Carol Bolton passed away in December 2023. Earlier that year, she was invited to reflected on the portrait of her late husband, Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Bolton…

Whenever I go onto the Murdoch campus, I visit the Geoffrey Bolton Library to reconnect with a portrait of my late husband, Professor Geoffrey Bolton (1932-2015) painted by West Australian artist, Mary Moore. This painting was commissioned by Murdoch University in 2008 following the completion of Geoffrey’s tenure as Chancellor (2002-2006). 

Traditionally, many institutional portraits of this kind are formal, with academics depicted in their university ceremonial gowns. This has a symbolic significance, however, equally so does the informal painting of Geoffrey depicted at home sitting in his favourite chair wearing informal clothes, looking relaxed and at the same time involved and connected. Mary Moore really captured the essence of Geoffrey’s capacity to relate to people and events. Many of his previous colleagues and students have referred to his availability, generosity and capacity to connect with people and ideas.

The informal setting of this painting’s composition hints at some additional anecdotes. The chair Geoffrey is sitting in has a particular significance because it was brought from England by the first Professor of Chemistry at Melbourne University. It was gifted to us by his daughter, Lady Bassett, when she realised that as a young couple in our first house, we had almost no furniture. It has been an important part of our lives ever since. 

Mary Moore painted the portrait in her studio, but some was painted in situ at our house and perhaps that sense of informality has been captured in the mood of the portrait. It captures important aspects of Geoffrey’s warm and generous personality. He would have been delighted to know that the campus library was named after him and that his portrait is prominently displayed at the entrance, symbolically greeting all the seekers after truth and wisdom who come through its doors. He was always ready to be involved with people and ideas in a generous and supportive way and to encourage exploration and new thinking.

For me Geoffrey’s spirit is kept alive through this portrait. Mary Moore has been able to make one feel the presence of the subject in a very significant way. There is a tactile sense that if one were to reach out one could feel his hands, but also there is an emotional sense of reaching the person who is in this setting he so much valued.

About Carol Bolton 

Carol Bolton met her future husband Geoffrey Bolton while they were both students studying at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. After completing their studies, they married and moved to Australia where Geoffrey had grown up. Geoffrey pursued his academic career and Carol taught in the English Departments at Monash University and then at the University of Western Australia. 

After their two sons started school Carol decided that she wanted to undertake further studies in order to change careers. She was part of the first student intake to enrol at Murdoch University where she studied psychology and went on to do a post graduate degree in Clinical Psychology. 

Enjoying her time as a mature aged student Carol immersed herself in the campus community and was one of the first two students appointed to the University’s Senate committee. After graduating, Carol worked in various settings and eventually set up her own private practice as a psychoanalytic psychotherapist until retirement. She and Geoffrey were married for fifty-seven years. In retirement, Carol stayed connect with Murdoch University through its Banksia Association in which she is a valued committee member until she passed away in December 2023.