Duncan Boldy – Memorial Service 17 Aug 2019
 
I have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing Duncan and his family for the past 36 years.  To Ruth, Dave and Phillip and families we mourn with you for such a tragic loss and yet, because of his character, we can celebrate a wonderful life.
 
Duncan Boldy left us suddenly last week.  Such a loss when he was living a vibrant life and till had so much to offer.  He was a friend a colleague, a gentleman and an all-round good bloke
I first met Duncan in a hotel in Washington DC in 1983.  We had advertised a position in health administration and Duncan was our preferred candidate.  Prof Mark Liveris (Deputy Vice Chancellor Health Sciences) and I were both in the USA at the time.  The cheapest and easiest way to interview Duncan was to fly him from the UK to Washington, where Mark was at a meeting.  I flew across from Seattle where I was on study leave. Duncan walked into the hotel looking like he had been awake all night, sleeping in his clothes.  He had been!  British Airways had lost his case, which he assured me contained his suit, white shirt and tie.  We had a fun interview, and a good lunch.  He was an outstanding candidate and he and his family were soon on their way to WA.
 
He arrived in Perth in 1983 and made a great contribution to the School of Public Health, to gerontology in Australia and since his retirement, to the School of Nursing.  The motto for the School of Public Health was Science, Compassion and Communication.  Duncan was a perfect example of an academic meeting all of these goals.
 
He began his career with an honours degree in statistics from Manchester U and became a teacher. This was followed by an MSc in operational research and computing from Liverpool U. He completed his PhD at Exeter University with a thesis on grouped dwellings for the elderly.
 
He joined a small group of colleagues from the UK, Europe and the Americas interested in systems analysis in aged care. He was the inaugural chairman of this group, the European Working Group on Operational Research Applied to Health Services (ORAHS), and involved in establishing a group interested in Systems Science and Services for the Elderly and Disabled People (SYSTED).  Duncan contributed to many interdisciplinary conferences relating to ageing around the world.
 
After coming to Curtin he maintained his interest in these international organisations and was regularly involved in their meetings.  One of these meetings held at Curtin (it was actually held at Point Walter Camp) and produced a valuable Proceedings and a lot of fun times. The collaborations begun at these meetings led to him co-authoring several books on “Ageing in Place”, which will be his most remembered contribution to gerontology.
 
Duncan regularly presented at papers and seminars at the Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health meetings and published papers in the Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health. We have had several messages of appreciation of his life from Asian colleagues.  He was a great PhD supervisor stimulating thought and discussion in his students, a worthy heir to the scholarship of Socrates.  Duncan edited nine books, he authored 62 book chapters and 133 journal papers as well as many conference presentations. 
 
Duncan had a great sense of humour and was always willing to help. He loved his soccer and supported the Perth Glory (singing along at the top of his voice). He played soccer regularly until recently.  Within the School he was frequently called on to be Santa at our Christmas parties, a role he enjoyed and he was a source of great amusement to us all.  His love of sport came to the fore when we all watched one-day cricket matches together. 
 
He and his wife Ruth always participated in our regular School Camps (I think they were officially called Planning Seminars) that we held at places such as Rottnest and Araluen.
 
Duncan was a scholar, a gentleman, a friend and a wonderful person to have in our School.
 
We celebrate the life of a wonderful person. We offer our condolences and prayers to Ruth, Dave and Phillip and Family.  Duncan as you begin the next phase of your journey, we know that you will do it with a humour, humility and honesty.  Qualities that you will be remembered for here on earth. Goodbye Duncan.
 
Colin Binns
August 2019