Police have confirmed a body found in the Tweed River yesterday is that of prominent entomologist and long-time Tweed Shire Council staff member Clive Easton.
On behalf of staff and councillors Tweed Shire Council GM Troy Green has expressed ‘deep sadness on the passing of the well-respected and former staff member.’
‘Clive was council’s entomologist for 29 years before retiring in 2013. He paved a legacy in many diverse fields, of which the most prominent include mosquito management, acid sulfate soils and coastal and waterway management.
‘He was awarded the Ruth Redford Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2011 NSW Coastal Conference.
‘Clive was a much loved staff member, loving husband and father, and respected by all. His calm disposition and ability to problem solve and achieve quality outcomes were some of his strengths. He was certainly the foremost in his field of expertise and respected by the industry, proponents, the community and government bodies.’
Mr Green said the thoughts of many staff members were with Mr Easton’s family – widow Carol and sons Daniel and Lucas at this difficult time.
Mr Easton had been missing from his home on Monday morning and his body was found in the Tweed River yesterday not far from where police had found his vehicle parked on Monday afternoon.
Clive was also instrumental in saving many Pandanus trees throughout the far north coast of NSW – by re-introducing the parasitic wasp that controlled the plant hopper that was responsible for the death and decline of hundreds of Pandanus in the Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Richmond Shires.
An extremely intelligent, thoughtful, gentle, kind and inspiring person to work with.
My thoughts go out to his family.
R.I.P. Clive.