Philip Gerard Punter

Phil helped me as a young buck learn the ropes and he genuinely played a big part in shaping the person I am today. Here’s a link to a post I put up in LinkedIn, with many people in the GIS industry sharing similar sentiments:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gareckpacker_the-epitome-of-a-great-mentor-phil-punter-activity-7157849047909761024-te33

Will miss you Uncle Phil ❤️

Rest easy, Dad! Simon & I will raise the little Ferret to know your love for her! Sorry I couldn't read this in front of everyone yesterday! Love you, Pop

I came to Esri Australia not knowing what Presales was, I was allocated to Phil as an offsider and someone to impart his wisdom to. One early memory was the Punter Approach to Request for Tender responses - it focused on not being rushed, finessing the response, sometimes leaving it alone and respecting the process, much like consuming a good red wine. It was an approach more focused on quality than any desire to meet a deadline.

Another famous Punter line was in arranging a meeting with the General Manager when Punter famously said "Tell the current CEO that the future CEO would like to meet with him".

Punter never got that chance to be the CEO, he was cut from a different cloth. On departing Esri Australia, Phil left me with a few pearlers, a pile of tenders and one infamous app which he maintained on the side - the Koala app.

Thanks Phil, for making the road a little easier, you could have kept the Koala app though!

🍂 You're off to another adventure Phil.
I hope in the next life you include yourself in your world of good deeds..
Travel well... I'm sure you have loads of good karma coming your way...
It's all that's written in the stars 🌻

You will be dearly missed uncle Phil. Forever in our hearts and precious memories. I wish we had more time together. 🫶🏻

Goodbye to my mentor, my teacher and my friend. Rest easy Philbert. You will never be forgotten.

Thank you for being the amazing uncle that you were.
You left this world a better place.
Gone but never forgotten 🕊️🤍

Thank you Phil, for being such a wonderful person. I was lucky enough to get to know you a little over the time we worked together. I would have liked it to have been longer. Thank you for sharing your kindness, laughter, stories and knowledge. You won't be easily forgotten - Goodbye.

Very sad to hear of Phil's passing. He was a gem of a person, with a large personality and a massive heart. I spent a few years getting to know him when we worked together at Esri Australia, and loved his sardonic humour, which always lightened sometimes tense situations.

May God grant Phil eternal rest and all of the family and friends who will deeply miss him, peace in their hearts at his passing.

I got to know Phil as a Council ESRI client 20+ years ago. He was the smartest, most down to earth good bloke and the best to work with .. many late nights and cups of coffee we got the job done … I learnt so much from your brilliant mind Phil, you must have a done a good job because Mimaps still lives !!
We kept in contact over the years (I was even supposed to be ‘the farm’ manager at one point) and I’ll miss the Xmas phone calls and odd sms.
‘The farm’ and its trees were Phil’s passion and will be his legacy - he told me when he bought the place that the trees he was going to plant weren’t for him, but future generations ..
Punter - good to know you and you will be missed .. Maz, you are in my thoughts

I was very saddened to hear of the passing of Philip. We didn't have much contact through our adult years but have very fond memories of visiting when we were all growing up. No doubt he will be greatly missed. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Cousin, Kathy

My condolences to all of Phils family I am sure he will be sadly missed. I have a lot of fond memories of Phil .

I was lucky enough to work with Phil when I started my career at Esri Australia. He taught me so much about problem solving as well as demonstrating a highly successful career whilst keeping true to his technical passion (I can distinctly remember him questioning why anyone would want to be a manager!) I feel very lucky to have been able to spend time with him, enjoy his sense of humor and watch him work. Rest in peace lovely Phil x

Phil was a dedicated worker - always willing to lend a hand to anyone. Loved a beer and a cigarette. Such a great guy - gone too soon.

Your kindness - that’s what I’ll miss about you the most. You always took the time to have conversations and lend a hand around the house when visiting us. You weren’t short on the dorky jokes either, which which was comforting as you reminded me a lot of my own dad.
Thanks for being a great Pop to Julianna, Eli, Esme, Jon and Augie & a kind father-in-law. I’ll miss you and your goofy smile. Cherie x

Phil and Maureen used to call in to see me at Brunswick Heads on their way home from Lismore after visiting Maureen’s son and family. They stopped by for a chat, a cuppa, a meal, and in those brief meetings, I came to love Phil for his unassuming nature, his kindness, his quirky humour and his obvious love for Maureen. Once I was telling them about my painful back – a result of too much bending over a low marbling tray. Phil said ‘I can fix that! He whipped out a tape, measured up the tray, asked how high I wanted the tray lifted, and that was that. I didn’t think any more about it, but at their next visit, Phil gave me a beautifully made pinewood riser which solved the problem. Such unasked for kindness!
I feel blessed to have known such a lovely man.

Adios Amigo.. goodbye my friend
🍂 until we meet again 🌻