The great deputy head of the International House was involved in a kayak accident in Phillip Island on Sunday 16th October. Peter is still missing after all these time. We had a tribute for him today.
I worked with Peter for three years during my time at International House as a staff member. Peter was one of the kindest people I have met. He was always full of compassion and empathy to those around him. Whenever anybody interacts with Peter, he was always there with genuine interests.
I remember Peter was at my first big departmental research talk. Peter is not a mathematician, but quite opposite. Peter was a man who loved poetry and Shakespeare, music and arts, cheese and wine, rock climbing and kayaking. But he sat through my whole maths research talk with full attention. The next day, all staff members (including me) received an email from Peter with title "Congratulations Tian!". Peter summarised my talk with proper maths terminologies, commented on my presentation style, told all staff members he was absorbed by my presentation and how much he was proud of me.
I remember Peter gave me a big hug after finding out my father died. He walked along to university with me together in the morning to make sure I would be fine. He was there listening to me patiently time and time again when I was going through some really tough times. He invited me back to house to try Sylvie's yummy spring rolls when he knew I was distressed. And I remember at International House 2015 music night, I sat there with Sylvie sing along to every song that we know, we were singing and waving our hands along "The Sound of Silence" and "How to save a life", while Peter was sitting next to us.
Peter's wife Sylvie was extremely lovely and kind as well. Peter told me that Sylvie spoke about me all the time at home. She was very connected to me and had great understanding on the difficulties I was going through. Peter always told me Sylvie had very soft spot for me. I certainly adore Sylvie so much.
I still remember at our last staff meeting in 2015 when I was about departure from the International House, as a tradition Peter would acknowledge all the staff members who are leaving at the meeting. When he spoke about me, he gazed at me and said: "Tian, oh Tian. I just can never forget that day I attended your talk. How you stood there, explain those deep maths concepts, then once a while you'd look at the audience make eye contact, then as you see they understood what you said, you'd have that little nice and satisfied smile on your face. I just can't forget that smile. You presented yourself as a good mathematician who knows the field well, also as such a great educator. That presentation was infused with a delightful sense of personality."
I don't know if I really deserve such comment. But I remembered the pride I saw in Peter's eyes at the time. And from what I know about Peter, he's always there encourage young adults in so many ways, he always speaks about you and make you feel how much he is proud of you, how much you are valued. He was a real kind man who really cared about those around him.
I wish I had chance to get to know him more. And I suddenly realise how sad that I haven't even got a picture with him together... And after all these time, I realise I really appreciated him too late.
I remember I bumped onto Sylvie on Royal Parade near International House about early October after I just returned from Europe. I was so happy to see Sylvie, and I invited both her and Peter to come to my concert which was on 15th October. Then Sylvie said they were planning to go down to their Philip Island house again that weekend to relax a bit... Now I really wish they had come to my concert that weekend, instead of went down to Philip Island... I wish I "insisted" or even "force" a bit more on that invitation, then maybe, just maybe, they would never have gone to Philip Island that weekend...
