Vale Mark 'Ackie' Atkinson

‘Ackie’ was a much loved member of the St Virgil’s community and his sudden passing has sent shock waves through those who knew him. Such was the esteem with which his peer group held him that they elected him to the position of Head Prefect for 1990.

On leaving College, Ackie worked at Cooley’s Hotel in Moonah for a couple of years before venturing to Western Australia to work in the mining industry. However, after a brief period there, he returned to Hobart to help out his father, Tony (also an Old Virgilian), with his trucking business.

Ackie was to return to WA a couple of years later, where he started a job as a trainer and assessor with BGC Contracting. From there he moved to become the training superintendent for the Gibson Iron Ore operation on Koolan Island. Koolan Island is an island off the Kimberley coast of Western Australia in the Buccaneer Archipelago. It is about 1 900 km north of Perth, and about 130 km north of Derby. It hosts deposits of high-grade iron ore.

It was on Koolan Island that Mark suffered a massive coronary on Wednesday June 1, and despite the valiant efforts of his fellow workers was not able to be saved.

A funeral service was held at Graham Family Funeral Home here in Hobart on July 1 and a large gathering was in attendance. Former school mates Brent McDermott and Simon Street were pall bearers and Brent McDermott was one of the eulogists. A great character. Loved by many. Gone too soon.

The video of the service can be view by going to the Graham Family Funerals website.