GEOFF MATTHEWS (1951–2019)

Geoffrey (Geoff) Noel Matthews was the owner and CEO of Convoy International, Australia’s second-oldest hi-fi importer and distributor. As well as its owner, he was also its longest-serving employee, having joined the company when he was only 16 years old.

Convoy International was founded in March 1965 by Malcolm Goldfinch. It traded under the name Convoy TechnoCentre and operated out of premises located at 449 Kent Street, Sydney. It was managed by Malcolm’s son, Andrew, who says Geoff was always coming into the store after he’d finished school.

‘In those days hi-fi was a vague art and very few had much knowledge about its complexities, but despite his age, Geoff’s technical knowledge was outstanding,’ remembers Goldfinch.

‘So I asked him if he would like to work for us over the Christmas school holidays, but he declined because his father had arranged a clerk’s position at Holsworthy where he was