VALE: ERIC ‘DON’ FLEMING

8 May 1935 – 22 July 2021

One of Australia’s finest nurserymen and second-generation owner of Fleming’s Nurseries, Eric ‘Don’ Fleming, sadly passed aged 86 last week following a short battle with cancer on 22 July 2021.

‘Pa’ as he was most affectionately known, was surrounded by 15 members of his immediate family as he peacefully left this earth.

He will be forever remembered for his immense pride in Fleming’s Nurseries, a business he built to great heights together with his devoted wife of 63 years, Dawn, and sons Wes and Graham.

Pa had been retired since the late 1990’s, however his passion for the nursery remained evident, as was his presence around the nursery, until just weeks before his passing.

Today his son Wes Fleming continues to drive the Fleming’s Nurseries business forward with his son and daughter, the fourth generation to carry on the tradition. Graham operates a number of production and fruit nurseries (as Graham’s Factree), also with his sons and daughters, ensuring the tradition of plant growing, remains steadfast in the Fleming family for generations to come. Together Don and Dawn brought three children into the world, Dani, Graham and Wes, and have been the most affectionate grandparents to Luke, Ben and Sam, Robbie, Penny, Libby, Bec, Pat and Maddi, Jess, Jake, Todd, Aurie and Mietta and ‘super’ grandparents to their many great grandchildren.

Don was a renowned member of the Monbulk community and captained the Monbulk Fire Brigade where he played a key role in the Ash Wednesday fires, and was subsequently awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal. He was also a keen lover of sport and excellent cricketer, a legacy many of his grandchildren and great grandchildren are proud to carry on today.

He will be deeply missed.

On behalf of the Nursey and Garden Industry of Victoria Board, staff and members, our condolences are expressed to Dawn, children Dani, Graham and Wes, and the extended Fleming’s family.