For memorial service details on sat 27 February, 7pm Melbourne time, please see events page.
Farewell Andy. Beloved husband, father, sibling, relative and friend. What a wonderful life you led. Full of family, friendships and enjoyment and appreciation of the world we live in.Your love, enjoyment and support of family and friends was ever present.
You taught us to enjoy every day and did so both in Australia and more recently in Finland.
You enjoyed every sport activity you could. In your early years cricket and Aussie rules football were passions and being ambidextrous helped keep everyone on their toes. As well as playing you always gave back to the local community including being president of the Southport Football club back in 1975 and helping in every district you played.
Once you had a family and for the rest of your life, orienteering was a passion - participating, organising (From local events to National championships) and managing junior and senior world championship teams.
You loved to run. Further and further. While living in Canberra what started as training for a marathon ended up with running 115km for fun when you went Kiandra to Thredbo. Or the Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair walk in one day.
When you couldn't run you continued to hike, from multi week adventures across the Alps to around the local forests. You also were the first to throw your support behind any adventure or idea your friends and family had planned.
You enjoyed walking in the forest, swimming, gardening, cooking, making jam by the kilo, bird watching, stamp collecting and attending concerts but most of all you liked to celebrate with friends and family. Many an hour were dedicated to the making of birthday cakes.
You grew up on farms in country Victoria, second eldest of 6 wonderful kids with cousins and family in spades.
You went to university at Monash Melbourne where you met both lifelong friends and your first wife, Val.
Two beautiful children, Julie and David were born while working on the Gold Coast before moving to Canberra and working for the government.
In the 80s you returned to your farming past by buying "Delboux" a farm near Finley around the corner from brother Chris. You started breeding your beloved Red Limousin cattle, the last of which you kept till the very end of your life.
When you unexpectedly met a beautiful Finn, Anneli Calder while travelling to an orienteering event in Italy in 1991, your life changed paths with more frequent trips to Finland and eventually a life there. Tricky as it was to be so far away from family and friends, you made some wonderful new friends and kept in contact with so many life long friends, many who came to visit.
You were quick to connect to people and loved to laugh. You particularly liked to tell a 'Dad' joke. Even when very ill and in hospital. Nothing can stop a good Dad joke.
You appreciated your life every day. Every night you would say 'Thankyou for today. Today was a good day.' In your own words:
“It is time to be thankful for what we have, and to enjoy today, for who knows what tomorrow will bring. To focus on what we can do, enjoy and smile. And not to forget family and friends, no longer with us. Importantly, to be present, and hopefully with good health, because life is wonderful.”
We wish you were still here but I’m so glad you found so much joy in the 73 years you had on earth and you were able to die peacefully yesterday surrounded by people you loved after fighting bravely this last year against leukemia. You will be in our hearts forever. ❤️
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About |
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| Name | Andrew (Andy) Calder |
| Date of Birth | August 2nd, 1947 |
| Date of Death | February 15th, 2021 |
| Home Town | Leongatha, VIC, AU |
| Other City | Espoo, FI |
| Interests | Hiking, Baking, Bird watching, Stamp collecting, Orienteering, Writing poems, Cricket, Aussie rules, Making jam |
| Favourite Saying | When I’m gone, I would love for you to remember me by planting a tree or a plant or a seed. It doesn’t matter what sort, it doesn’t matter how many. Just do something for nature and go enjoy being in it. |
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published a tribute .
I worked with Andy at the ACT Corporate Affairs Commission from 1984 to 1989. We played tennis often, and golf too, in the early mornings before work. After he moved to Finley we kept in contact. His xmas cards featured pix of where he had travelled, and stories of the walks that he had done. Good to know him and to admire his many achievements. Rest in peace.
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Vale Andy. Orienteering with you around was always fun - the memories are treasured.
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published a tribute .
Andy was much loved from Finley to Finland. We have lovely memories of Andy as mentor and friend in the Albury Wodonga Orienteering Club and as a wonderful host at home in Helsinki. Thankyou and we send our love to Anneli.
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published a tribute .
