Ken Pearce – Life Membership

During his funeral service, Barry Howlett, on behalf of the ADA, spoke and shared stories of KP, through his rich history and involvement in the ADA dating back 56 years, before calling upon the Chairman of the ADA, Col Brumley, to present KP’s life membership to his son, Rodney, who graciously accepted and shared what an honour this means to his family and the pride his dad would have felt upon receiving this recognition.

Ken held numerous executive positions within the ADA, ranging from committee to branch and state presidency, including the Hunter Education Committee, providing decades of valued service.

During this time, Ken also engaged with the Victorian government and met with cabinet ministers alike. He was instrumental in shaping the ADA’s response to the banning of semi-automatic rifles, enabling an exemption to be made for rifles designed for hunting large game. There were no jobs that the ADA asked of Ken that he did not undertake and undertake well.

While holding the aforementioned positions, Ken regularly attended executive meetings and relevant conferences, providing valuable input and championing the association's cause.

Throughout his time, Ken always espoused the values of the ADA to all who met him. He continuously championed the greater good and contributed towards it.

An excellent example of this was when the Geelong branch was being formed, and a meeting was held in a factory in Corio. Amongst those in attendance, the conversation drifted towards suggesting that the ADA purchase land for exclusive member-only access. Ken stood up and spoke to the crowd, reminding them that the ADA has and always will be about public land access for everybody. This reminder was well received by the crowd and redirected the conversation back to establishing the branch. Ken’s contribution and championing of the ADA ethos that night left a significant impression on those present and others who have since heard that story.

Ken’s book, “Walking Them Up”, written after Arthur Bentley asked him to write the first book on Sambar Stalking, is a seminal piece of Australian Deer literature. It has improved the status of wild deer with all who have read it, sharing Ken's reverence and respect for the deer with its readers, inspiring them and encouraging them to do the same. It is a lasting physical contribution that stands alone, not to be repeated.

Until Ken’s passing, he never wavered in his support of the ADA or its mission. He spoke highly of the ADA to everyone and expressed his appreciation of its work and importance.

Ken was the ultimate ADA member. He was always keen to help and serve the association, sharing his knowledge and passion with all of those he spoke with while never asking for anything in return. Ken never chased attention or recognition; he did what he did because it was for the greater good of the ADA and the deer.

It is fitting to share what some of KPs' contemporaries had to say about him.

The late ADA Life Member Peter Stuart wrote of KP…

“I have known and enjoyed close contact with Ken Pearce since the Australian Deer Association was formed in Melbourne in 1969, and during that time have seen him develop and grow in stature in the sambar hunting scene. Ken is a practical sambar hunter who has grassroots contact and writes with a clear directness that sambar men understand. He is well recognised as an experienced and knowledgeable expert and is readily accepted by hound hunter and stalker alike. A feat not easily and rarely achieved.”

The father of the deer, the late ADA Life Member Arthur Bentley, wrote…

“At the inaugural meetings of the Australian Deer Association …I became aware of a young man who, with a most earnest expression, listened intently to all that was being said. I was impressed by his obvious sincerity that indicated that deer and hunting were not merely a passing interest to him; they were lifelong concerns with which he had identified himself and were likely to remain a lifetime’s interest. This was my introduction to Ken Pearce. Besides having the responsibilities of a growing family, Ken became a devoted worker in the cause for our wild deer, particularly the sambar. This dedication to the aims and work of the ADA has found expression in his ever-readiness to take up a responsibility”.

Life member Mike Harrison wrote…

“ To generations of deer hunters ADA’s name is synonymous with Ken Pearce’s and Ken’s synonymous with ADA’s.

In the formative years of ADA Ken was amongst the first to volunteer to complete any task which needed to be completed. He constantly surprised his peers by completing with aplomb tasks which they had considered to be beyond his capabilities. Ken wrote the Branch notes for first the Melbourne then Westernport Branches and then, when asked by Arthur Bentley, Ken authored the first book on sambar stalking in Australia. It should be remembered that Ken was a truck driver, not a university graduate and the thought of tackling such a task would have seemed beyond most in the deer scene at the time. Kens first draft received heavy criticism from the ADRF editor, a lessor man would have given it up but Ken persevered until he had completed the landmark tome which he titled Walking Them Up. Now in its third edition, Walking Them Up is regarded as the book which removed the barriers to the secret world and made deer hunting accessible to all who were interested”.

KP was a deer man who encapsulated the best of us and was highly regarded by all. His legacy will continue long after his passing.

Home is the hunter, home from the hill.