heard about Boz. Boz and his family were very important to my grandparents. Penny Garnett who is 97 years old remained very close to Boz. I am so sorry that I couldn’t make it to the memorial as I am in Canberra but I was very pleased to watch a recording. I was honoured to donate to the Boz Parsons scholarship fund in his memory. What a fantastic initiative. — Sarah Lendon
After commencing my GGS education at Timbertop in 1961, 1962 was my first year at Corio and it corresponded with Boz’s first year of teaching. He took me for chemistry that year, one I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated, especially as I passed the subject. He was a caring and patient teacher and a good listener. Someone I would always look up to. — Barry Matthews
A most wonderful Service for dear Boz. My thoughts, condolences and love Barbara to you and your family. — Jenny Little
Boz was such an interesting and loving man. He was genuinely interested in everyone and everything, from farming to the flying.
What a great innings he has had, and how fortunate and honoured we were to have met Boz and to be influenced by his extraordinary character who is the epitome of service. Service to the community and to the nation.
Our thoughts to Boz’s greatest support team, Barb and the extended Parson family. — Nigel, Laura, Francesca, Louis and Annika Hinde
Boz was my housemaster, teacher, and a remarkable individual. I admit, I was a “ratbag kid” who gave Boz grief from time to time with the many pranks, but we had a good relationship. I learned a great deal from his words of wisdom when pulling me into line! but I can truly say he helped shape me into the ( good ) person I am today. He was caring, kind, funny, and had many wonderful stories to tell. Boz, thank you. You will always be remembered, and my sincere condolences to the family. — Dominic Romeo
Boz Parsons Geelong Aero Club (GAC) Life Member and Past Committee Member. Loving partner to Barbara and father to Bill, Tanny and Jane. Boz a man of remarkable talent, aviator, farmer, beloved schoolhouse master at Geelong Grammar School and talent golfer includes a few holes on one. A fantastic person and gallant pilot with values and principles in which he both shares and emulates. RAAF flight instructor and liberator pilot with a passion for flying and life.
GAC will cherish the moments spent with Boz.
Boz flew in England and Australia during WW2 requiring all his resources and a calm head and experience flying at night into enemy in underpowered aircraft. Navigating by dead reckoning at night English weather without the use of modern GPS or at the best Odoe if it was not jammed by the Germans. Boz passion for flying with Piper Arrow named The Little Ripper around Australia. Later after loss of his medical was still able to produce fantastic landing while flying from the right-hand seat. It very hard to explain Boz, best insight to a remarkable person is to read his book Boz by Neville Clark.
GAC will cherish the moments spent with Boz.
We will miss Boz a life member of GAC.
We send deepest sympathy to his family on his passing. — Geelong Aero Club
Boz Parsons was admired as a gentleman, who showed humility and kindness in abundance to those who were privileged to have known him. He was a good listener, who shared his wisdom freely. A very much-admired member of the school community. — Tim Fairfax AC
Boz was appointed House Master of Manifold House in my last year (1964). He knew about boarding houses and so his personality came to bear quite quickly on the running of the House and the morale of the boys. It was a happy atmosphere in which to live. The presence of his wonderful family also added a good deal to our enjoyment of that year. — Linton Ritchie
Boz was a kind, caring and gentle teacher, he was funny and a pleasure to be around and a great Housemaster. My condolences to Boz’s family. — Giuseppe Romeo
My regards to the Boz Parsons family. I share your sorrow at the passing of Boz. I liked him as a man and as my house master. He always gave me good advice during my years at Manifold (’66-’68). I continue to hold him in high regard and his passing brings me sorrow. Personal reasons and prevent me from attending the funeral. I have read the tributes below and see that the experience I had with Boz was shared by many others. — Christopher Morley Johnson
What a remarkable individual was Boz Parsons and I did not realize how remarkable until after I had left school and read his biography. He was the consummate Housemaster in Manifold with a caring nature, intelligent approach to life and an empathy for his students. He encouraged and promoted initiative and gave license to succeed, promoting people to positions they were capable of but not always ready for. He gave true service to GGS in teaching, administration and in caringly running Manifold and at times the School. It was wonderful that he and Barbara have had such long, happy and rewarding lives. — Jason Ronald OAM
Boz, had a very big influence on me in a very short period of time. He took me gliding, best weekend of my life. Taught me what sunny side up eggs are. Just one of the nicest blokes I have ever known. I have fond memories of him that I will never forget. RIP and have a great flight. — Kon Mantzaris
I had the great privilege of having Boz as my Housemaster in 1972/3 as did my brother Stuart in 1967/8. Although Stuart had a ‘strained’ relationship with a number of teachers at Corio, he had a great fondness for Boz. For a number of years after leaving GGS Stuart enjoyed calling in for a chat and a glass of Corio 5 star with his old housemaster. My heartfelt sympathies to the Parsons family.— Robert Craig
Boz Parsons was my Agricultural Science teacher in 1970. He was a very kind and caring teacher who made it a pleasure to attend his classes. RIP Cec.— Dean Raggatt
My sincere condolences to the family of Boz. I have fond memories of Boz and my time in Manifold. He was as stated here many times a caring and thoughtful housemaster. My uncle Bob Aitken was apparently for a period his navigator in bombers (Lancasters I believe). Boz told me that after the war he and Bob went flying together and got lost. He laughed heartily (in his gentle way) at the memory. Boz led the gliding club on trips to Benalla, including with a student named David. One day David more or less accidentally broke my arm and was duly sent to the housemaster. David soon came back to tell me about the lecture he got from Boz. Apparently to minimise spare parts all Lancaster engines had right-hand crankshafts and so needed full left rudder on take off. That lesson about GGS discipline has stayed with me to this day. Even on the day I thought that was hilarious and appropriate. I doubt David has broken anyone else’s arm since. — Alastair Boyd
