In Memory of Roy Fitzgerald
I first met Roy in 2014 when he enrolled in the Master’s degree at ACU National, with his mate Geoff Hennessy. The group quickly got used to ‘the boys from the West’ joining the study group every few months. We found out in no time that Roy was a positive, curious, knowledgeable and happy person, who quickly sparked attention to learning. His buzz and ‘scallywag demeanour’ were always so much fun in groupwork and interactive learning games. You can see Roy below in his group playing ‘Casino Royale’ and loving every moment of experiential learning.
Here is Roy with his team at the end of another experiential learning game called Babelworks, where a tower had to be built by ‘teaming’.
Before I knew Roy, I had been working for some time with his brother David in Melbourne, who was GM OHS with Jemena. It wasn’t until my second meeting with Roy that I found out they were brothers. Roy was like that; he could keep you guessing as a way to amplify discovery and learning. And, learning was Roy’s vocation, occupation and inspiration. Here is Roy on a semiotic walk in Canberra by Lake Burley Griffin as part of his studies. Roy knew the power of symbolism and the symbolism of power and was often captured like this, taking it all in.
I quickly learned that both Roy and I had been school teachers in the same era (1970s), he in Perth and I in Adelaide. We shared similar stories of our education in Teachers College and our experiences in schooling.
Roy’s expertise in Education and Learning, made his work in the risk and safety world blossom, as he connected so well with people through skills in curriculum and pedagogy. Indeed, this drew us close together as we became mates. Very few in the risk and safety industry have such educational expertise.
Roy graduated with his Graduate Diploma in The Social Psychology of Risk from ACU National in 2016 but our relationship didn’t stop there indeed, it grew and amplified. Just for interest in writing this piece, I decided to pull out his old essays from 2014, 2015 and 2016, all averaged with Distinction. Tells you a lot about Roy, his intellect, sharp wit, ability to research and articulate ideas.
I remember once we went on a walk to the Canberra Cork Plantation, a unique place of History and mood created by the eerie scalping of trees and the harvesting of cork. On this walk we asked everyone to allow the place to greet them and I read a poem from Gerard Manley Hopkins (Pied Beauty – https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44399/pied-beauty) to set the scene, then asked everyone to go find a tree, sit at it and journal some ideas. Here is a picture of Roy walking back with tears in his eyes stating how much he loved the opportunity to slow down, use his knowledge of literature and connect with nature. That was Roy, he knew how to connect with people and the world and enjoy the poetry of life.
It didn’t take long for Roy and I to realise that we should write a book together on Learning for the risk and safety industry. We published Tackling Risk, A Filed Guide to Risk and Learning in 2017. You can download a free copy here: https://www.humandymensions.com/product/tackling-risk/
What a joy it was to work with Roy on this book over a nine-month period. There was so much fun, stories and sharing in all we had learned together about education and learning. It is a demonstration of the demand for such a book with more than 20,000 downloads to date.
As we worked together on this book I learned of Roy’s gifts in teaching, presentation, literature, semiotics, Poetics, History and motivation. Many a time I flew into Perth to be met by Roy at the airport in his old Volvo station wagon and feel the buzz of lively conversation all the way to Fremantle, and his home.
One of the things we loved to do together was to go on semiotic (symbolic) discovery walks. These walks of mutual conversation were at every place imaginable about Perth and Fremantle. Roy seemed to know the History of everything.
On one occasion I expressed an interest in walking through the old Cemetery at East Perth which we drove past, which was closed. Next time I visited Perth, Roy had arranged for it to be opened especially for us, wow was that a great day. On another occasion he had told me about New Norcia (https://www.newnorcia.com.au/), a Benedictine Community established in 1847 140 kms north of Perth. The next time I arrived, Roy has booked it all and what a day of car travel, conversation, History and walks about this amazing historical place. We stayed overnight in the old convent and enjoyed a Convent Port in the quiet little bar before we went off to our rooms. You can see below a selfie we took at New Norcia with the main buildings in the background. Roy knew just how much I loved exploring an old religious communities and just how much places like this spoke to me. He was happy because I was happy and pumped me full of questions about the meanings of all that was symbolised there.
