By Jed Lanyon
Friends, family and community members came together on Sunday 8 September to celebrate the life of David Blair in Toolangi, near the same mountain ash forests that he dedicated his life to studying.
The Healesville resident and forest ecologist’s life was cut short after a skiing accident at Mount Bogong on August 29.
Senator Janet Rice paid tribute to Dr Blair in the Senate on Tuesday 10 September.
“Dave lived life to the full… He revelled in the company of his family and friends and he loved nature.
“He loved spending time with his kids in nature and taking his scout group out to explore and appreciate nature. He was an amazing, inspirational scout leader.
“As his mother, Margaret, said to me over a cup of tea after the service, Dave was lucky in that he was able to work doing what he loved.”
The 48-year-old was a husband and a father of two, and was a senior research officer for the Australian National University Fenner School of Environment and Society.
Dr Blair received his doctorate just six weeks ago.
Ms Rice said that David’s wife Sera gave a moving speech by sharing the formula she thought he used to have such a happy and valuable life.
“He had studied mountain ash and alpine ash forests intensively for more than 10 years following the Black Saturday bushfires, looking at post-fire and post-logging vegetation recovery.
“Observing how the forests have been recovering from the Black Saturday bushfires had been a particular focus of his work, seeing and recording the damage done to these forest ecosystems from intensive, damaging logging,” Ms Rice said.
“Our Senate committee benefited from his time, his expertise and his passion.
“As chair of this inquiry I express my gratitude on behalf of all of us. I knew Dave as a gentle, selfless person, someone who was deeply passionate about the health of the vast, interconnected web of life on our planet, someone who knew that science can both show the threats that life is under and show the way forward.”
Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum president Steve Meacher said, “Dr Blair was hands-on with his work and was often measuring trees and recording the presence of bird species.
“He was hugely knowledgeable, competent and very intelligent. He was very generous with his time often leading tours on weekends.
“It’s a huge loss to the Healesville community, forest community and to David’s family.”
