Memories of John Davis
Remembering John Davis..Friend, Rock Climber, Pioneer Climber & Adventurer, True Leader, People Developer, Innovator , Scientist , Photographer and Environmentalist . He will be missed.
A key figure in the Sydney Rock Climbing Club . He greatly
moulded its’ development and those who became part of it. He made us better
people , more resilient and with a belief in what we could achieve. A great gift
to so many people’s lives.
His legacy in encouraging people to be adventurous lives on…
We will gather soon to farewell a great friend, a brilliant mind, and a fine companion adventurer for some of us from that golden age of climbing so long ago. Anger will give way to sorrow on that day for me and I'm sure many others.
This world is so full of things that make me angry that there are times it is hard to function. This is the worst of them. But I will put this aside and remember the sunny days, the soaring gothic crag lines of the pyramid, the ceaseless surging of the sea against that vast castle, and the wheeling screeching myriads of sea birds. A band of friends, in a wonderful place, on this still lovely vast and precious planet.
Peace be with us all,
Ben S
Rope and Rucksack ( John Davis’s book) lured me, Kim Carrigan, Mikl Law, Giles Bradbury, and lots of Sydney kids into the vertical world of the Blueys.
Greg C
JD gave me the opportunity to climb in a science film about lenses and images that he made for the ABC in ‘73. We climbed on the 3 sisters including me leading the Mantelshelf then fixing a rope for him to hang off while filming, in mid-air, above that drop, spinning around and around with a fish-eye lens. I was paid the princely sum of $50 which back then believe it or not, purchased me a pair of EB’s (footprint drawn on a foolscap sheet of paper and posted with the order), a dozen Bonatti carabiners and a Vango Force Ten tent from Graham Tiso in Scotland including the 12 week postage by sea, just in time for the school holidays and a climbing trip. The dollar must have been very strong back then to get all that.
One funny thing I remember about that trip was that the ABC provided an allowance for accommodation at a motel. John suggested we didn’t have to sleep in the motel but rather, what about the Top Cave at Narrow Neck? Well, we were all for that along with dinner cooked over the fire and some big stories.
I was so inspired by his photos that he sold me his old Pentax S1, (not sure when ‘72 or ‘73) my first real camera and SLR albeit it had no light meter. John explained how to judge the light and adjust for the shot at hand. I took some of my best photos on that old camera. Sadly it met its’ end in a big storm when my sack filled with water after the lid came adrift in dense scrub.
As a young aspiring climber, his tales of the Dogface and other climbs had my jaw on the floor for hours in both wonderment and fear. He was a great story-teller. I also got the rudiments of aid climbing from JD.
I will miss not hearing another wonderful, funny and inspirational story.
Joe L
This is truly tragic and terrible news.
Only a few days ago John was talking to my wife Chris, in his usual passionate and enthusiastic way, about a spreadsheet he was developing looking at solar power, battery storage and electric vehicles. I emailed him back with some queries and suggested we talk on Skype so he could add some extra explanations.
It seems inconceivable that any opportunity to talk with
John again is now lost forever.
John was never one to stand on the edge of life. He just plunged in and went for it. But his actions were always informed by an acute intelligence and a thirst for knowl- edge. There were many many nights around camp fires where John shared that knowledge with us and indeed his excitement about the wonder and complexity of the natural world.
He was of course a very brave and talented rock climber and very inventive when it came to designing and manufacturing climbing gear. We skied together a lot and while most of the “old boys” cross country group were not necessarily brilliant skiers, John was always out front with the map and compass finding the way in a white out or racing down some icy slope in a wild snow plough turn. His enthusiasm was infectious and likely as not, we would all follow him down the
same slope, pitching and swaying and trying to stay upright.
That same enthusiasm and love for life extended into so many other areas – photography, film making, sail- ing, wood working and political action.
Fizz I cannot begin to imagine just how awful this is for you and of course for Russ and Sophie and their families. I know both you and John were the most dedicated and involved parents and grandparents anyone could hope for and John’s loss will be a massive blow to the whole family.
John was an important person in so many peoples’ lives. I will miss him for the rest of my life.
Wes K
Thank you Wes - so beautifully written. And thank you Lee for being the belay rope that keeps us all safely connected - I'm deeply grateful. I will see if I can fly over for John's service. It is very sad and sobering news and makes each moment more pre-
cious.
Thinking of you all, my dear climbing friends.
