It’s with great sadness that Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) farewells a long-time friend and supporter in Mike Hill and extends our deepest sympathies to Mike’s partner Lorna and their family.
A member of EPA’s Environment Protection Board from 2002-2008 and founding member and CEO of the Victorian Local Government Association, Mike is credited with more than two decades of close involvement with the local government sector, especially in the areas of sustainability, resource recovery, community development, consultation and engagement.
The first Mayor of Moreland City Council in 1996, Mike spent eight years as a Councillor with the former City of Brunswick, including a year as Mayor in 1988, as well as three years as a Councillor with Moreland City Council.
True environmentalists, Mike and Lorna developed the award winning urban eco-village, WestWyck, within the heritage-listed former Brunswick West Primary School. Australia's first endorsed One Planet Living Project, WestWyck set new standards for quality sustainable design and remains a globally leading example of sustainable living.
Always sincere and frequently direct, Mike inspired individuals, communities and governments to consider more deeply our impact on our planet, instilling new values in environmental protection. A keen bike rider with a casual dress sense, Mike didn’t need to reference his numerous achievements to garner support or generate enthusiasm – his many followers respected him for his knowledge, experience and commitment to his work.
He will be remembered for his ability to put people at ease wherever he went, his willingness to celebrate the success of others and his lasting impact on the many institutions he shaped. We will miss his ingenuity, his kind and generous nature and, above all, his friendship. On behalf of EPA, I offer our most sincere condolences to Mike’s partner Lorna and their family. Vale Mike.
Cheryl Batagol
Chairman Of The Authority