Exceptional scientist, generous friend and loving wife and mum, Dr Melinda Pickup was killed in a freak accident on Macquarie Pass this year. Photo: GoFundMe.
Dr Melinda Pickup was a powerful advocate for the environment, a loving mum and wife and a generous community member, who lost her life in a freak accident on Macquarie Pass earlier this year.
A tree fell and struck the car she was travelling in with her husband and two young sons on 17 January.
Melinda was killed, but the rest of her family survived physically unharmed.
Now her eldest is starting high school without his mum by his side, and her husband faces raising their family alone.
Family friend Cherie Gardner said Melinda, who studied at the University of Wollongong and in Canberra, was a cherished member of her community.
“She was the most selfless, giving, loving grounded person you could ever meet,” Cherie said.
“She was always listening to everyone else and present for everyone else. She was the most beautiful mother.
“She was passionate about her work, but I only found out after she passed away that she had a doctorate; it’s not the kind of thing she would have told someone.
“The world has lost something great.”
Melinda, a conservation biologist, dedicated her life to protecting some of Australia’s most precious wildlife.
She held a doctorate in philosophy specialising in ecology, evolution, systematics and population biology, and conducted post-doctoral research in Austria and Canada.
She contributed to projects including the conservation of the black cockatoo in South Australia, the Leadbeater’s possum in Victoria, and the Alpine Ash in Australia’s high-country regions.
She also collaborated with the Ian Potter Foundation on the development of large-scale seed production areas.
Melinda played a pivotal role in advancing climate adjusted seed sourcing, helping to safeguard Australia’s native flora against the impacts of climate change.
Her colleagues at Greening Australia paid tribute to an exceptional scientist, who had a knack for communication and complex problem solving.
Director of Impact, Dr Blair Parsons, said Melinda was an exceptionally gifted scientist, who constantly gave back.
“She had worked across Australia and internationally with a focus on genetics, evolution and the pragmatic aspects of restoration planning and design,” he said.
“A lot of people undertake science but it’s quite esoteric. Melinda was targeted on finding solutions we can use today.
“She did a lot of work on how to support landscapes affected by the 2019-20 bushfires not just for today but to put them in better stead to face future climate conditions.
“She was very creative, always thinking of solutions other people may not have the imagination to think about, and that was amazing to see in action.
“She had trials and experiments running in her backyard as well as at a large scale.
“She was supportive and nurturing of new scientists. She had a keen eye and great capability for being able to introduce people to science, allow them to contribute their ideas and connect with each other.
“She was an exceptional person and is very sorely missed.”
In honour of Melinda’s exceptional contributions to her work, community and family, Cherie has started a GoFundMe to help support her family as they grieve.
Cherie said she wanted to help ease the burden as they coped with the sudden, shocking loss of Melinda.
“The trauma of seeing it happen is unfathomable,” Cherie said.
“On top of that they have lost half of their income, they have a mortgage and all the usual family commitments.
“I don’t want the kids to miss out on anything; I don’t want her husband to have any additional struggles.
“I want their financial burdens to be taken away so they have space to process and grieve.”
If you would like to contribute to the fundraiser for Melinda’s family, follow this link.
