Vale Tony Flude – a true urban Landcare champion

Landcare Australia would like to acknowledge the significant contribution of the late Tony Flude to one of the greatest examples of urban Landcare in Australia.

The team at Landcare Australia were saddened to hear of Tony’s peaceful passing on 6 September 2020 after a long illness.

Tony’s long term commitment to the astounding regeneration of Westgate Park on the doorstep of Melbourne’s CBD as well as his contribution to the Port Phillip EcoCentre make him nothing short of a Landcare legend.

Tony was always a big supporter and collaborator with Landcare Australia over his full 20 year history with Westgate Park right up until his passing and was instrumental in organising hundreds of fantastic volunteering events for thousands of Landcare Australia corporate volunteers.

Volunteers regularly went out of their way to tell us how amazing their experience was. Hard work, making a positive contribution to the environment in the open air, surrounded by stunning nature, lunching together, getting to know each other better, working with all sorts of other volunteers on such constructive tasks. All going back to the office the next day proud of what they’d achieved and also having learnt a little more about their home city.

Tony and the team’s efforts at Westgate Biodiversity Bili Nursery and Landcare have been well recognised over the years, including as the Urban Landcare Award winner at the 2010 National Landcare Awards.

All who experience Westgate Park are blown away by what the team have achieved over the past 20 years. Being instrumental in creating such an amazing biodiverse wetland environment right in the heart of Melbourne will be Tony’s legacy.

Our thoughts are with George and the amazing staff and volunteers at Westgate Biodiversity: Bili Nursery and Landcare as well as the Port Phillip EcoCentre.

You can read more about the history of Westgate Park here.