Andy Wilson

Last weekend, I suddenly came across the news that Andy had passed away. I was extremely surprised and sad, and couldn't calm down for a long time. During the Spring Festival holiday in February this year, we went on a free trip to Tasmania. We visited three times before we were fortunate enough to meet this interesting and popular the wombat man Andy.
The first time I communicated with Andy, it was like meeting an old friend, full of warmth and friendliness. His eyes could speak, and he was kind and sincere. The store just opened. Andy said that it had rained and he hadn't come to the store for the past two days, so there was no stock. He made two wombats for us on the spot. The kids all liked them very much. He even joked that these two 1000💲. Andy's voice, appearance and smile are still fresh in my memory.
Tasmania is a place worth visiting repeatedly, but wombat man is never seen

Today we farewell our friend , Andy Pandy (as I called him ). I first met Andy when I was interested in a shop space that he was vacating . However I found him far more interesting than the shop space so we became friends instead. We bonded over mutual beliefs and entrepreneurial ideas ; of which we had many.
In Andy I saw a man who was kind , honest , generous , funny, intensely creative who deeply loved his family .
This is why he is so loved by so many. Andy is an integral part of the tapestry of this village. We would see him out the front making and creating, driving the streets in his red van ..always with a smile ,a beep and a cheeky gesture .A familiarity we took for granted.
The sun will shine less brighter in Richmond these days , no doubt.
But we will remember Andy with much fondness ...always .
Deepest condolences to Andy's family who will miss him the most .

As a traveller from China, I had the privilege of meeting Andy during a visit to Richmond in November 2024.

Our travel schedule was quite tight, but my friend and I still made sure to set aside a few hours for Richmond because visiting Andy’s workshop was something we did not want to miss. To be honest, one of the main reasons I wanted to visit the town was Andy’s workshop. I have always loved wombats and handmade crafts, and before my trip I had seen countless recommendations from Chinese travellers who spoke warmly of Andy. People often described him as exceptionally kind and welcoming, and they spoke with great affection about the little wombats he carved.

I still remember that day clearly. The weather was beautiful and sunny. When we first arrived, the shop was closed. We were disappointed, but decided to come back later. Fortunately, on our second visit, Andy was there.

Mee

It’s not often you meet, know or befriend a person who lives by their purpose and to further see the impact that one pure soul can have on the many.

Today, I know, that one such person in my life is Andy, brave enough to live his life with one goal in mind, to uplift and give joy to those around him. A huge accomplishment felt over and over again.

I have been in Richmond only a few short days and I have been honored and humbled to witness the deep effect from Andy’s passing. I want to extend a sincere thanks to those of you in the community that have openly shared your love of Andy with me, your many sweet and funny memories and your deep heartfelt despair. It is very clear that Andy was not only a huge part of the Richmond community, but he had created an extraordinary community wherever he (or his creations) went; which was well beyond his hometown.

To Janet, Hayley, Shau

In Loving Memory of Andy: The Wombat Grandpa Who Sculpted Warmth and Soul
Andy’s shop has long been a beloved local treasure. No matter how bustling the store became or how many tourists flocked in, Andy remained steadfast in his commitment to handcrafting every single piece. In a world now saturated with mass-produced commodities, each and every square "wombat poop" (wombat\ poop / wombat droppings) creature he sculpted possessed a unique, irreplaceable spirit. To call him a veteran craftsman would be an understatement; he was, in truth, a local artist deeply in love with every little creature on this land.
The memory that lingers most vividly is an afternoon spent buying a freshly made little wombat from him. Andy stubbornly insisted on adding the final, defining touch—painting the eyes—and then carefully drying them with a hair dryer, bit by bit, before he would treasure it enough t

Dear Janet,

First of all, please accept my deepest condolences on the tragic loss of Andy. My thoughts are with you, your family, and everyone who loved him during this incredibly difficult time.

I first learned of Andy’s passing through Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), one of China’s most popular social media platforms. What surprised me most was not only the news itself, but the overwhelming number of heartfelt tributes and messages shared by people across China.

