Vale Joe Pattison

Joe was 66, and in the past couple of years battled courageously against cancer. Despite his failing health he tried to remain active around the boatshed for as long as he was able, and was last down helping with the juniors in January.

Joe came to Brisbane & GPS to help coach the club’s Junior Development Squad in the 2012-13 summer and remained involved every year since, including three years in which he coordinated the program and for several seasons he was the lead coach.

He took Jeeps crews to podium finishes at several Queensland and New South Wales State championships.

His success need not have been measured with medals. The enjoyment his young rowers achieved in the sport was tribute enough to his kindly and effective coaching.

Joe had been a rower at school and took up coaching to help when his children became involved in the sport at Gregory Terrace and All Hallows’. He coached the Terrace 3rd 8+ with his son Michael in bow to win their Head of the River race.

He coached at All Hallows’ for 15 seasons, working mostly with the Year 10 and Year 9 crews. He was also president of the parent support group for three years.

Recently, when the school heard that Joe had been confined to hospital, the girls he had coached in recent years put together an eight-minute video as a tribute to Joe. More than 50 students turned up in the rain at the AHS shed last Saturday morning for the video shoot, organised by parents and a past rower of his, Nicole Watt, and the overall message they sent was their love and their appreciation for the positive influence he provided them as a coach and a mentor.

Joe has left a magnificent legacy among the rowers he coached.

Joe’s great love outside of rowing was sailing. He crewed on several yachts in Sydney-to-Hobart races and numerous Brisbane-to-Gladstone events, and took part in a Clipper Cup race sailing on the Southampton to Rio leg of the round the world series. He also worked as a professional sailor in charter yachts in the Caribbean and out of Florida.

Joe was a solicitor. The club’s deepest sympathy go to his children, brother and sisters who survive him. We thank them for allowing Joe to be part of the club’s fabric for so many years.”