COMMUNITY MOURNS ‘ONE OF A KIND’ ANIMAL ADVOCATE
THE founder of the Gold Coast’s biggest animal welfare charity has died just months before his 100th birthday.
Animal advocate Neil Andersen OAM founded the Animal Welfare League in 1959 and led the group for more than five decades.
He died on April 18 aged 99, following a short illness.
Born in 1922 in Maryborough, Neil nurtured a desire to protect animals from a young age – though he was a skilled baker, social change remained his true passion.
Delivering newspapers as a young boy he was often followed by a stray dog.
Once when he left his gate open, the little dog was sitting on the front veranda with his dad.
Bluey became a part of the family. Since then Neil has always had a rescue dog by his side.
He became the founding President of the “Animal Lovers League” in 1959 when he and a group of animal lovers became worried about the fate of impounded pets.
The local pound didn’t have any rehoming strategies, meaning stray dogs and cats were shot and dumped in landfills if unclaimed.
Joining him in protest against the inhumane treatment was wife Mavis Andersen and his dog, Chippy.
The volunteer group went on to save the lives of tens of thousands of animals by taking in the unclaimed strays.
In the mid 1980s the group moved to its current Coombabah home, which is now one of four rehoming centres and multiple vet clinics.
In 1990 Neil was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his work in the community.
His daughter Denise Bradley stepped up as the new Animal Welfare League Queensland president in 1996, “ushering in a new and exciting era” for the group.
Friends told the Bulletin that Denise, now CEO, had relied on him for guidance and advice as she stepped into the role. AWLQ president of the board Sue Spencer said: “Neil was one of a kind.
“His commitment to animal welfare has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals during his 57 years of involvement with Animal Welfare League Queensland.
“We are so grateful for his immeasurable contribution to creating a brighter future for animals in need.
“The legacy left by Neil is a profound one – not only has he assisted in changing the community’s attitude towards animal welfare but his vision resulted in thousands of animals being spared from certain death.
“Under Neil’s guidance, Animal Welfare League Queensland was transformed from a volunteer committee to a trusted national leader in animal welfare.
“What an incredible journey we’ve had – thank you so much for your service, Neil.
“On behalf of the board, staff and volunteers, we offer our condolences to Neil’s family at this most difficult time.”
Neil, known as a “much-loved family man”, is survived by four children, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A service will be held on Friday April 29 at the Somerville Nerang Chapel from 3pm.
Instead of flowers, his family asks for donations to AWLQ to help continue the work he started so many years ago.