Anthony Meduri: locals rally behind suburb’s ‘flower man’ after court convictions

Residents are rallying behind the well-known operator of a roadside flower van after he was fined in court for selling his freshly cut goods in what police have described as a ‘safety issue’.

Residents on the north shore are rallying behind the well-known operator of a roadside flower van after he was fined in court for selling his freshly cut goods without approval.

More than 1900 people have a signed a petition calling for Anthony Meduri, also known as ‘Lane Cove’s Flower Man’, to continue trading on the side of Burns Bay Rd after he was charged by NSW Police with two offences including using a vehicle for selling items without approval, and refusing to state his name or address upon demand.

He was convicted of both charges in Hornsby Local Court on Friday and fined a total of $1250.

A photo of Mr Meduri and his flower van.

Mr Meduri – who sources his flowers from Flemington Markets – has been selling his produce on the side of the road for more than four decades, setting up his van on the shoulder of the road at Linley Point which is also used by fruit vendors and police for roadside breath tests.

The day after he was convicted, Mr Meduri was issued a further court attendance notice for the offence of using vehicle/article for selling without approval after he was once again seen by police operating illegally at the site.

The incident has prompted an outpouring of support from the community with local state MP Anthony Roberts also intervened by taking the matter up with the State Government officials.

A photo of the stretch of road where Mr Meduri sets up his van.

NSW Police, in a statement, said safety was “the key issue here”.

“The potential risk to the vendor and customers is of great concern to local police (and) the specific concerns for both the vendor and customers using this site are due to it being adjacent to a major arterial road,” a spokeswoman said.

“This local area has undergone major changes over the past 40 years, with a significant increase in traffic passing the location.

“With more vehicles passing, there is an increased risk for motorists stopping or leaving the site, as well as the fact the site is on the outside of a bend in the road. If a vehicle failed to negotiate the bend, anyone in that area would be at risk of being struck.

MP Anthony Roberts has taken the matter up with the State Government.

“It would be remiss of NSW Police not to act to prevent this from happening.”

Local state MP Anthony Roberts, who started the petition, believes Mr Meduri should be able to continue trading at the site.

“(The van) has been operating out of the same parking bay along Burns Bay Road for over 40 year now. This same parking bay is also used by highway patrol occasionally to conduct random breath testing,” he said.

“When highway patrol are conducting these operations they will move him along but of recent have taken steps to stop him from operating there permanently.

Mr Meduri was convicted in Hornsby Local Court.

“This is clearly not an appropriate measure and I am currently in discussions with my ministerial colleagues to find a workable solution in which both parties can coexist.”

The furore comes after Transport for NSW installed no standing signs on the roadside back in 2015 in a move partly designed to ensure police vehicles could park and undertake random breath testing of passing motorists.

In 2016, Lane Cove Council passed a motion for a suitable policy that could allow operators such as flower sellers to use the current strip of roadway.

A council report at the time noted Mr Meduri had been operating at the site for 40 years without any issues.

Mr Meduri sources his flowers from Flemington Market.

The same report, however, noted “there may be some merit in the argument that itinerant traders with lower overheads” using the highly visible roadway could “have an unfair advantage and divert business from lawful traders in local commercial areas.”

A Lane Cove council spokeswoman said no further action was taken in relation to the van following the council’s decision in 2016.

“We have a fee in the fees and charges for mobile street vending, as in not stationary, of $82 per day. No permit has been issued for this vendor,” she added.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a total of 1957 people have signed the petition with supporters describing Mr Meduri as a “colourful community icon”.

“He is kind and generous. He works incredibly hard, come rain, hail or shine, he is there with a smile. Over the many decades Tony has been selling flowers every Friday, Saturday & Sunday, there have never been any negative incidents. Bring Tony back,” supporter Louise Sidgreaves wrote.

The North Shore Times attempted to contact Mr Meduri for comment but was unable to reach him.

He is due to reappear in court in July.