A memorial planting day was conducted at Wurundjeri Walk in South Blackburn on Saturday, September 5th at 2pm. Although the weather was wild on occasions during the day, the clouds parted for the celebration – which included interesting talks and the actual plantings – all capped off by a fabulous afternoon tea. It was especially poignant that David’s widow Sally and two more generations of David’s family were well represented – it was lovely to see them thriving as they were.
Several speakers including David Morrison and Anne Payne from the Blackburn District Tree Protection Society (BDTPS) (amongst other groups!), Margaret Edwards from the original Blackburn South Residents for Open Space (BSROS) and Sab Aurisano of today’s Friends of Wurundjeri Walk spoke of the history of Wurundjeri Walk from its roots in community activism to today’s situation – including lively recounts from Margaret of significant help from people such as Nunawading’s Cr Wendy Reid. The intrinsic importance of community volunteering was a common theme.
David would have been especially pleased that six canopy trees were planted in his honour – along with hundreds more indigenous plants provided by the adjacent Bungalook Nursery. Thanks also went to Whitehorse Council’s Parks and Natural Environment staff for providing mulch for the planting area and drilling the planting holes in advance.
David’s association with Wurundjeri Walk began in 1986 with a long and hard fight to secure all 20 hectares of the ex-Healesville Freeway land in Blackburn South as parkland. Along with other local identities who called themselves ‘Residents for Open Spaces’, David rallied locals to working bees and planting days and began to transform the land that had once been weed-infested horse paddocks, complete with open drains and rubbish. Eventually, the land was named “Wurundjeri Walk“.
David served as Chairman of the Wurundjeri Walk Advisory Committee for numerous periods over these years, and his work as part of, and leading, this community group alongside Council was pivotal in creating and enhancing the natural environment within Whitehorse.
David held the role of President of the Blackburn and District Tree Preservation Society providing strong leadership to the BDTPS, not only keeping members informed via the Tree Society newsletter but also rallying the local community to a multitude of issues to do with inappropriate development and loss of tree canopy and in particular, exhorting everyone to contribute to the Whitehorse Urban Forest Strategy.
He wrote detailed, accurate and persuasive submissions in support of the retention and increase of trees, based on in depth knowledge of the relevant laws and regulations applicable in Whitehorse and appeared many times at VCAT in support of BDTPS submissions.
David pictured at Bungalook Nursery
The Tree Society was instrumental in the creation of the Special Residential Zone that defined tree control provisions for the first time, in the City of Nunawading (merged with the City of Box Hill in the 1990s) to form today’s City of Whitehorse. David was the author of ‘Fighting for the Trees’, the story of the Blackburn & District Tree Preservation Society 1959 – 2016.
His work in conservation and environment for more than 40 years was recognised in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours List, when he was posthumously awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition ‘for decades of service to conservation and the environment’.
His contribution is best summed up in the citation from the 2022 inaugural CROWAG volunteers award which stated ‘David Berry has demonstrated leadership in many Whitehorse organisations by supporting and enhancing the urban environment and improving bio links for biodiversity:
- President – Blackburn and District Tree Preservation Society for 22 years
- Founding committee member (2007) and Chairman (2020 – 2022) – Blackburn and District Environment Protection Fund
- Founding member – Combined Residents of Whitehorse Action Group (CROWAG 2005)
- Supporter and advocate – Bungalook Nursery
- Advocate for and member – Wurundjeri Walk Advisory Committee (1986-2022)
- Committee Member – Whitehorse Active Transport Action Group (WATAG)’
His energy, interest and expertise is greatly missed.