Fond memories of Andy in his early days at Wild Dog Valley and Wooreen. I'm very proud of his achievements over his lifetime. I will really miss his visits to the farm, where he would tell me of his travels and latest ventures. Thinking of you Anneli at this sad time and I hope that I will see you at the farm again when circumstances allow. Love Auntie Lois XX
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Dear Auntie Lois, thank you for your love & care. Looking forward to visit Wild Dog Valley. Love from Anneli xx
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Anneli
We are sadden by the news of Andy passing and send our condolences to your and his family. He was a great friend and although our times together were too brief they were always full of excitement and passion for the things Andy believed in. Our thoughts are with you for the loss of your sole mate
Richard and Deb Vergona
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We shared some life together. We will always remember you. It's sad to loose an old friend.
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We are planting a sugar maple in your honour. The colours will be glorious.
Thank you Richad & Deb. The lunch we shared a couple of years ago with you and Peter & Sue was memorable. Just what Andrew enjoyed. Share things with family and friends. Being excited about love & life. Always. Forever.
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Somebody asked Andrew: "How old are you?" - "I am not old, I am 73 years young." That was so true. His mind and spirit were forever young. In Finland he loved four seasons, especially arctic migration. He didn't get tired to make a note of every single bird over the course of the day. He knew over 100 birds by Finnish names. He organized guided birding walks to his international friends. Never forgot to pack thermos & piece of fruit cake or lemon cake or biscotti with him. He was inspired by the beauty of our feathered friends. And he inspired his friends to keep looking and enjoying whatever was the bird of the day. His guideline was: "You see what you see."
Andrew's presence is greatly missed on bird towers and in hides.
The way he cheered for spotting and identifying any bird. Well done, mate!
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I went out to buy a plant to celebrate Dad, came back with a car load. This lot plus 2 more. Bet he’s having a good laugh about that.
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Vale Andy. A great contributor to Australian orienteering at all levels, as a fellow competitor, as a club member planning courses, as a State controller of major events and as manager of Australian teams overseas. Always willing to help out and a great bloke.
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In loving memory of a beloved son, brother, father, uncle and cousin. Taken too soon. We remember the happy times in your company Andy.
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Anneli,
We are saddened to hear of Andy’s passing.
Andy was a great friend.
We shared many adventures together in the early days through Orienteering, Running and Rogaining.
In recent years we enjoyed his visits with you to Australia and to share your continuing
love of nature and the outdoors.
Our deepest condolences to you and the extended Calder family.
David and Robyn
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I knew Andy as a marathon runner and top class Orienteer who crossed over to be a key instigator of Rogaining in the ACT.
His compadres were Paul Rand, Phil Creaser, Hugh Moore, Paul Frylink, Andrew Blakers and many other endurance athletes, including myself,also crossing over from Running, Orienteering and Bushwalking.
Andy completed four marathons in Canberra with best time of 2 hours 43 in 1981, so he had excellent credentials as a long distance runner, as well as his high level of Orienteering skills.
Andrew organised the first 24 hour ACT Rogaine in 1986.
He prepared a map of the Kiandra area including cross country skiing areas Kiandra to Cabramurra. This map was used for a 24 hour Rogaine. (year?)
I remember a flight to Tasmania in Paul Rand’s aeroplane for a mountain running event in 1985. The Cradle Mountain Run along the Overland Track (85km). What a team on the plane! Paul, Andy,Hugh Moore (and me).
Andy came equal second with Paul in a respectable time of 9 hours 26 minutes. There were 23 runners in the event.
I also remember teaming with Andy in the NSW Rogaining Championships at Darkes Forest near Wollongong in 1986. (see photos).
We won the 24 hour event in a challenging area. Andy was the navigator and I was a willing “passenger.”
Andy and Anneli both enjoyed Orienteering and Hiking with some memorable hikes in Italy’s Dolomites, where they followed some high level Alta Via routes (beyond my ability).
Most of all Andy has remained a true friend over the years. He kept in contact despite the distance. He and Anneli visited us in Bywong in 2016 and together we set out to identify some birds, adding a few we didn’t know about. We were able to reminisce about our past adventures and share our common love of the bush and nature.
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David and Andy (BYWONG 2016)
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Finnish visitors January 2016
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Andy and David NSW Rogaining Championships Darkes Forest 1986
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Start of Darkes Forest Rogaine 1986
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published a tribute .
DEAR ACX2,
19.01.21
Did receive my birthday card a few days ago, thoroughly enjoyed the poem, thank you for both. Inspired me to write the following.
The Cyclist’s Delight
I rode my bike today, up a very steep hill
Which did, I confess, make me feel a dill
As I pedalled, I panted and puffed and rode very fast
And approached the top and wondered ‘Would I last?’