It became clear that Andy had touched far more lives than many of us could have imagined. Countless people who visited his shop spoke of him with genuine affection and admiration. Many shared stories of his kindness, warmth, humor, and the way he made everyone feel welcome. Even those who met him only briefly seemed to carry a lasting memory of him.

Reading these messages, I was deeply moved. It is rare to see someon

I visited the shop and talked to him just a month ago. Honestly, I kind of wish I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be this sad if I hadn’t.

Andy was working on his crafts at the table when I was there. We were the only customers at the time. I remember thinking, “Oh, he’s just having instant noodles for lunch? He must be busy with orders.”
After I left the shop, I couldn’t stop thinking about the little figures that weren’t for sale, so I drove back about 30 minutes later. Andy was so kind and ended up selling me the two figures I really liked.

“Oh, I’ll have to make some more now.”
“Don’t tell anyone!”
That’s what he said afterwards, and I can still hear his voice today.

I still wonder… did he?

Andy, did you remake them and put them back in that display?

I’m so, so sad to hear what happened. I really thought I would see him again the next time I visited Tasmania.
Now I know you’ve

I’m writing this from Adelaide.

I never had the chance to meet Andy. I never made it to Tasmania, and I never got to buy one of his wombats. But for many years, I knew there was a grandfather somewhere not too far away, carving wombats and making people smile.

His smile was so infectious. Every time I saw a photo of him, he reminded me of my own grandfathers. Even though we never met, I already felt a fondness for him. There is a saying that kindness shows on a person’s face, and Andy seemed to embody that completely. I can only imagine what a wonderful son, husband, father, and grandfather he must have been.

When the news broke, I spent the entire day in tears. I kept searching “Wombat Man” over and over, hoping that somehow it wasn’t him. I wanted the reports to be wrong. I wanted it to be someone else. But eventually it was confirmed, and my heart broke for a man I had never

I still remember we were the first customers that day(03.10.2025).I said,"We came all the way from
China just for you!"You laughed heartily and said,"I know!I know!I know all the stories!"There were only the three of us in the shop at that time, and we had such a joyful conversation.You kept teasing us,
saying,"You trap me here," and joked that you had to run away quickly before others noticed.
But Grandpa, actually, it's you and your wombats who trapped me here!
Later, my husband took a group photo for us. You put your arm around my shoulder and joked,"I'm going to play tough!"
Before we left,you even gave us a few bags of poop, saying,"I don't want money,I don't need money,l just need more wombats."At the time,I just thought it was funny,but looking back now,you really did your best to make every tourist happy and ensure no one left disappointed.
You were so kind that everyone wh

Dear Wombat Grandpa,

We were strangers who had never met, yet a small handmade wombat brought our paths together.

During my journey through Tasmania, I kept seeing travelers share stories about your creations. Everyone spoke warmly of the “Wombat Grandpa” — a kind man who patiently carved each piece by hand, turning simple wood into treasured memories of Tasmania.

Inspired by those stories, I sent you a message, hoping to bring home one of your little wombats.

To be honest, I did not expect much.

Then on the 9th of June, we arrived in Richmond. After parking the car, I saw you sitting outside, quietly working on another wombat. The sunlight fell across the wood, and across the hands that had spent years creating joy for strangers.

In that moment, I understood why your wombats meant so much to people.

They were never just souvenirs.

They were pieces of your heart.

My partner and I visited Richmond in October last year, and we were fortunate enough to visit Andy’s shop and bring home one of his beautiful little wombats.

The wombat itself is incredibly adorable, but what I will remember even more is Andy himself. He was so warm, kind and genuinely interested in our story – where we came from, how we had heard about him, and what had brought us all the way to Richmond.

I don’t think I will ever forget his smile, or the way he carefully and thoughtfully painted the eyes on my wombat. There was such focus, care and joy in what he did.

Hearing the news of his passing has left me shocked and heartbroken.

I hope his family can stay strong during this difficult time, and I wish them peace, comfort and all the very best for the future.

I will treasure Andy’s little wombat forever. Every time I look at it, I will think of Andy – his smile, his