Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Albert was born in Melbourne in 1922 and educated at Camberwell Grammer School. Geoff did his Technical Training at the Sydney College of Engineering and Architecture.

He worked as a Mechanical Draughtsman at E.T.C. Industries Ltd. He some Electrical Draughtsman work, as well. Geoff has workshop machine operator skills.  

However, making music and travelling was his passion.

His day job enabled him to make a living while seeking gig work at night. He played the Spanish Guitar while he sang various numbers in Hawaiian dance bands. He even tried his luck in brass swing bands before putting his aspirations on hold.

The 1942 Bombing of Darwin was the impetus for reassessing his priorities. He then became keen to join the RAAF. That event caused him to aspire to do RAAF Engineering work. That was how he would do his bit.

However, Geoff was exempt from military service because of skilled work in the munitions industry.

Hence he would need permission from the Department of Labour and National Service to enlist. His employer would have to agree to release him to join the RAAF because of strict manpower regulations. Geoff would also have to pass a RAAF Trade Test and Medical. 

He did not apply for RAAF Aircrew because he wore glasses. Geoff was keen on training as an Aircraft Mechanic. He passed his Trade Test and Medical. The RAAF received a permission letter from his employer. 

His RAAF overseas service included Morotai and the 1945 Borneo campaign. However he applied for a transfer to a mobile entertainment unit to entertain troops in forward areas. He was seconded to entertain Troops with visiting stars.

He had his Spanish Guitar and a fine voice. He first entertained Troops on Borneo. Then following Imperial Japan's surrender, and his subsequent demobilization, Geoff went to Japan. There he entertained the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.   

His post war job was to work as an Armed Forces Radio Announcer in Japan. He was in effect the voice of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan as per wikipedia.   

Geoff became a fluent Japanese speaker because of that Radio Announcer's job. He even gave a rendition of "Waltzing Maltida" in Japanese for his audience.

Geoff travelled to Germany and other places where he did entertainment gigs and met his future wife Tabbi, an English comedian. They travelled extensively on an English Panther Motorbike with a sidecar. His sidecar carried his wife and his Guitar. Travel includes Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. They did gigs were they could, before returning to Australia.

Their ship finally docked in Fremantle in 1954. Geoff then travelled direct from the wharf in Fremantle to Sydney with side tracks for gigs in outback towns. He travelled on trusty Panther motorcycle with his beloved wife and his equally beloved Spanish Guitar.  

In 1959 he penned a song in an attempt to explain to others who would asked him, where he's been. Geoff noticed that many town names rhymed. Hence in two hours he came up with a song which he considered to be a nothing more than a chant. He stated that chant aspect in his 2013 APRA AMCOS CEO interview. (That Organization respresents the Rights of Songwriters, Composers and Music publishers)

That chanting song which he composed in two hours: "I've been everywhere" became on international hit.

The Australian version was the first one that Geoff penned. He then composed dedicated versions for Japan, Germany, England, America, South Africa and New Zealand. There are more than 130 geograhically dedicated versions of his song for which his publishers ensured that he got royalties. The American version that Geoff penned was sung by Hank Snow for its American release. There are many other artists who have recorded versions of his original country song. 

That success enabled Geoff Mack and Tabbi to retire to Tamworth. The Australian Country Music capital. Home of the Big Golden Guitar. Incidently, home of Geoff's British Panther Motorbike. For it has been everwhere. 

Geoff loved playing his Spanish Guitar with its unique bohemian lifestyle that had enabled him to travel widely on his trusty motorcycle. He shared his love of country music, including his own comic compositions with frontline troops in war time thru to outback pub patrons in peace time. That was the freedom that he fought to preserve. His bohemian lifestyle would not have been possible if the Allies did not defeat the Axis.

His RAAF service in WWII was his contribution to that victory.     

His trusty British Panther Motorbike is displayed in the Tamworth Visitors Center according to an Australian Motorcycle News article. [19 April 2019]   

Ex-RAAF Air Mechanic, Albert Geoffrey McElhinney aka Geof Mack was awarded an OAM in the 2005 Queen's Birthday Honour's list.

OAM Citation: For service to country music and to the community, particulary for support to senior citizen's groups. 13 June 2005. 

Geoff Mack OAM passed away in his 95th year in 2017.

Lest We Forget.