“Tony, thanks for everything you did for orangutans. We may forget what you said, but we will never forget how you made us feel. As a famous host once said, ‘Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down’, and you proved it. You were hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.””

~ Dr. Jamartin Sihite, CEO BOS Foundation

“Tony was a true visionary, conservationist and environmentalist. He volunteered countless hours, ensuring the protection and restoration of vast rainforest areas in Australia and overseas. Tony helped tremendously in protecting endangered species and their habitats, which will have an impact not only now but well into the future”.

~ Kerin Welford

“Sipping coffee at the cafe at Macadamia Castle…so much memories both good and bad. It was a wonderful Memorial Service yesterday with lots of guests who love you thanks to the great effort, time and compassion of Paul and Marie. I will move on with the lasts words you left for me. You stay in my heart as long as I live”.

~ Rie Gilding

“Tony, you were an inspiration in my life. A charismatic, lovely and humorous college and friend. I enjoyed every moment of our collaboration for orangutan conservation. Fully committed to their well-being, you were indispensable in the BOS community. And it was a I ways joyfuI and fun to share a good glass of wine after work was done.

You'll be missed a lot”.

~ Elisabeth La bes, co-founder and former CEO BOS Switzerland

“Tony and Rie were enormously generous to us in Sydney, and became lifelong friends and Tony was godfather to our son Heath. He was ceaselessly curious, following new ideas and determined to never accept the status quo. I hold him personally responsible for infecting me with the wine bug, to the cost of my hip pocket but the experiences were always fun and interesting. We will miss his enormous laugh and enthusiasm for life very much, and the world is a poorer place without him. My last experience with him was to bring him a Chateau d'Yquem and foie gras which we enjoyed after a good meal last year to his rapture as he had a window between chemo where he could taste again so we were determined to make it count. Lots of love to the Gilding family from all the Smyths”.

~ Campbell Smyth

How lucky was I to have Tony in my life. We worked together at Toni Davis and then Skansen, and throughout that time he encouraged me to further my career through hard work and further education. We remained friends for decades, and always caught up at the Castle on my drives from my home in Noosa, back to Sydney. He welcomed my son and his family at the Castle as well, always with time to give a guided tour. For me, staying in the Cottage overnight was a godsend when breaking those long drives. He always knew he could call on me with PR help when submitting grant funding, and at that dark time when James was taken. Tony played a pivotal role in my personal and business life, and I was so fortunate to have known him. I will miss him always.

~ Kerry Finch

Tony was a pivotal figure in my life - he showed me you can be a canny, motivated business person but also an ethical change agent. I still follow many rules he taught me of how to run meetings, organise people, etc. He was a great proponent of the idea that great ideas are a dime a dozen - what is harder is execution (and accountability) - and he was so right. Also - don't let perfect be the enemy of the good! Just do it now! I met Tony in 1998. Tony was campaign manager for Kathryn Greiner's run for Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1999 (I was his offsider). Tony was an absolute novice at politics (but an expert organiser and marketer). He worked tirelessly and almost got Kathryn up (no mean feat in that district). He was running "Teal" campaigns before the Teals (he was always ahead of the times). The campaign was community focussed, authentic, creative, ethical and energetic. It was also great fun. Tony challenged me to do great things - whenever I caught up with him (which was too seldom) he would talk politics and challenge me to get involved and change the world. His nudging is still nibbling into my consciousness....have I done enough? what more can I do? Thanks Tony for the constant guilt! (but also the motivation to believe and change things). I've got great memories of playing tennis with Tony on his next door neighbour's court on the harbour in Balmain - very flash! He did like the bling...well, not so much the bling but just the chance to experience wonderful things. I also had the pleasure of running aground on a sand bank on the Lane Cove River on his boat (possibly after a few drinks). All the guests had to bail out and push the boat off the sand/mud flats. We were soaked and muddy but in high spirits. Tony eventually found the humour in this situation. ("On no! My boat!").... He was a great sport and loved hosting people and parties. He loved his family and you were all a great source of strength for him. Tony was a great man whose heart was in the right place - we are all the better for having him in our lives. Vale Tony! A life well lived.

~ Matt Egerton-Warburton