PHILANTHROPIST Geoff Handbury has died, aged 94.
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Mr Handbury was well known for his philanthropic work which poured millions of dollars and countless hours into the community.
It was that work which in 2005 earned him, and his late wife Helen who had passed away the previous year, a Queen's Birthday honour.
Mr and Mrs Handbury donated money to various buildings, charities and organisations in the Horsham district, including the Horsham Regional Art Gallery. The gallery's education centre is named in their honour.
Other Wimmera organisations that benefited from the couple's generosity included the Nexus youth centre, Wimmera Health Care Group, Horsham Aquatic Centre, Horsham Town Hall, West Wimmera Health Service, Wesley Performing Arts Centre and Natimuk's nursing home.
They were appointed officers of the Order of Australia after also being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1999.
Mrs Handbury was the eldest child of Sir Keith and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and sister to media entrepreneur Rupert Murdoch.
In 2005, Mr Handbury told The Standard that when the couple lived in Melbourne they didn't understand community until they moved to Balmoral in 1974.
Over the years they helped fund numerous projects including at South West Healthcare, Peter's Project, the rescue helicopter, Warrnambool Coastguard, MPower building and seating at the Lighthouse Theatre and Warrnambool College.
Western Region Alcohol and Drug centre also paid tribute to Mr Handbury and said his legacy and kindness would always be remembered. "His generosity gave support to those in need and we are forever grateful," WRAD said.
The Handbury Medical Suites are named in honour of Mr Handbury who WRAD said was its most charitable benefactor and one of Western Victoria's most generous philanthropists.
Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Mark Radford said Mr Handbury had left his mark on the Wimmera.
"Geoff's fingerprints are across our region in various ways. His and Helen's contributions to the art gallery is an obvious one, but there were so many other ways they supported the community," he said.
"Not many people would know how he helped keep Nexus open and contributed so much to the Horsham youth programs.
Cr Radford said he was "privileged" to meet Mr Handbury at the opening of the Horsham Town Hall.
"He worked hard and was a great businessman, and he wanted to give back to the community in any way he could. He will be missed," he said.
Wimmera Health Care Group chief executive Catherine Morley said Mr and Mrs Handbury had donated to the group numerous times over the years.
"The Handbury Library at Wimmera Base Hospital was named after them, and they were great supporters of establishing the Wimmera Medical Centre which is so important for our community," she said.
"The family made lots of contributions over the years to other things, including to the Wimmera Cancer Centre. They were a constant source of support for the region and their generosity was for good."
West Wimmera Health Services chief executive Ritchie Dodds said the Handbury family donated $1.5 million to the Nhill hospital. He said they also donated to the service's Goroke and Natimuk facilities.
"They were fantastic benefactors to the region," he said.
Wannon MP Dan Tehan said Mr Handbury "embodied the best of us". "He served in the navy during World War II, was an entrepreneur who created jobs and he gave freely of his time to others," Mr Tehan said.
Mr Handbury and his wife had started ACE Radio in 1994 and saw the company expand to house 13 stations and one newspaper while at the helm.