By Taylah Eastwell
The wider Monbulk community is mourning the loss of much-loved community man and nursery pioneer, Don Fleming.
Mr Fleming, born 8 May 1935, sadly passed away on Thursday 22 July 2021 after a short battle with cancer. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family.
The well-known businessman and his wife, Dawn, took over Flemings Nurseries from Don’s father, Eric, in the 1980’s and were quick to establish a name for themselves as leaders in the nursery industry.
The pair brought a professional edge to the business, growing only the very best of stock and supporting plant breeders rights which was instrumental in paving the way for the rest of the Australian horticulture industry.
Don’s son Graham said his father was “very passionate” about the family business while he was in it, having only taken a step back from his working life around 10 years ago.
“It was just his life, he didn’t have anything else. Apart from a few hobbies at the local CFA and sport, there was nothing else,” Graham Fleming said.
Although Don decided to “take it easy” later in life, he stayed living on the Monbulk farm and was a “constant visitor” to the workshop to see if everyone was still doing it right, son Graham says.
To this day, the family nursery remains the biggest deciduous tree nursery in Australia, supplying garden centres all over.
Business aside, Don Fleming was an avid community man, having captained the Monbulk Fire Brigade for over 20 years. With the help of a hardworking committee, Don and wife Dawn are widely known for their work in establishing one of the best equipped fire stations in Victoria at the time. Don was also honoured with the Queens Fire Service Medal during his time.
Graham said his dad was elected as Monbulk Fire Brigade captain during the 1962 fires, and when the Ash Wednesday flames hit the hills he was first on scene in Cockatoo trying to control the burn.
“The fire siren would go off and he would go, any time, day or night. It was a 24-hour a day, seven day a week commitment of his for a very long time,” Graham said.
With the Fleming surname a household name among the community, Don and his wife reached out to their networks and organised relief for Cockatoo locals after Ash Wednesday – rounding up donations of clothes and toys for people in need.
“They knew everyone in Monbulk and everyone knew them,” Graham said.
For years, the Fleming family hosted an extravagant annual bonfire to raise money for the local brigade. It all began in 1968 when brigade members and their families were invited to join the Flemings’ to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. The family would ignite a large pile of trees left over after the lifting season and large crowds were entertained by firework displays, food stalls and archaic-style games. From the small get-together, the idea of raising money for the CFA was born and a yearly fundraising event came to fruition.
Cars lined up bumper to bumper along Macclesfield Road well before starting time, with the Flemings opting to turn one of their paddocks into a makeshift car park to allow everyone to come along.
The yearly bonfire grew to be an incredible fundraising event, raising over $120,000 for the brigade.
Don Fleming was also a competitive sportsman, heavily involved in the local footy and cricket club as coach, player and captain.
He coached the junior cricket teams and played in the seniors for many years at Monbulk Cricket Club and although a quiet man by nature, he was a staunch supporter of the local football club.
“Everyone loved him absolutely. He was very caring and giving to anyone who needed it,” Graham said.
Don is woven into the fabric of the Monbulk community and will be greatly missed. His memory lives on through his three children, 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The family are still working out funeral arrangements given current Covid-19 restrictions.