On many an occasion I think we must have walked through every lane, church, cathedral, museum and anything historical in Fremantle. Here we are with two good friends who were study buddies outside the Fremantle Maritime Museum.
We also did the Fremantle Gaol and the self-guided cemetery tour where the grave of Bon Scott is (with his own gate) from AC/DC. So many favourite memories with Roy, who delighted in talking History, Culture and learning.
Of course, it goes without saying that we had many fun times with colleagues, bringing them into a meal or training program and sharing in their expertise. Here we are with our friend and colleague Greg Smith, enjoying the conviviality, joy and fellowship of a tasting platter at Little Creatures.
Many a time we shared with Greg, over a meal with his wisdom about the law, risk, safety and critical thinking.
Those who knew Roy knew of his love of military History, his book collection was amazing. I remember once admiring some of these rare works on his shelf and he picked up one and gave it to me, such was the generosity of Roy.
Those who knew Roy also knew of his expertise with his strategic learning boards, a skill and craft he learned in Germany many years ago. From the moment I met Roy, it took some time to learn about the complexity, symbolism, linguistic brilliance and orchestration of how this strategy helped people think and learn.
Roy travelled the world using his boards with executive teams, boards and business, helping them think critically about work. There was no-one on the planet as good as Roy in this approach to learning, strategic thinking and symbolic knowing. You can see below Roy in full flight helping people use the tools, shapes, dots, lines, text, patterns and semiotics of the boards to communicate, think critically, explore, create and discover how to learn about learning. The name of Roy’s business ‘Metadymensions’ says it all.
Roy’s work went over and above the basics in thinking to ‘meta thinking’. He helped so many in organisations better understand their work, tackle problems and develop strategic solutions in their work. The more I saw Roy at work the more I understood the amazing complexity he was able to explore with tools that seems so simple and basic.
But in all of this, you can talk about Roy without talking about the loves of his life Julie and Niobe.
What a privilege it has been to live in their house and be welcomed by their love and hospitality.
Once when my daughter and granddaughter had to move to Perth they knew no-one. So, I called on Roy and Julie, who dropped everything in their busy life to welcome and comfort my daughter Jenni and Minna to Perth. You can see them with Minna in the pic below.
What a blessing it was to know that people like Julie and Roy were there to be friends and helpers in a strange city, on the other side of Australia, to share their love with my family to their city.
What a blessing it was to have Roy, Julie and Niobe enter into our lives with that simple introduction in 2014.
What can you say to people who live their lives with such heart, hospitality and happiness?
Roy, we will miss you dearly. You remain in our hearts (and my heart) and continue to nourish us with all you gave to us by your rich and meaningful life.
Rob and Helen
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Vale Maj Roy Fitzgerald (Rtd).
All my interaction with Roy was in the Army Reserve. Over this time we were both Captains and each of us held varying posts across different units – Infantry Corps postings and non-core postings. In WA it is inevitable that where ever you are posted to, you will inevitably be brought together for varied activities – training exercises, rank development seminars, weapon range practices, forums on specific topics such as Military Law, Defence White paper briefings, etc. As such Roy and I had an ongoing collegiate relationship over many years. We also attended the Infantry Tactical Course for promotion to Major, in Queensland together. Here the course pace including demands for night study, regular assignments and preparation for next day presentations of TEWT (Tactical Exercises Without Troops) scenarios saw us rarely get more than 5-6 hrs sleep over the 4 weeks. While so many participants were stressed and anxious and many becoming short tempered as the weeks went on, Roy always had a grin, a joke and a laugh. Roy was one who checked with others they were ok. I was very glad he was on the same course as me.
Throughout all of those memorable years, Roy’s easy friendship and kindness stand out for me, together with his great sense of humour and scallywag demeanor. Roy certainly had a way of saying things to the hierarchy, and get a way with it through his wit and intellect, that most would not attempt! I marveled particularly at this attribute while at the same time learning from him. In time we were both promoted to Major and continued to serve, although Roy discharged from the the Army long before me. I can truly say that over the many years since then, whenever I have had cause to remember that period of my Army service, I immediately recall Roy, and the unequivocally “good guy” he was.
Maj Robert Te (Rtd)
Thanks Robert for these lovely words for Roy. He was a special man indeed.
