ENVIRONMENTAL warrior Warwick Exton passed away last week, aged 100.
Exton was a passionate advocate for preserving Frankston’s waterways and green spaces. His efforts saw him named the Frankston citizen of the year in January. He passed away in the early hours of 25 July.
Exton was born in St Kilda, and spent a lot of time visiting his grandparents on Gould Street in Frankston as a child. He was a flight lieutenant in the RAAF during World War II. In his later years he turned his focus towards environmental protection – he volunteered at Frankston Sweetwater Creek Reserve and the Frankston foreshore for a decade, and last year became a published author after the release of his book Action Sweetwater Creek.
Even in his final days, Exton had the future of Frankston on his mind. Shortly before his death, he issued a final statement asking that the interim three-storey building height limit between Nepean Highway, Beach Street, Wells Street, and Kananook Creek Boulevard be made permanent.
“I would also ask that a building height restriction of three storeys apply to all new buildings on the beachside of Nepean Highway. If Frankston is to gain its rightful place as the capital of the Mornington Peninsula, we must stop a great wall of buildings separating our city from its greatest asset — the beach,” Exton said.
Warwick Exton shared five children with his wife Jennifer – Ian, Jane, Colin, Katrina, and Jenny. Katrina Loveridge, his youngest daughter, said her father was “incredibly loyal, devoted, interested in everything, diligent, gorgeous, and a loving father with so much time for his family.”
“Once he retired after 30 years at General Motors, his love for the Sweetwater Creek Reserve developed more than ever before. He thoroughly enjoyed it and was diligent with his research. The community there prevails today – he was a part of all of that to his great credit, going to meetings right until the end,” she said.
“What I’ll miss most is his counsel. He was great company which is why he developed so many lasting relationships during his life.”
Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy joined the tributes last week. He said that Exton would be remembered as “a man of principles and action”.
“His tireless efforts to transform Sweetwater Creek into an environmental wonderland earned him the title of 2023 citizen of the year – after he turned 100. During that ceremony, he urged our new citizens to treat people in the same way they wanted to be treated, and to help others where they could.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 1st August 2023