About 230kms northwest of Melbourne CBD, you’ll find Ngulambarra reserve, being restored after years of clearing and degradation.
The reserve, meaning “meeting place” in Dja Dja Wurrung, lies between Ngarri-Mt Egbert and Lawan Reserve.
Within Ngulambarra is ‘Tom’s Forest’, a 0.1-hectare Milestone Forest named after Tom Roper.
The trees and wildlife inhabiting that 1000 square meters of land embody a life devoted to promoting sustainability in Australia and advocating for the environment.
Tom Roper sadly passed away last month at the age of 78.
Born on 6 March 1945, in Chatswood, Sydney, Tom attended North Sydney Boys High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Sydney. Following his university studies, he served as the national Aboriginal affairs officer with the National Union of Australian University Students for one year.
Roper’s involvement in Aboriginal affairs led him to become an advisor to Gerry Hand, the federal minister for Aboriginal Affairs, starting in 1973. He was a dedicated member of the Labor Party and went on to be elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1973, representing Brunswick West. He later served as the member for Brunswick until his resignation in 1994.
Throughout his tenure as a senior Government Minister, he held various portfolios such as Treasury, Planning and Environment, Health, Transport, Aboriginal Affairs, Employment, and Higher Education. In addition, he took on the role of Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews called Tom a “Labor giant” who “helped make Victoria a better place”.
However, it was Tom’s unwavering dedication and advocacy for the environment that truly defined his 21-year parliamentary career. Following his retirement from politics, Tom immersed himself in environmental policy on a global scale, actively engaging at local, national, and international levels.
His endeavours took him to cities like Ottawa, London and New York, where he tirelessly fought to raise awareness about the pressing issue of climate change, urging the world to take urgent action.
As an esteemed honorary life fellow of Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC), his leadership as the organisation’s president from 2009 to 2015 left an indelible mark and a lasting legacy. He exhibited remarkable dynamism in steering ASBEC, and the wider industry, through a critical period of transformation.
Engineers Australia CEO Romilly Madew AO, who met Tom when she was CEO of the Green Building Council, said he was a force of nature.
“You just fell into his orbit and stayed there, he became a colleague, mentor and friend, especially when he took over as President of ASBEC,” she said.
“I represented GBCA on ASBEC. Throughout these years we collaborated on many projects and initiatives aimed at transforming the built environment to be sustainable. He was passionate, articulate, and driven, ensuring the property and construction sector across government, industry and academia worked together.
“His legacy and impact speak for itself, Australia is recognised as the global leader for sustainable buildings and communities, in no small part to Tom’s leadership. He will be missed.”
During his tenure, ASBEC achieved significant milestones by spearheading influential initiatives. Noteworthy among them are the Second Plank Report, the Built Environment Climate Change Adaptation Framework, and the Industry Roadmap for Net Zero Emission Homes.
These initiatives, borne out of Tom’s guidance, have made a substantial impact and cemented ASBEC’s position as a key player in driving sustainable change in the built environment sector.
Upon meeting Tom in 2012 when she began her role as the Executive Officer of ASBEC, Suzanne Toumbourou, now CEO of the Australian Council of Recycling, found him to be a mentor at first, but their relationship soon evolved into a close friendship.
“His passion for sustainability and climate action helped to create, through ASBEC, a globally unique collaborative forum within Australia’s built environment,” she said.
“I don’t know any other organisation in the world that has worked across so many peak bodies and governments to collaborate in this way, in no small part due to Tom’s driving forward of the agenda and bringing the right people together at the right time.
“Whilst he leaves behind an incredible legacy of impact and transformation, he will be greatly missed.”
He is survived by his wife Anita and his children.
A state funeral is being help for Tom today at the Immigration Museum, starting at 2pm. Alternatively, you can watch the livestream.