THE death on Sunday 5 October of former Mornington Peninsula Shire councillor and long time campaigner for the environment, Leigh Eustace, has left an intellectual gap in the ranks of those opposed to over development.
Eustace was described by former council colleagues as courageous, tenacious, pugnacious with a forensic intensity and uncompromising integrity in his council work on behalf of the community.
Eustace led and participated in many actions started by community-based groups to preserve the amenity of the Mount Eliza neighbourhood, with special attention being paid to preserving the swathe of “green” land between that town and Mornington. The groups, and others he joined further afield, fought against what was regarded as inappropriate development and any moves restricting public access to parks and beaches.
The recipient of a bilateral sequential lung transplant in February 2023, Eustace’s dedication and commitment to preserving the environment were underscored less than two weeks later when he toured the site of Ryman Healthcare’s proposed retirement village in Mount Eliza.
Eustace, who was enjoying being out in the fresh air after 13 days recovering from the procedure at the Alfred Hospital, was ecstatic at being able to participate unaided in the inspection. Just days earlier he had been unable to leave home without an auxiliary oxygen supply. After walking the 8.9 hectare site over several hours, he “sat on the side of Kunyung Road for a rest” before heading home.
Elected as a Mount Eliza councillor in 2008, Eustace lost his seat in a tightly contested election in 2012.
In the lead up to that 2016 election Eustace was subjected to online abuse after it was revealed that when 22 years old he had been convicted and jailed for three years for trafficking heroin.
Never one to shy away from issues, Eustace, then 58, admitted the crime to The News but said he “did the crime and served the time” and it had motivated his commitment to community values in the years following, including four years as a councillor. His comments, published first by The News (Candidate goes clear on convictions, The News 17/10/16) were then picked up by and reported in the national media. “My goal is to keep the character of the shire through appropriate planning,” Eustace stated at the time.
His rise to public prominence started with Mount Eliza Action Group, which was formed to oppose a plan to build four new houses on Norman Lodge estate, Mount Eliza, and other developments in the area thought to be inappropriate by the group.
Other projects he was involved with as a councillor included renovation of the old science block at the former Mornington Secondary College to create new studios for radio station RPP FM. He was also instrumental in having a skate park installed at Emil Madsen Reserve.
Former shire councillor Graham Pittock recalled the shire civic centre being “all abuzz” as the election results were announced in 2008. “However, there was one missing: the Mount Eliza result. Then this burst of energy entered, proclaiming victory (for Eustace),” Pittock said.
“The incumbents looked nervous and the rest, including me, were delighted. Leigh was where he wanted to be and would become a councillor with influence for the benefit of his locals. But not influence for the sake of self aggrandisement or further ambition.” Pittock said Eustace had been “a team member who understood a cause”.
“Tim Rodgers and Bev Colomb were experienced councillors with Lyn Bowden and myself forming an incongruous bond. “Tim and I would turn up at all meetings briefed on the incredulously enormous agendas. Leigh would spend the rest of the week pouring over the agenda finding all sorts of trickery and subterfuge. “He was a workaholic, a detective, a councillor extraordinaire.” “His personality is a model for the political aspirants who want to make this world a better place. “To our dismay he lost the 2016 elections but, thankfully, Hugh Fraser was elected. It was a strike of fortune of replacing one great councillor with another,” Pittock said.
Former shire councillor Hugh Fraser said he had met with Eustace several times after he left council.
“He maintained a constant interest in council matters and my own work on council after my election in 2012,” Fraser said. “He readily made new friendships and maintained his friendships with former councillor colleagues Tim Rodgers, Graham Pittock and Lynn Bowden, all of whom gave long and distinguished service to the shire and its community.”
Fraser said Eustace had “a forensic intensity and uncompromising integrity in his council work on behalf of the community”. Eustace had a Bachelor of Applied Science (Computing) and operated Eliza Computer Support Services from 2012 (after council). He worked as a computer systems analyst at GM/EDS, a contractor of GMH and donated revamped computers to community groups.
At the time of his death he was president of Mount Eliza Fifty Five Plus Club and secretary of Ranelagh Residents’ Association. He is survived by his wife Jane and their two sons, Sam and Matt.
First published in the Mornington News – 14 October 2025
