Who was Kelsey Aves (1907-2003)?

	Kelsey Aves. Photo: Alan Hewer

KELSEY AVES OBITUARY: written Marjory Wall (Ref: TFNC Bulletin #313 Jan 2004)

Kelsey Aves died 19th September 2003 In his book Hither and Thither Kelsey wrote: “My love of nature really started in childhood growing up on the edge of Epping Forest, some 20km North East of London, and increased in my late teens rambling on the downs in Surrey. I brought this love with me when I migrated to Tasmania in 1940 and joined the Hobart Walking Club and Tasmanian Field Naturalists’ Club.”

What a valuable member he has been; his love of nature was passed on to others in his writing, talks on radio, and at all our club activities, in his friendly fun-loving way. We thank his wife Margaret and daughters Susan, Gillian and Elizabeth for supporting him and joining in club activities. Outings and weekend camps were educational and always lots of fun when he was in the party. We will always remember “bed time stories” and the tears running down his and the listeners faces as we heard the same stories repeated.

The club grew after the war, especially due to the Easter Camps, with the hard work of the small group and the fun for so many campers. Kelsey was part of the work and fun. At the camp fires in the evening we saw some of his love of music. Kelsey was always keen to help the club in so many ways and made a wonderful president. He was given life membership in recognition of all he did.

Now free from all earthly old age problems, may his heaven be like the one he wrote about in Hither and Thither; as Cradle Mountain and the scent of Boronia citriodora.

TFNC Committee member for 32 years. Between 1948-1980 inc.

• President 1949-1951
• Vice President 1952-3; 1960; 1967; 1970; 1973-1976 & 1980
• Secretary 1961 & 1966
• Bulletin Editor 1955-1959; 1961; 1966
• The Tasmanian Naturalist  Editor 1951

Made TFNC Life Member 1977

• Keen naturalist, conservationist and bushwalker
• Member of the Hobart Walking Club
• Published a cassette of Tasmanian birdsong and another on the Tasmanian environment

Skilled musician

• One of the founding members of ‘Friends of Music’ which was later taken over by ‘Musica Viva’
• Sang for 10 years in the chorus of ‘Tasmanian Opera Company’
• In retirement built five early music keyboards. A clavichord, harpsicord, a spinet and two virginals

Family man married to Margaret and raised three daughters Susan Gillian and Elizabeth

Worked as an Optometrist.