3MDR
3MDR
  • Home
  • Program Guide
  • News
    • 3MDR Documents
  • About
    • Get Involved
    • History
    • Contact
  • Music
    • Music Reviews
  • Support Us!
  • On Air Campaigns
    • 3MDR's Sponsors
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Program Guide
  • News
    • 3MDR Documents
  • About
    • Get Involved
    • History
    • Contact
  • Music
    • Music Reviews
  • Support Us!
  • On Air Campaigns
    • 3MDR's Sponsors
  • Shop

Farewell To Dear Friend Darcy Duggan

11/20/2020

Comments

 
Picture
This beautiful article was written by the Team at Selby Community House and, along with the picture of Darcy with Mike Clarke & Patrick Boucher, have been shared with their blessing.

Darcy Duggan, a great friend of the House, the Hills and countless people who worked with him on environmental issues, died far too soon on Saturday, October 31st, 2020, after a long illness. He was a unique figure, widely known and appreciated for his tireless environmental work, as well as being a loveable eccentric. It seems half the Hills are in mourning for the loss of this great man.
 
He and his family moved to the Hills in the 1980s when he was commuting to work as an environmental scientist, but his talent as a warm, gifted and inspiring teacher soon drew him to adult education. Darcy soon gravitated towards Minak Reserve where he was to spend decades on rehabilitation and protection. Adjoining Selby Community House welcomed Darcy’s warmth and environmental expertise, and the House seemed a perfect fit for community connectedness.
 
Minak Reserve, a Yarra Ranges Council asset, was indeed Darcy’s special place, and he always brought his students there. It is tucked inside a small valley, surrounded by housing and almost hidden from view. It is humid, tranquil and quiet apart from the rustlings of small animals and birds. It has the fragrant fecundity of humus, how most of the Dandenongs once smelt, and within its leafy walls there is no relationship to the human notion of time. Towering hollow-bearing eucalypts and intact middle and ground storey plants represent a healthy wet forest eco-system. Three small tree fern lined creeks meet and flow through the reserve to join Monbulk Creek in Sherbrooke forest, some 250 metres downstream.
 
Darcy’s scope of work, much of it voluntary, expanded in many directions. While Darcy possessed a special talent for teaching with a rich, mellifluous voice to match, it was hands on work in the bush where Darcy spent most of his time. As well as rolling up his sleeves, he was a passionate and persistent lobbyist at all levels of government to preserve our very special Hills environment.
 
His work on private land also knew few bounds, as countless residents who adjoined bushland soon had Darcy at their door to begin their education in the need to remove rampant environmental weeds from their property.
 
Darcy’s reach touched and guided many organisations – Friends of Minak Reserve, the Southern Dandenongs Landcare Group, Save the Dandenongs and even a group in Laos which he visited at it had become connected to Australian Landcare International.
 
While covid greatly limited those who wanted to come to say their farewells to Darcy, he did have one poignant wish that was fulfilled. On the way to his burial in Warrigal, his hearse drove down into Minak Reserve and parked by the magnificent frog bog which Darcy was instrumental in recreating. The side windows adjoining Darcy’s casket were opened for about 15 minutes so that Darcy could commune with his beloved bush. Dozens of friends had wildly and lovingly decorated his casket with native fauna and flora as well as beautiful messages to send him on his next journey. What a casket! What a man!

Comments

    Categories

    All
    3MDR 97.1fm
    Community Events
    Live Music
    Local News
    Music Review

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    December 2013

    RSS Feed


    3MDR Events 
    SUBSCRIBE
[This code is to reduce the spacing above and below the advertising slider below. Click here and increase the max-height number below to make the slider taller. This message will not appear on your website].
3MDR Mountain District Radio 97.1fm
3MDR is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, traditional owners of the land from which we broadcast.

General Inquiries: radio@3mdr.com | 03 9752  5637
On-Air: 03 9752 5678 | SMS 04971 0 2000

Post: 3MDR, P.O.Box 1229, Upwey, Victoria, 3158, Australia. 

Studio/Office: Forest Park Homestead, Riley Rd, Upwey South, 3158. Entrance from Griffiths Rd.


AASN A0007631Y | ABN 27 882 272 030
Picture

Current local time in
Melbourne, Australia