I reached the top, to behold the view
And begged a companion, to see it too
A vista wide, the horizon far,
A long way indeed, from a road of tar
What is it, I thought, that makes the wild attract
One as me, where cities detract
From what we see, in Nature’s grasp
That of which the sight makes us gasp
We love the wild, the nature raw
Which folds and clasps us in its paw
The bird, the beast, both small and huge
Is to us our own refuge
As I descended, home to roost
Spirits raised, received a boost
I thought of friends, both near and far
With memories of experience, all on a par
Rogaine, bike, and skis on snow
Adventures all, memories to sow
The thoughts of days, long gone by
The thoughts of which bring on a sigh
But know too this, to sit and think
Those days gone by ne’er make one sink
In gloom, but rather soar above
To know those thoughts were filled with love
Dedicated to Andrew and Anneli
Des
19 Jan. 2021
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Our sympathy to Anneli . May the support of friends and the memories of your lives together give you strength in the times ahead
.We send special thoughts to Andrew's family and friends at this sad time.
As we reflect on our friend Andy, it is clear that he has always been a man of surprises. I can't help but reflect on some of those special moments and experiences we shared ...
-First meeting in about 1964 as Andy and I commenced our studies at Monash University, and both of us learning the ways of a university student in the 1960s
- Andy being welcomed into my parent's home during our uni times for some home cooking on many occasions. He was a country boy who moved to the city and lived away from home. He was great company!!
-We both attended the same church youth group...and learned a lot about a lot!!!!
- Andy could dress in splendid style....especially the stunning olive green corduroy suit that he wore....often!!!! We always heard him coming before we saw him...but he loved that suit.
-Andy had an extensive range of interests including sports, stamps, politics, travel and over many years he was very occupied with his running and rogaining. He had a long involvement in the management of teams both in Australia and overseas
-Of special highlight was the running he did to meet ...and then to marry, Anneli. We remember visiting Andy at the farm at Finley NSW and in a surprise moment we were introduced to Anneli. It was a stinking hot, fly infested day and out came Anneli, looking cool, calm and collected (well not too collected). How Andy could get her to leave a European winter and to come to a very hot Australian summer we don't know. We just thought that "she must really love him"!!
What a special day that was for us!!!!
-Farming has always been in Andy's blood. He was passionate about raising his special Limousin cattle and then showing them at cattle judging events...and suceeding too!!!
-Another passion was the cooking of jams and sauces from his home grown produce. He enjoyed entering these products in shows and competitions, as well as sharing them with family and friends.
-A Christmas card, with photo, from Andrew and Anneli was always full of surprises...at what they accomplished, where the went and how far they ran or walked. Their feats never failed to impress!!!
-I've known Andy for well over 50 years. He was a groomsman at my wedding with Mary but it was not until 2014 that he and I realised that we were related through the Edney line in Leongatha. My grandmother and Andy's grandmother were sisters!!! I think that's how we explained it ... but we are connected from wayback!!!
Both of us were very surprised by this discovery!!!!
Anyway I hope these few thoughts and insights give further understanding of the Andrew that we have all known.
Best wishes to Andrew's family, especially to Anneli and to Julie and David
Thanks
Bob and Mary Neal
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published a comment .
Jann & Lloyd Venables, Our deepest sympathy to Anneli and all Andrews family, So glad we had a chance to meet a man like Andy who was such an inspiration to all of the people with in his sports and his hobbies, This is how we met Andrew through Mt running.I so pleased when Anneli and Andy stayed at our home a few years ago it was great to catch up in person,we have kept all his wonderfull photos that he has sent over the years. What a great idea saying Andrew had about planting a tree for him when he is gone, We have just the place we will plant a tree on the 27th over looking cooma creek at our home where there are water rats ,turtles, platypus, Andrew will always be with us, Have the best day that you possible can...
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1994 Jwoc team - Gydnia, Poland. Andrew was our great team manager & his cheerful input helped the team gel & was rewarded with Tom's outstanding 4th place.
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These tracksuits turned out to be the perfect accessory for a life in Finland. It was worn proudly on a regular basis, including on occasions worth celebrating like leaving hospital and going to his favourite cafe.
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Jwoc Poland 1994 - our host suggested we visit a famous cave...we had to crawl through with candles! A pleasure to have you Andrew as both a friend & manager on team trips & I loved my visit to the much loved Finley farm. Orienteer on...
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