Obituaries Australia

Tony White, with his wife, n.d.

Tony [Anthony Hopper] White, one of the very best of Nature’s Gentleman, died on 8th September, 1997 in Adelaide having had, in his own words, a full life. He retired in 1975 as District Forester, Mount Gambier. He was 82.

Tony graduated in 1951 with a B.Sc. from the University of Adelaide and a Diploma of Forestry from the Forestry School in Canberra. He is known widely among foresters in Australia, New Zealand, and some from Burma. 1951 was one of the largest classes passing through the Australian Forestry School, Canberra. It contained many ex-servicemen.

At his funeral service, a member of his Squadron, No. 454, (flying Baltimores) related how Tony was badly wounded in his gun-turret while successfully fighting off four Messerschmitt fighters over the Aegean Sea. It was his 48th mission.

In the Woods & Forests Department, Tony worked at Mount Burr Forest, then Caroline, Mount Gambier, Myora and back to Mount Gambier Forest as District Forester in 1969.

You always felt cheered by meeting Tony. He brought out the best in people. As his son Michael said in his moving eulogy, “Tony loved a good yarn and was a great raconteur.”

He remained very active for the 20 years following his retirement. He worked on the rehabilitation of quarries (tree planting) and ran his own gold mine, amongst other activities.

One of his gems was a definition of a gold mine as being a hole in the ground with a liar at the bottom. He spent his whole life as a dedicated and practicing Catholic. Tony was also a strong supporter of the IFA.

He is survived by his wife Mary, his sons Michael and Stephen, his grandchildren Brendan and Shannon, his daughter-in-law Vicki and Brendan’s companion Rebecca.

He will be missed by many, in and out of forestry.