Two events are planned in coming weeks to celebrate the life and work of Lismore resident and longtime Tropical Fruits production manager Tony Allison.
Tony (aka Toe Knee) Allison passed away peacefully on Friday September 21 at home from a suspected heart attack.
He worked as a production and site manager on numerous events starting with the Brisbane World Expo in 1988 and including Big Day Out, Lismore’s Lantern Parade, Coffs Harbour’s Coast Out Festival and many others.
Tony’s other great love in life was the orangutans of Borneo.
In 2012 he was involved in the powerful production Rise of the Eco-Warriors, filmed in Borneo in 2012 and screened at the 2014 Byron Bay International Film Festival.
Filmmaker Paul Daley wrote, ‘When the cameras stopped rolling after the 100 days Tony stayed on and weaved his magic behind the scenes… returning annually to Indonesia for half of each year donating his time, energy, love and passion to what he believed in.’
Tropical Fruits memorial
For their part, Tropical Fruits are organising a tree planting day at the paddock behind their Lismore clubhouse on Sunday, October 21, from 2pm.
A portion of his ashes will be interred together with a native tree in his memory.
Friends are encouraged to attend and bring a plate.
Details are on the event’s Facebook page.
Contact Tropical Fruits at [email protected] for directions.
Bellingen ‘final bump out’
Meanwhihle, family and friends will be saying their final farewell to Tony with an ashes ceremony by the Bellinger River, followed by a celebration of his life at the Bellingen Showgrounds on October 27.
Food, music, lights and projections of his photographic journey will all be a part of this celebration.
Anyone who has something to offer or contribute is encouraged to get in touch via the event’s Facebook page.
