22 August 1947 to 11 September 2025
Ross met his wife Paula when he was 18 and she was 15 years old, when he moved next door. They developed a strong friendship playing tennis and board games. After dating for 6 years, they married in 1972, and welcomed two children, Tamara and Mark. Early evidence of entrepreneurial spirit was exhibited by a succession of fruitful real estate deals.
After graduating in geology and metallurgy from the University of Queensland in the late 1960s, his career began in the early 1970s as a wellsite geologist for Mines Administration Pty Ltd and then with Marathon Petroleum Pty Ltd in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In the late 1970s, he undertook the technically challenging position of Project Manager of the Honeymoon uranium in situ leach project through to its pilot plant development stage.
When he returned to Queensland in 1980 Ross moved into petroleum exploration at AAR (CSR) which was acquired by Delhi Petroleum then Esso, mostly focused on the Cooper Basin. Throughout the 1983-1991, he was a senior exploration supervisor in the Cooper Basin for Delhi Petroleum Pty Limited and Esso Australia Limited.
Ross had an encyclopaedic knowledge of wells drilled in the basin and could conjure up the pertinent details upon request, “a la Bookabourdie”. An incurable explorationist at heart, he really loved the chase and seeing a drill rig confirm desktop pursuits. This applied equally to his own efforts and those he was collaborating with.
Establishing the Tamark consultancy in 1991 his exploration instincts lead to oil and gas discoveries for Vernon Faulconer, MIMPEX, and the foundation assets of Innamincka Petroleum which was first listed in 2003. The discovery of oil and gas at Juniper and Flax in South Australia in 2004 was a significant achievement of Innamincka Petroleum.
Following the merger with Drillsearch in 2010, Ross was independent again and pursued the “Taipan block” in Queensland where oil was discovered, notably at Andromeda in 2011. His interest continued in the relevant ATP (now ATP 1056) as a Joint Venture partner.
An entertaining presenter and conversationalist he would regularly sign off with his trademark “boobooba boom!!”
In retirement his Bronco’s membership was the source of equal amounts of joy and despair and provided welcome opportunity to share his interest with the family and anyone else in proximity whilst attending games at Suncorp. Hard to believe he was never asked to assist the coaches.
A proud father and grandfather, his first grandchild was born in 2011, and following a kidney transplant in 2017 he lived to enjoy three grandchildren.
Organ donation gave Ross the opportunity to enjoy 8 further years enjoying his family. If you have been thinking about organ donation, let this be the impetus to act and help someone else do the same.