Love
Bavali H
We have all been saddened to hear of John tragic passing. I have felt it along with many ex SRC climbers, who have been sharing wonderful memories. I have no doubt it’s because of the person we knew. Someone quite remarkable in so many aspects. It was also John’s great influence on people and their development, in so many positive ways.
That amazing legacy continues 50 years later through the lives of many. The tributes say it clearly.
I recall a conversation with John two years back. He said that climbing was great developer for life…it equipped us to handle the inevitable ups and downs of life. We spoke of resilience, endurance, self belief and adaptability- all the qualities we need for life, but which are rarely taught. I think it was more than climbing which instilled these
characteristics, it was JD.
We knew him as a climber, photographer, adventurer, scientist, innovator, environmentalist, leader and developer of people and a friend.
In the mid 1960’s John’s leadership as President of the Sydney Rock Climbers (SRC) stood out. He intro- duced many to the wonderful world of climbing and adventure. He was at the forefront of getting so many young women into the sport. His leadership was everywhere. From rescues (in those days there was no Po- lice Rock rescue Squad and SRC was it) , to organizing expeditions( including food air drops) to South West Tasmania( Federation Peak), to Balls Pyramid Expeditions, to Kombi trips (filled with young SRC members) to the Warrumbungles, and to exotic
adventures like winter iglooing between Thredbo & Kosciuszko. Not to forget a wonderful SRC congo line from the Hero after a club meeting over the Harbour Bridge arch…if only he had patented the Bridge walk concept!
In all these adventures John provided the leadership and equipped others to explore a wonderful world that so few get a chance to be part of….
… John was an innovator. Give him problem and a well analyzed solution would emerge...steel ball races before aluminium chocks were invented; boson’s seats for those awkward overhangs or over-nighting on a precipice. When nylon rope came in he organized different tests so we understood its characteristics.
Not all innovations were successful. One was a planned SRC congo line to climb Echo Crack below the lookout at the Three Sisters which presented a challenge outside climbing. Tourists had a tendency to throw pennies over for luck. Not wanting a penny traveling at 120 km / hour embedded in anyone’s skull (pre hel- met days) John made up a sign in multi -languages...”climbers below do not throw objects”. At the end of the weekend it was clear that he had not covered all languages and someone from an exotic language group had thrown the sign over as well (for good luck?).
John’s approach to climbing was comprehensive. Not just a sporting skill but a combination of skill, the mechanics of climbing safety and training. I fully recognized this later when comparing the European ap- proach where safety seemed a 2nd thought, to the Australian style of climbing that John encouraged. He developed people, their skills and awareness of the surrounding issues.
Reading about belaying & saving someone was not a good training approach. John organized training practice. Not all enjoyed it, especially if you were the selected one to jump off Wahroonga cliffs, albeit mul- tiply belayed. Or the innovative use of Gerry Davis’s BSA motor bike, with it hurtling along the track, a rope secured and someone belaying it to a stop. John developed practical skills. You knew you could do it. (I have still some rope burns scars as memories of hard learnt skills).
John’s problem solving in emergencies was instantaneous. With a group of SRC members coming back from the Mt Vic Pub to the top cave in Johns Peugeot 203, the pea-soup fog limited visibility to a metre. You could barely see the road. John assigned two people to lay across the back seat with the doors ajar and call out of they saw the centerline or side of the road. Where else would you get practical driving skills like that? We made it thanks to JD.
We are indebted to John for his photography legacy- a great archive of climbing & adventure photography. It wasn’t just the peaks, the cliffs and new adventures but the people who took up the challenges, all won- derfully recorded…with John perched on a cliff face with his cameras or hanging over a big drop.
We sadly say farewell to a leader, climber, photographer, environmentalist and adventurer. We say farewell to a ‘developer of people’ and a friend.
Thanks JD for the contribution you made to so many peoples’ lives. You will be greatly missed.
Rest in Peace
Vale John Davis.
As a science teacher in the early 1970's at Manly Boys High, John had an inspiring effect on many, including me. Later, a book he co-authored", "Rope and Rucksack" was a sort of outdoor bible avidly read by those just starting out in the outdoors.
I'll be sitting in a science lab today watching my students and sadly wondering about the influences he had on many lives.
RIP
George C
I caught the sad news. John was high on the order of
great names in the SRC and alpine sports in general and conservation. I did not know him well but often wished that I had.
