UPPER YARRA STAR MAIL
Home » Mail » Passing of nature lover

Passing of nature lover



By KATH GANNAWAY

DON Valley naturalist Ken Simpson has died, in his 76th year.
Mr Simpson was a respected bird expert who co-authored Australia’s most popular field guide, Birds of Australia and taught people of all ages about birds virtually all his life.
In the Yarra Valley, he was best-known for the quarterly bird-watching walks he did through Yarra Junction Library.
His love of Australian birdlife started when he was a boy and he was lecturing about his favourite subject from 11 years of age.
It was great good fortune for bird-lovers in the district when Mr Simpson and his partner Zoe moved into the area 20 years ago and his long-standing connection with the library began.
Contributing to an article in the Mail last year he shared some of his favourite bird-watching spots and a special highlight of coming eye to eye with a Powerful Owl in Don Valley.
“One showed up in a tree on two occasions, looked at me and flew away again. It was a Eureka moment,” he said.
Librarian Sandra Hamnett said Mr Simpson was very much part of the library.
“He was one of life’s gentlemen,” she said. “So intelligent, but so down-to-earth and so interested in people. He would do anything for anyone.
“He is going to be missed.”
A tribute has been set up at the library paying respect to Mr Simpson as a great naturalist, and a local treasure.The Mail will pay tribute to Mr Simpson in a future edition.

Digital Editions


  • Gate broken at Mount Donna Buang

    Gate broken at Mount Donna Buang

    The gate at the summit of Mount Donna Buang was broken open on Friday 27 June. The Mountain Tucker Facebook page announced the news and…