Mr Ampt was a highly regarded photographer across Victoria, having won numerous awards for his work, including nine highly coveted Coulter Media awards.

Raised by his parents, Norman and Margaret Ampt, he grew up on their property 'Greenfields', the original Ampt selected property of 1878 near Gymbowen.

Always plenty of variety, "living in the sticks", Norm and the two boys constructed a tennis court, so the assorted mixture of siblings - six in all - didn't run out of things to do.

Completing school at Goroke in 1966, he almost immediately walked into a career for life, commencing in Horsham as the Wimmera Mail-Times first cadet photographer under the excellent traineeship of Ian Ward and his wonderful skills.

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The Lockwood and Ward families had an extensive history with local newspaper industry establishment.

Well-known brothers, Frank and Allan Lockwood, as manager and editor, respectively, and renowned photographer, Ian Ward, were at the helm in those days, alongside Maurie Lawson.

It was the start of a lifetime career for Mr Ampt.

He fell in love with photography and excelled at it.

After five years at the Mail-Times, with a succession of cadets to follow under Ian Ward's guidance, Geoff graduated to The Age in Melbourne, working there until retirement.

Photographing the impossible shot was always the challenge.

He was well known, loved and esteemed for his Victorian Harness Racing photography, spending years covering the races at the Showgrounds, Moonee Valley and Tabcorp Park, Melton.

It is here he forged a mateship with fellow photographer Graeme Prosser.

As his time with The Age wound up, Mr Ampt began working with Mr Prosser at his stand-along business.

"He's here every morning about half past eight, looks at the emails and sorts out those things and has been a tremendous help," Mr Prosser said.

"People have had our pictures and said they have been some of the best they have seen in Australia.

"We tried to make them unique when the opportunity arose. We tried to do a bit extra."

An avid lawn bowler, when asked by his sister how he was coping with lockdown, he replied that he was sick of it, being unable to play bowls - their last conversation.

Mr Ampt quiet and contented homelife, married to Horsham girl Lorraine Barnett for 48 years, together they happily raised their son David, making their home in the south-eastern suburb of Narre Warren.