January 31st, 2025Vale Richard Piesse: GDTA life member, track builder and naturalist

GDTA track builder, life member and naturalist, Richard Piesse, died peacefully at Peter Mac Hospital on December 28, 2024, after a long battle with melanoma, aged 82.

Richard managed the building of both the Lerderderg and Leanganook tracks on behalf of the Great Dividing Trail Association (GDTA)

He had great knowledge of central Victorian plants and initiated a flora guide for the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club.

In 2013, he won Bushwalking Victoria’s Distinguished Service Award (Gold) for his role in advancing the development of recreational bushwalking in Victoria. He was a founding member of the Old Scotch Collegians’ Walking Club.

Richard was a contributor to our community in many  ways: as a member of the Great Dividing Trail Association, the Field Naturalists Club and the Friends of the Box Ironbark Forests and as a volunteer for the Chewton Domain Society and the Castlemaine Tourist Information Centre.

His detailed knowledge of the natural history of the Goldfields region made him an invaluable contributor to field guides of the area and a knowledgeable leader for many bushwalks in the region.

Richard moved to Melbourne to be close to his children some years ago. He had been sick for some time, but this did not stop him from regularly travelling by train to Castlemaine to volunteer in the Tourist Information Centre or to go on bush forays with Field Naturalists and FOBIF.

As late as last March, Richard attended the Blackwood launch of the GDTA’s interpretive signage project on the Lerderderg Track.

Richard loved our local bush and was a knowledgeable and engaging companion to have on our many bushwalks.

He was always ready to provide advice to volunteer organisations and land managers about maintaining, developing and protecting our natural heritage.

His passing is a loss not just to his family and friends, but to the wider community as a whole.

Richard leaves behind two daughters, Fran and Cecilia, and many grandchildren, who he absolutely adored.

His family held a private funeral and planned to scatter his ashes on Mount Alexander/Lianganook, which was, for him, a happy place.

There are two memorial services planned for Richard; a family memorial will be held in The Gleeson Centre in the Darebin Parklands, Separation Street, Alphington on Friday, February 7, from 1pm.

On Saturday, February 15, the Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club will host a memorial in the Former Tea Rooms at the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens starting at 3pm.

His knowledge, his friendship and his contributions will be long remembered.

This obituary & Images: Supplied GDTA