VALE GEORGE WILLIAMS 1940 - 2024
It is with sadness that AILA announces the passing of George Williams AM, AILA Honorary Fellow.
George was a founding member of AILA and an ambassador for landscape architecture at QUT and across Australia.
George was born in 1940 in Brisbane. He gained a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Queensland before completing a two-year post-graduate Diploma in Landscape Design in the UK. He then returned to Brisbane to work in the Landscape section of the State Works Department (State Government).
George became the first full-time Landscape Architecture staff member at QIT (now QUT) in 1973 where he remained until he retired in 1996. He became an Associate Member of AILA in 1969 (certificate no. 50) in 1969 and was elevated to Fellow in 1982. He was active in the AILA, holding all executive positions except Treasurer at a Chapter (Queensland) and National level.
He was the recipient of the Australian Award in Landscape Architecture in 1992 (the highest award given by AILA) and appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2002, both for services to the profession and education.
He was also presented with the 2017 AILA Queensland President's Award in recognition of "The organisation of numerous events and celebratory activities associated with 50 years of Landscape Architecture education at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT)".
In his role at QUT, George educated most of Queensland’s now senior landscape architects. His influence was far and wide both within and outside of AILA and he will leave a significant legacy within the industry. Put simply, George’s work for the institute and the profession put both on a solid administrative footing, in Queensland and nationally. While modest and unassuming in his demeanour, George’s contribution was outstanding.
AILA would like to extend our deepest condolences to Kathleen Williams and their family during this sad time.
We are grateful that we captured George on video as part of our 'In Conversation with Fellows' series late last year, interviewed by his great friend, Lawrie Smith AM, AILA FRLA.
You can watch this special video here: https://lnkd.in/gWJj-C87
*Thank you to Lawrie Smith AM, AILA FRLA, Catherin Bull AM, AILA FRLA and Glenn Thomas AILA FRLA for contributing to these words and Kathleen Williams for her blessing.