David John Spiers

A tribute to you David, a dedicated teacher and mentor to those who asked. Your kindness, enthusiasm and honesty are remembered.

David, I can’t believe I missed your death. And we already have so much to catch up on! I am going to miss talking about religion, politics, music (I’ll listen to Slim Dusty once more just for you), the economy and general state of the world. I am so glad I approached you as a nervous 18 year old with a fail grade scribbled on my economics assignment (I still don’t think it was that bad). You have been a huge part of my life. Your death leaves a big hole. I wish I got to explore your thoughts on Covid-19. I wish I told you how much you mean to me. But one thing I’ve wanted to clarify for 25 years, is that when I ‘gave’ you Mike Oldfield’s Hergest Ridge cd, I only meant to lend it. Can I have it back now please? I miss you so much already.

David
I greatly enjoyed your friendship and camaraderie as a colleague at FedUni. Our discussions were always engaging – whether we were discussing footy, cricket, politics, economics or our students. I enjoyed your company and will miss your insights, your dedication, your passion and your generosity.
Craig

David you will be truly missed around the Business School. It was evident that teaching was your passion. You loved our Shenzhen students and we know they loved you to. We will miss having you around the office and B Building overall. We always enjoyed you popping in to say hello. What an incredible impact you have had on a number of students and the university overall. Rest in Peace David.

Dear David,

Thank you for supporting and mentoring myself and a group of young accountants get through our CPA, which has now set us up for our careers. You went out of your way to come all the way down to Melbourne to share your knowledge. And you always showed up for our CPA gatherings to share a drink, a good laugh and insightful conversations.

You will be missed

Olivier

David
I cannot attend your memorial tomorrow due to the virus so my apologies, friend.
I have been thinking of our conversations over the years. I told you that you should go abroad and enjoy yourself instead of teaching one term after another a the business school and being somewhat unappreciated for all the work you did. you always told me that you needed a million to have a good retirement but of course you enjoyed teaching too much to quit. And now, old friend, you can rest, put your feet up and read some of Maynard Keynes.
Alex Millmow
President of HETSA

David was a colleague and friend who I have known and appreciated for many years. David was passionate about a few things in life, AFL footy and his beloved West Coast Eagles, teaching and delivering economics courses to students and forming lasting friendships with students and staff. David’s dislike of the cold winter months was always an entertaining conversation. David contributed to the University in many ways and he has touched and influenced all of our lives in some way.

I will miss you David and it was my great privilege to have known you and to have worked with you. You will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

David John Spiers, one of the many unsung heroes in education. A man of great integrity, deep dedication to his students and passion for his beloved economics. A fierce defender of the underdog and justice. Delightfully impervious to fad or fashion in all things. May you enter into peace my friend.

David,

I am saddened on your passing. You were an amazing mentor and huge friend to me.

You not only mentored univeristy students, you went out of your way to assist myself and some other students struggling in a particular CPA subject. As you know, we are all still great friends today with all completing our CPA, a big achievement that would of been a struggle without your mentorship.

I still remember our trips to Melbourne to catch up for a beer and a nice meal. These are fond memories, where we use to talk about everything under the sun and by the end of the evening we were both running to Southern Cross station to catch the last trains home.

Thanks again for all the fun times and pushing me to complete my CPA because with your persistence & belief in me, I now have something I am very appreciative of.

Rest in peace my friend

Joshua Robins

Although I have never worked with David in delivering any course at FedUni, I travelled together with him, Bryce and Rachel to Shenzhen, and stayed two weeks in the same hotel in 2018. I found David a real gentleman, quiet, kind, helpful, and an amazing person with wider interest and knowledge about global issues and events. I personally, and I trust all of my colleagues enjoyed his company throughout our trip.

Rest in Peace dear David. You will be sadly missed.

Abdul

David, our office will miss you coming in to say hello and ask questions. You were always up for a chat and talk about football. Your smile will be especially missed by us all.

David, you were such a big part of my life and words will never express how much I will miss you. Was glad to have had some chats with you on the phone recently and have a laugh together. Didn’t know it would be the last time we would talk but want you to know you will always have a place in my heart. I wish you had of had a bit of retirement time as you worked so hard, but now you can rest in peace in heaven. Hopefully, it is nice and warm up there for you, I know you won’t miss the Ballarat winters or the snakes you were unfortunate to encounter :) I will miss our brekkies together and got no idea how I will do my share trading without your tips and guidance but will make sure I do you proud xxxx

David was a colleague for many years at Federation Business School where he lectured in Economics. Students held him in high esteem for his dedication to helping them. David was a regular teacher in the MBA in Shenzhen, China. I recall many discussions regarding the finer points of cricket, the weather and the stock market. He will be missed

David Spiers … on the wings of Eagles

David was always in for a chat when we crossed paths on too many a night working back late … conversation usually turned to the AFL and Eagles in particular and on occasion to his beloved Western Australia and life back in the state to which he visited most summers. David shared through gritted tears on one occasion the loss of his wife many years before, I think in hindsight leading in part to his semi-reclusive life …

Some of us quietly mused if David would ever retire … and sadly we now know.

Will miss your late ventures onto campus David … a gentleman and pragmatic diamond in the rough. Always in for a chat, well versed in a range of topics and retrospective if not outspoken on issues of the heart.