Russ K
Yes a tragedy indeed and very upsetting for all…
Sincerely
Judy L
Dear SRC members,….I am deeply saddened by the messages flooding in here to Christchurch, each shocked about John’s death and remembering his passion for family & outdoor life.
Even though I hadn’t seen John since I left Sydney in 1971 for New Zealand I have tried my best to keep up with his career in film.
I most recently corresponded with John over his compilation of a history of climbs on Balls Pyramid…and that time he sent me photos of his 9 year old grand-daughter leaping off a high ledge into a Blue Mountain canyon. He told me how his heart was in his mouth…but immensely proud of her at the same time. She would have found the courage to jump, that it was OK to take a risk ...knowing her vastly experienced grand-dad was below to be there for her.
As young Sydney climber I was in awe of the climbs John Davis achieved (with John Ewbank and others)… John not only put up some great routes but, importantly for me, he photographed them.
In visiting John and Gary Steer’s flat in late 60s/early 70s I used to marvel at the piles of B&W contact sheets & 10x8” prints churned out in their darkroom after yet another weekend of climbing & canyoning.
Yes, John’s 'Rope and Rucksack', was an inspirational blend of science and adventure, the start of his own inspired career.
John Davis played a very significant role in convincing me to take a risk, to have a bash at mountain pho- tography for a living.
Thank you John.
Rest in peace.
Colin M
I got a shock to see John's face when I turned on the television this morning. So sad and un- fortunate….
I remember his energy and enthusiasm and am grateful for the reunion. It was a great evening and so good to catch up with everyone from the old days, and so
poignant at a time like this. Christine R
Thanks for sending this out… it is beautifully stated. I'm still trying to come to grips with this after having a day with John less than a fort- night ago. There are going to be many others who will be staggered by this news. John de- serves all the accolades that he gets. He was a gentle, retiring, multi-talented, helpful and friendly person and I among many will miss him greatly.
He lives on in the many photographs and articles that he generated.
Keith B
It is gut-wrenching to have you confirm the news. I heard the name on the 11 pm news last night and couldn't help but think the dots might join up. I haven't slept thinking about it.....
hoping it might be another JD and feeling angry… this has been the waste of a wonderful life, the loss of our JD.
I have wonderful memories of climbing and camping with John when I was still at school in 1973.
Joe L
First Balls Pyramid Expedition
Yes, very sad news.
All too sad to ponder why and how …
All very tragic.....he was legendary in the things that he had done.
I often heard Dick talk about him in recent years. They will all be missed....characters each one of them....
In our thoughts and prayers. John L
That is so devastating, just read the story on ABC news site so it's true, how hard to believe.
I knew John in my rock climbing days way back in days when we were young and free-wheeling. He was an inspiration to me, so talented and such a wonderful person. I feel so sad that such a wonderful life is snuffed out like this. I would have loved to have caught up with him again after making contact again with all the rock climbing folks after many decades.
Rest in peace John.
Mary F
I'm sad to learn this. John's adventure photography inspired me in my youth, and certainly pushed me down the road to become a climber.
Greg C
Dear SRC Friends
You will be saddened to hear of the tragic death of our friend John Davis along with Richard and Carolyn Green.
They were killed in a helicopter crash in Watagan National Park near Martinsville in the Hunter Valley.
John had a great impact on those of us who were fortunate to know him & climb with him. He was a key figure in the development of climbing in NSW and in encouraging all of us to be adventurous.
His passion for photography is well known. He provided wonderful memories through his amazing photo- graphic record from the early days of climbing and adventuring as part of the Sydney Rock Climbers.
I’ll endeavor to let you know more of the plans to say farewell to John once these are known. I’m sure many will want to add their condolences & positive memories.
I’ll seek a way that we can do this to share the positive impact John had on so many of us.
Our thoughts and prayers will be with John’s wife Felicity and their family, and also with the Green family. He will be sadly missed.
Rest in Peace John
Lee S
We all agree with your words and sympathies ....it is a tragic loss for all. They will be greatly missed. They all each lived amazing adventurous lives providing inspiration and joy to so many along the way.
In sadness John L
Sadly our good friend is dead as are his companions on the flight…. but I'm devastated.
Relieved though that Felicity didn't fly and drove back to Sydney… We will all gather soon to say good bye. John had so much to offer, so much enthusiasm for communicating science and the environ- mental imperatives of our times.
This is an awful loss.
Peace be with us all.
Ben S
