12th July 2019
TRIBUTE to Mr Chris Emmerson – Stylist to GILFLITE.
It is with great sadness that we farewell ‘Chris Emmerson’ who passed away yesterday aged 76.
Chris Emmerson and David Gill worked together side by side for many years during the development phases of the range of GILFLITE boat models and some of our other products including the Toolsafe body. Chris started his career as a stylist at General Motors working on the original HQ Monaro design. In 1976 Chris began work with David contributing toward the general styling and graphics on the next model Javelin to be released; this was during the time when GILFLITE (David & Kevin Gill) brought out the Javelin Mk III. David had also just finished work on the new model GILFLITE Spitfire. Both GILFLITE models were put on show at the 1977 Melbourne Boat Show with raving reviews. Chris continued to work on most of the new model GILFLITEs with David up until just a few years ago. David’s research on boat design included trips to the U.S.A. where he took Chris with him to investigate design and building techniques. Together with combined engineering and styling expertise while anticipating the future of boating, they managed to break through the conventional design mould of older (pre determined) boat design expectation and plant the seed of what was to become the forerunner of every modern boat on the market today. The Freedom was released at the 1992 Melbourne Boat Show.
Always a jolly man….
Not only was Chris Emmerson intelligent, creative and a professional work colleague and one of the best stylists of our times he was also an entertainer as an excellent musician and songwriter, and importantly a friendly, well-mannered, kind and respectful gentle-man and a very good friend with a great sense of humour. We will miss his fantastic cartoons and brilliant Christmas Cards.
With our deepest respect and gratitude we celebrate the contribution Chris Emmerson has made to GILFLITE and we wish him peace as he now rests.
in the business of boating for 50 years
