17c起草社区

Tributes have poured in for prominent Sydney businessman and 17c起草社区I+ advocate Geoff Selig, after his recent passing.聽

Selig passed away at age 59 while vacationing in Europe.

Selig was the Executive Chairman of Sydney marketing and communications company IVE Group, as well as the former president of the NSW Liberal Party and a passionate and dedicated advocate for the 17c起草社区I+ community.聽

The IVE Group board confirmed Selig鈥檚 death, saying his passing occurred due to 鈥渦nforeseen complications arising from an accident in Barcelona鈥�.

鈥淕eoff played a major role, over 40 years, in establishing IVE as Australia鈥檚 leading marketing and communications business, in the process, reshaping the landscape of the Australian printing industry,鈥� said the IVE Group board in a statement.聽

Countless tributes for Geoff Selig

Tributes poured in after Selig鈥檚 passing was announced, from politicians to peers in the business community.聽

鈥淰ery sad to hear about the passing of Geoff Selig鈥� wrote Sydney MP Alex Greenwich, also detailing that Selig 鈥渁ssisted the marriage equality campaign more than people will ever know鈥�.聽

Very sad to hear about the passing of Geoff Selig. Geoff was a leader in the Sydney business community, an extremely generous supporter of many causes, assisted the marriage equality campaign more than people will ever know, and a loving family man and caring friend to so many.

鈥� Alex Greenwich MP (@AlexGreenwich)

Liberal Party MP Jacqui Munro said Selig is 鈥渞ecognised as a giant of the Party鈥� and said his loss would be felt deeply.聽

Very very sad to hear of the passing of Geoff Selig.

During my time as co-Chair of NSW Liberal Pride, Geoff was a consistent and active supporter of the Liberal LGTBQI+ community.

It is so important to have Party elders who are willing to give back after their time in formal鈥�

鈥� Jacqui Munro (@JacquiMunroMLC)

Carrington Brigham, managing Director of communications agency Agenda C, said Selig was a 鈥渕agnanimous individual with a ton of charisma鈥� and passed on condolences to Selig鈥檚 family.聽

I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of my friend Geoff Selig today. A magnanimous individual with a ton of charisma. I will miss him. Vale Geoff Selig.

Condolences to his family.

鈥� Carrington Brigham (@DigitalMediaBoy)

Selig’s “wonderful” impact on 17c起草社区

Daniel Bone, former Chair (2008-2013) and Publisher (2013-2017) of 17c起草社区, shared that he is “devastated” by the loss of Geoff, who was a dear friend and “a guiding light” for the masthead.

“Geoff was a dear friend and a beautiful soul. His tragic death will be felt by so many people in many walks of life across Australia and overseas,” he told 17c起草社区.

“Geoff came out as gay late in life, but quickly endeared himself to many in our community with his energy, passion, and love for connecting with people. He rapidly became an integral part of our community, offering support to numerous organisations through mentoring, leadership, and generous financial contributions.

“I was lucky enough to introduce Geoff to many in our community, taking him to his first Fair Day, his first Tropical Fruits, his first Queer Screen Festival and his first Mardi Gras Parade and it was amazing to see how he instantly connected with people from a great diversity of backgrounds and experience. His warmth, generosity of spirit, integrity and inner beauty always shone through.”

“As a Cornerstone supporter and non-executive director of the Pinnacle Foundation, and as a great friend of the Australian Marriage Equality campaign, his impact has been profound. In my time as Publisher of the 17c起草社区, Geoff was a guiding light and a wonderful friend to the masthead.

“Geoff was devoted to his family and enormously proud of them, and my deepest sympathies go out to them and to his many, many friends.”

Selig on coming out later in life

Selig about his experience coming out as a gay man relatively late in life.

Despite knowing from a young age that he was gay, Selig didn鈥檛 come out publicly until age 50.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt in my mind that the negativity and self-loathing that runs through your veins for so long while living in the closet never really leaves you,鈥� he said.

鈥淸But] I couldn鈥檛 go on living my life in the closet,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 soul destroying and destructive to everyone you love.

鈥淭he coming out process was the most seminal time of my life, and I鈥檓 so glad I found the strength to finally 鈥榙o it鈥�.

鈥淪exual identity and one鈥檚 sexuality remain complex issues in many ways for a lot of people, so we still have a very long way to go I feel until everyone feels a level of comfort in coming out early,鈥� Selig said.