Blessings on your journey David … will miss your banter, forthright recollections of life and starry-eyed view of the AFL Eagles

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Psalm 139:8-10

…. Jonathan Langton

David thank you for all the time and effort you put into helping and mentoring me through my Master of Professional Accounting studies. You were always there if I had a question or needed some help. You were an amazing teacher and friend. I will miss our lunchtime chats.

David, It was an absolute pleasure working with you in the Business School. You put a lot of time and effort into providing great care and teaching our very fortunate Economics students. They were lucky to gain from your expertise.
I will miss our chats about AFL and the West Coast Eagles. Like your beloved team you are Flying High.
Thanks for the memories David xx

David, you were not only a mentor to me however a great friend. I look back fondly on our friendship and especially our times where we would have a great laugh and debate about the state of the world. You were a brilliant lecturer and someone who made me who I am today and without you as a friend and mentor I really don’t know where I would be today. I am really going to miss catching up with you to chat finance, markets, cricket, politics and football however I am also so thankful I was able to have been someone impact me so deeply. I’ll miss you David.

Federation University is the beneficiary of David’s long commitment in teaching Economics and Finance. His dedication to higher education started back in the 1980s with the Ballarat College of Advanced Education and Ballarat University College, now known as Federation University. During his time, he has played a pivotal role in course coordination, teaching and research. He is known by staff and many of his students as a genuine mentor who had an extraordinary passion for his field and an incredible mind. He was awarded the title of ‘Most Outstanding Sessional Teacher’ by the Federation Business School.

His smile and legacy lives on in our hearts.

We remember him with deep affection and gratitude.

Staff from Federation Business School

Dear David,

Since I arrived at the Business School in 2003 you have been the constant in the economics programme, with affection and passion for teaching economics. As an economist myself, I enjoyed your thoughtful and human approach to economics that is sadly missing in our profession these days. I will miss your smile and knowing look, even when too busy too chat. Should have stopped and chatted many more times. Thank you for being there in the School.

Sad goodbye from me,
Jerry

David, you will be greatly missed.

Throughout my University years your dedication to teaching was always evident.
Your feedback, knowledge and wisdom made you a respected and brilliant lecturer.

More importantly to me you become a valued friend.
I will always look back fondly at our times at a football game, cricket or our favourite pub the Mitre Tavern!
Our conversations would always be varied about life, sport, politics and economics and I was always amazed by your intellect.
I’m glad we had a recent phone call to catch up but heartbroken that it will be our last time.

David, thanks for being such a great mate over the years.

Dave (somehow I got away with calling you Dave instead of David)

I really enjoyed working with you over the past few years at Fed Uni. You were a dedicated Educator, always extending great care to your students. I will miss you updating me about the absence of ‘full cream’ milk in the staffroom fridge, turning up the heat in the sessional room and sharing the odd chocolate or two. I enjoyed reminiscing about your time in Kalgoorlie, Curtin University colleagues and how much you missed the warm Western Australian weather. You will be missed by many.

Dear David.
I have so many fond memories of our times together when I was teaching a Fed Uni.
Our regular teaching journeys to Shenzhen and Hong Kong were always an adventure.
Apart from being a thorough teacher, you were always keen to try new food but also wanting to explore the territory also. (I remember once you actually got lost in Shenzhen and had to get a taxi back to the hotel – funny when we chatted about it the next day, but you weren’t happy at the time)
What struck me the most was, in all of our travels, I don’t think we ever discussed the same thing twice – you always had something enlightening to say about astronomy, physics, food, people, markets, to name but a few topics – not to forget geology!
As a teacher, you invested in your students, and they reaped the returns.
You will be missed.

Many friends come into our lives but only a few leave with their footprints in our hearts. I will always remember your company during our travels to China for teaching. You will be sadly missed David.

Sisira Colombage

david
I missed our chats upon the economy last year. you had a great sense of humour.
it was good to see you at the HETSA conferences which I know you enjoyed greatly.
you have left us when we are in a most interesting economic vortex which would have intrigued and tested your finely- tuned ability to read the economIc tea leaves
Farewell friend.
Alex

David,

I so enjoyed teaching Economics and then Financial markets with you.

Also will miss our chats, in my office and the caf about Economics, Politics and Finance and the state of the world in general.

I am so sad that we will never be able to do this again.

Miss you David.

David – thank you for your friendship.
We will miss your funny laugh, your infinite wisdom, and your company at our family gatherings.
The Smiths (Peter, Noeleen, Nathan and Zac)

In his role at Federation Business School , Federation University, David helped others learn and gave the gift of knowledge and understanding. He also assisted other staff develop these abilities and was a great source of support and encouragement. These gifts will provide lifelong confidence, success and happiness to many others. I will miss our discussions about the School, Government Policies, and cricket. Thank you David for making an immeasurable improvement and contribution to so many lives.

Paul McPhee, Lecturer in Economics, Federation Business School, Federation University Australia.

David,
you were a good mentor to me when I returned to university as a mature age student. I enjoyed all our discussions, debates and the highlight when I attended the Economics Conference with you in Canberra

Sadly missed

Richard Start

David, underneath that tough exterior, was a very big heart. You cared deeply for the people close to you, including all of your students. You were passionate about learning and teaching and were a man of great integrity. You loved your cricket, the share market and the Westcoast Eagles! I will miss you mate. Eugene