I knew Roy for many years, and our daughters were at school together. He was a constant source or creativity and inspiration when it came to presenting to people and ways of learning. He will be greatly missed.
Thanks Greg, I remember fondly a few dinners together in Perth with the three of us. Roy had a sharp wit and could match it with anyone. His understanding of people and complexity was always good to listen to in those conversations we had.
Beautiful tribute, Rob
I was attended Graylands Teachers College with Roy in the mid 70s. He was a beautifully balanced athlete. A superb award winning AFL player. He could skip like Ali and Tyson. A knee injury curtailed his playing days.
At final graduation in 1976 Roy was awarded the Graylands Medal for his contribution to College life during his three years.
He was a scallywag – stripping and reconditioning his motor bike in his lounge room – fearless, funny, very popular and as honest as the day is long.
My thoughts to you all.
David Tippett
Thanks David for your memory. Yes, scallywag is such an apt word for Roy. Thanks for adding to this tribute.
My thoughts and Prayers are with Roy and his family.
Thanks Brian, I remember when we first met you had lost Bella. You certainly know the heart of such loss. Your prayers mean so much.
This was a very difficult post for me to read, even moreso as I reached the image of standing beside Roy, and the memory of being with him flooded back to me.
I looked at my last message from him which ended with “The results I’m having show positive progress, thank you for your wishes”, I then looked at the date with regret, December 2025…how time slips away.
After starting my SPoR journey, Roy was the first mentor I met face to face here in Perth and no words could truly express his impression on my learning and soul.
From the very start he welcomed me into his home and introduced me to his family, and after giving me the opportunity so ask and reflect on some questions, in true SPoR style, handed me a stack of books before I left.
I recall a semiotic walk in the Fremantle Cemetery organised for SPoR students, I asked Roy if he would mind if I asked my wife and children to attend, provided they just tag along, he would have none of that, and involved them as any other, engaging with them as equals…such was his way, anyone with a will to learn deserved equal attention.
As I travel with my family to this day, they still recall what he taught them.
I looked back at some of my messages from Roy, comments on social media posts and so forth, and I cannot see a single negative comment, despite my many opportunities for him to have done so,
For the 2023 SPoR Convention my (very supportive) family and I made the trip by road, from Perth to Canberra. My darling wife kept an immaculate record of the trip, posting daily updates to which Roy commented to the likes of “Great educational experience – much learning in the hidden curriculum”, and “Lifetime memories and captured imagery”.
To an even earlier moment of teaching our eldest son to drive in off-road conditions, “Great parenting skills”.
This last comment could be interpreted as sarcasm perhaps, but for those that knew Roy and/or with an understanding of semiotics, would understand it as a testament to his philosophy of life, experiential learning, and being, a perpetual mentor and very good friend.
Yes Travis, we had some good times with Roy. He really understood so much about education, learning, life and being. What a great mentor to have in Roy. Now you and some others in the West can take over the baton and walk the good journey, mentoring an coaching others who want to learn.
What sad news to read.
Roy was one of life’s real treasures. He shared, listened, cared, helped, gave and loved.
He was a teacher yet sought to learn, and he was someone who could provide feedback and a critique like few others; with kindness and a real sense of wanting people to do well.
Roy will be missed by many, yet I’m confident he will be looking down on us, especially his dear wife, Julie, and daughter, Niobe, wishing us love.
RIP, dear mate.
my heart goes for Roy and those he has left behind. a very wise man and truly educated in real sense. i first met Roy in Perth and we sat down for just over an hour to hear him talk about education and learning. Roy was a visual thinker, everything he said to me, he drew it on a post it note and then explained what he meant. i remember taking those dozen or so post it notes with me and observing them on the plane back home. today many people talk about learning but few would know the true meaning of learning. Roy truly lived the values of learning and sharing with others. my sincere condolences to Roy’s family.
Yes Nippin, such a wise person. He got Transdisciplinarity 50 years ago before it was even a word and understood the complexities of life, belief, culture and learning. Such a wise man. So glad you had the opportunity to meet him.
