It is with deep sorrow that I announce the death of Andy Fleming, OAM, 8th Dan at 79 years of age.
He passed away quite peacefully in the late afternoon in hospital after his kidneys failed.
With Andy’s death, a major part of the living history of Judo in Australia has gone as he was a member of the group that set up the Judo Federation of Australia in Sydney in 1952 together with Messrs. Moss Hollis, South Australia; Ivan Zavetchanos, Victoria; Cliff Duncan and V.G.Allen from Queensland and Ernest Chambers from New South Wales.
As a member of the Navy he was on ships that transported Japanese prisoners of war and he observed them doing Judo. He then decided to take up Judo and set up the Western Australian Amateur Judo Association in 1952. He was the foundation President and held that position for 40 years. As the years went on Andy was also a competitor in the first Australian National Championships in 1956 and was selected to attend the World Championships in 1958 but could not attend due to lack of financial support and was also elected as Chairman of the National Technical Board.
In 1968 he went to Japan and studied at the Kodokan for a year. He received authority from the Kodokan to teach the kata of Judo and was graded to 3rd Dan.
In 1976 he was appointed section manager to the Montreal Olympic Games and coach of the judo team.
In 1986 he was made a Life Member of the Judo Federation of Australia, Inc., and in 1990 he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to sport.
Andy had a wonderful sense of humour and consistently regaled us with anecdotes form the past and the present. He was also extremely proud of his Scottish heritage having been born in Glasgow and immigrated to Australia in 1927. He will be sadly missed by all those who have known and loved him. He was a true “mat” man and would spend hours as judoka do discussing techniques and their history.
His funeral service was held at his graveside at the Karrakatta Cemetery in Nedlands, Perth on Tuesday, 15th November, 2005 where he was buried in his judogi.