I first met Boz when he taught me in the early 1960s at Corio. He was a good man, whom I have caught up with over the years at Point Lonsdale and Ocean Grove. He was a friend to the Fraser family, and we will remember times spent with him. — Bill Fraser
I got to know and admire Boz during the interregnum which followed the untimely death of the headmaster, Charles Fisher in late 1978. The school Council asked my late husband Robin Ritchie and Boz to lead the School as a committee of two until a new head was appointed and this took about sixteen months. They did a wonderful job and I discovered Boz’ great capacity for hard work and his grit, humor and commonsense. He and Barb were an inspiring example to us all. Vale Boz. — Eda Ritchie
Dear Parsons Family,
I did not have much to do with Boz, being in Allan House, during my eleven years at Geelong Grammar School from 1963 until 1974, but he was an inspiration to all of us. He was a gentleman and an inspiration to all students throughout his long association at GGS and he will be sadly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him over the many years. He was one of the finest Master at Geelong Grammar and have always admired him even after leaving GGS 50 years ago. A remarkable man with principles and values. Condolences to all his family. — Nigel Carter
Firstly, my sincere condolences to Mr Parsons’ family and his many close friends. I am in awe of what he achieved in his long life. I had the privilege of spending two years at Manifold House when he was Housemaster, ’67 and ’68. His expert guidance helped to prepare me for my next adventure, The Big Wide World!
R.I.P. Boz. — Harry Hole
I was honoured to meet Boz when he and Barb popped into Manifold House as part of his 100-year birthday celebrations. The Manifold boys wrote a card to help celebrate his most recent age milestone and the School flag was at half-mast on the news of Boz’s passing. I am confident that Boz’s legacy of courage and kindness lives on in Manifold today. On behalf of the current Manifold community, I extend our condolences to the Parsons family. — Sam a’Beckett — Head of Manifold House
Boz Parsons in my experience was an old-fashioned gentleman, kind and fair to all. He is fondly and well remembered. Condolences to his family. — William Newton-Wordsmith
I first met Boz when he taught me during the early ’60s at Corio. He knew my father Alec and my cousin Morris so there was a connection other than student-teacher. With my involvement with the OGG Committee, I renewed my friendship with Boz and he became a mentor. I managed to visit him at Ocean Grove a couple of times and also saw him at various GGS events such as Anzac Day and Tower lunches.I know he is watching “from above” – vale Boz old friend, you will be remembered! — Peter Michael Milne Chomley
Boz was one of the most influential people in my life and his legacy will be remembered by many hundreds of GGS students. Thank you for your caring and sincerity.
— Brad Evans
As schoolboys, we were unaware of the colourful, full and varied life lived by Boz, as brilliantly captured in the recent biography by Neville Clark. But everything in that life must resonate with everyone who knew only one aspect of it. He was, to us all, a kind, thoughtful and caring housemaster. He was, above all, concerned to enable all those in his charge to reach their full potential, while being conscious of the need to contribute to their community and honour their friends and family, and the school. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Boz, who guided me in my years of adolescent uncertainty to be confident about achieving my potential, doing me the great honour and privilege of serving as his House Captain in 1969. He will always be remembered. — Michael Whalley
We have known Boz and Barb for more than half a century. That their love had burgeoned beautifully for almost eighty years is testament to a truly wonderful couple. Boz is a legend in the true sense of the word. A hero to the nation from his years as a bomber pilot in WWII as well as to his family and friends as a loving husband, father, grandfather and more to all within his inner circle of influence and beyond. He was quite simply a great Australian. We are humbled to have been included in Boz’s beautiful family and miss him greatly. RIP Boz. Lest We Forget — Barry and Miriam Collins
On behalf of the ’75 Manifold House cohort, I extend our deepest sympathies to the Parsons family and reflect fondly on the guidance, teachings and support that Boz imparted upon us all. You personified Manifold House, lived a remarkable life and were always a true gentleman. — Mark Thompson
Boz was the perfect housemaster at Manifold, gentle and kind yet firm and authoritative. He was part of some of my better memories at Corio. — Tim Macartney-Snape
I would like to express my condolences to you, the family of Boz Parsons though I do not have the pleasure of meeting you. I remember Boz’s kindness in helping an unsettled overseas student feel comfortable at Manifold house. I also appreciate his wisdom and discretion. He is a gentleman and wonderful person. — Philip Yee
I had the distinct privilege and pleasure of knowing Boz through my work at Geelong Grammar School. He was a man of immense dignity and integrity who lived a very full and wholesome life. My heartfelt condolences go to his wife, Barb, and children Bill, Tanny and Jane, together with their respective families. Boz was indeed a great man, a gentleman, and I shall miss him. — Garry Pierson
I am deeply saddened by the passing of Boz Parsons, a truly remarkable individual whose profound impact resonated widely, particularly within our close-knit Geelong Grammar School community. Boz’s presence was a source of immense joy and had a positive influence on everyone fortunate enough to cross his path. During this difficult time, my thoughts are with Barb, Bill, Tanny, Jane, their families, and all who were touched by Boz’s extraordinary life. – Helen Beasley