Thank you for preparing this, Rob. Reading your words brought a lot of comfort during such a difficult time. Dad thought very highly of you, not only as a colleague but as a friend, and I know your kindness and support over the years meant a great deal to him. We are incredibly grateful for the compassion and respect shown to him and to our family. Thank you again for honouring him so beautifully.
NIobe, I remember times in your house talking about ideas, things we were doing, books, training and plans and he would hear your car drive into the driveway and his thoughts would stop. He would instinctively rise up out of his chair and walk to greet you at your car. I would walk with him but by that time realised I was just a companion in a space in his study talking about ideas. His love for you was what mattered and for Julie. Much love to you both. He will be sadly missed.
Vale Roy, my brother in Philosophy, brother in SPoR
I am at a loss for word, so I shall borrow one’s that you shared with me.
‘Let us discuss Wabi-Sabi; The Japanese philosophy for a perfectly imperfect life.
In Zen philosophy, there are seven aesthetic principles in achieving wabi-sabi:
Kanso — simplicity
Fukinsei — asymmetry or irregularity
Shibumi — beauty in the understated
Shizen — naturalness without pretense
Yugen — subtle grace
Datsuzoku — freeness
Seijaku — tranquility’
Thankyou my friend for all of these gifts and many others
Love to Julie and Niobe
Cheers mate, forge ahead for the rest of us!
https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/wabi-sabi-the-japanese-philosophy-for-a-perfectly-imperfect-life
Matt, your reflection on philosophy so capture Roy. His love of language, linguistics, philosophy and semiotics was immense. It’s why we connected so strongly from the first time we met. Roy knew about ambiguity and paradox and how to weave the uncertainties of life into his philosophy of education and learning.
Tributes from Others
Roy and I first met in 2000 when I was entering the world of Safety as a greenskin Safety Advisor on the West Angeles Iron Ore project. Roy was part of an induction process team and his specialty was Hazard Recognition and other associated Safety concepts.
Roy used his “boards” system which he adapted from a German based learning system. We kept in contact over the years and in 2014 I saw a post from Rob Long seeking interest from people to be part of a Graduate Diploma in the Social Psychology of Risk. We joined up and made many journeys to ACU Canberra staying at the Tradies accommodation. Many a long night were had discussing the theories of Weber, Slovic, Long et al
Roy and I were able to integrate some of Rob’s learnings into the mainstream Safety agenda.
Roy was a great mate, mentor and educator. He loved Julie and Niobe. He was a passionate Fremantle Dockers fan, avid reader, military historian and army reservist.
His passionate work in the global Work Health and Safety field is well recognised.
Vale Roy
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I was lucky to have met Roy at a SPoR convention in Canberra, where he introduced us to the learning board concept.
Despite our short interactions and chats, he left with me a few pleasant memories. I still remember his humble personality, his wealth of knowledge and particularly his love of Shakespeare. Undoubtedly, it was enjoyable to be around him.
He’ll be missed.
Please pass my condolences to his family…
George Stavrou
Thank you for sharing your thoughts of Roy. I never knew him but the first book You graciously allowed me to download and print was Tackling Risk. I now have a piece of Roy that has helped to inspire me in my study SPoR. Please on my sincere condolences to his family and many friends.
Yes Andrew, that book on Learning is one of the key pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of SPoR. Without a degree in Education. and Teaching, that book brings to life some of the basics Roy and I shared. The hard part was all we left out from what we knew in Teaching, pedagogy and curriculum that was important, but it was a start. I go back to that book often and get new realisations from the parts Roy contributed.
Thanks for your tribute Geoff. You were so much part of the many who flew over from the West to study SPoR in those early days. It was a huge commitment. Yes, he loved the Dockers and Fremantle and was an amazing historian. Few know of the global reach he had in his art and craft of meta dymensions. I would often contact him to chat and he could be replying from anywhere in Africa, Russia, America, Europe or Asia. He took those boards and his system of engagement thinking everywhere. Such a pri9viledge that the three of us had at time ‘chewing the fat’ and pondering the possibilities you both had to integrate SPoR into your work.
Thanks George, Yes he knew literature like few others. He could quote poets and dramatists like Shakespeare so easily. Very much the English teacher of literature and language. We used to talk to each other at times through the poetry we knew and the metaphors we knew mattered. You were fortunate to know him.