A message from ESA President Dr Perpetua Turner:

Dear colleagues,

It is with aching sadness that I bear the news that Distinguished Professor Jamie Kirkpatrick AM died earlier this week. I extend my sincerest condolences to his partner and family, and to all who knew him, worked with him and laughed with him.

Jamie was President of the Ecological Society of Australia 1996-1997, won the 2009 ESA Gold Medal, and was an active ESA member. Jamie’s commitment to the ESA was never ending, staying in touch with the Society even in the past few weeks.

In the words of Kerry Bridle, ‘James Barrie Kirkpatrick was a legend’.

When starting my PhD, I had a choice to undertake it at The University of Melbourne or The University of Tasmania. Jamie is the reason why I moved to Tasmania. He was welcoming, supportive, and used his skills to guide, so his students could benefit the most from learning. He encouraged and reminded you that you were the expert in your field; he was a supervisor, mentor, teacher and friend. Jamie continued to support my career beyond my PhD including through collaborating on research papers, asking after my family, and supporting my post-doc in Plant Science and lecturing Ecosystem Conservation. Jamie was also my husband’s Head of School (in Geography and Environmental Studies) and supported Darren going part-time so we could better balance our growing family and our careers.

In what were to be his last words to those of us who gathered recently on the Queens Domain in Hobart, Jamie reminded us of his loves, and to be kind.

He loved to teach. Thousands of students devoured his words and grew through his lessons. He supervised and co-supervised hundreds of honours and post-graduate students during his 51 years of academic life.

He loved to write and changed the world with his words. Through his books, peer-reviewed research papers, grant applications and reports, he influenced and progressed ecology and conservation across Australia and overseas.

He loved to talk and had a wonderful ability to turn a phrase. Whether it be through a presentation, a walk and talk, arguments or conversations, Jamie always managed to share knowledge, contribute decisively and stay focused.

He loved Australian flora, and threatened species were a passion. He cared for the smallest plant (even cryptogams!) through to the tallest tree. His research loves included gardens, coasts, grasslands, woodlands and forests, and the Australian alps.

He loved being on Country and fought long and hard for nature conservation. Jamie was not afraid of venturing into the political fray but did so with decorum.

Jamie’s legacy to ecology lives on through the plethora of students he taught, the papers and books he wrote and the knowledge he shared. He prepared us to continue his work without him. And so, we shall.

Vale James Barrie Kirkpatrick AM.