Last week locals bid their farewells to the legend that was Judy Ingram, a loss to the community that has been described as leaving a ‘void’ in the blanket of the Brimbank community.
Tributes flowed from across Melbourne’s west, a fitting reflection of the lasting legacy Judy has left right throughout the community.
Speaking on the passing of their president, volunteers with the The Friends of Maribyrnong Valley expressed admiration for Judy’s fearlessness as she pushed through all levels of government bureaucracy to fiercely advocate for the environment.
The Victorian Environment Friends Network described Judy as a “true environmental champion”, an advocate for her community and far beyond.
Among many other environmental stewardship groups, members of the Friends of Iramoo expressed their condolences to all who had “the good fortune” of knowing Judy.
Speaking with Sam Muscat on Wynfm, Brimbank councillor Virginia Tachos held back tears as she spoke of Judy describing her as “a selfless volunteer who basically dedicated her life in the west“.
There was very little Judy couldn’t do. Her volunteer work stretched across all corners of the community. Along with being a skilled grant writer, Judy was an active member of the Brimbank council disability network as well as the regular coordinator of tree planting and native vegetation programs through the Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley.
Cr Tachos said her friendship with Judy, spanning over a decade, first began at a tree planting day at the Organ Pipes National Park.
“She made ecological stewardship something that was accessible and enjoyable for all of us,” Cr Tachos said.
“It wasn’t a case of what you can’t do, it’s what you can do. Even if you just managed to plant one seedling or had one conversation with someone … it was a place where she brought people together and formed a lot of really good friendships.”
Cr Tachos touched on the tradition of the morning tea ‘Boot Banquets’ that Judy ran across her many community planting days, a legacy that was first developed by Judy’s father. Cr Tachos said the ‘Boot Banquets’ were “treasured” by everyone who had the privilege of attending Judy’s planting events.
“Judy had a disability and wasn’t able to work on uneven ground, but she was able to provide people with these amazing assortment of baked biscuits and cakes. The best part of it was sharing a cuppa after some hard yakka. You’d always have to glove up and do the work and then she’d be able to provide that respite where you could have a chat and enjoy a biscuit,” Cr Tachos said.
While Judy had her own physical difficulties, her passion knew no bounds. Cr Tachos said the baton of ecological stewardship has now been passed on to the rest of the community – a ripple effect of Judy’s legacy.
“Now we have a duty to continue on with Judy’s work,” she said.
“We must be just as passionate as what Judy was … we all are responsible for a healthy environment.
“It’s not someone else that does this work, it’s us as individuals that bear that responsibility – from children to adults, of keeping our environment in the west clean.
“… We need to ensure that our environment is there for future generations.”
Hannah Hammoud
