There was a dramatic operatic development after the ashes of Australian art researcher Margaret Vine were scattered at Alma Bay, Magnetic Island : at distant Cape Cleveland , a fire broke out , a column of white smoke visible .
The person who first spotted the conflagration, island resident George Hirst , revealed he had been somewhat overawed by Ms. Vine when he first encountered her at the National Gallery of Australia , Canberra, where he had been information officer early in his career, which brought him to Townsville's Perc Tucker Regional Gallery in 1989 , responsible for collections, curating and installing exhibitions.
Then, with partner Penelope Sheridan , running the island newspaper, Magnetic Times , later branching into Cranky Curlew Productions, making films dealing with environment issues ,T-shirts.
When the smoke cleared , it was disappointing that there had not then been the sudden spectacular appearance of Verdi's massive Aida cast-Egyptian priests,priestesses, slaves and a Chinese elephant as in a modern performance, but it would have severely taxed the budget for the occasion .
The wake consumed champagne and caviar, swapped anecdotes about Ms. Vine , a great opera fan , partial to bubbly .
Her ashes had been cast into the sea with native flowers not far from the above swimming sign by the president of the Magnetic Island Museum, Zanita Davies, and Tony O'Malley. O'Malley , involved in natural resource management in the wet tropics, lived nextdoor to Margaret in Olympus Crescent and had many dealings with her. He read messages from those unable to attend , including one in which she was described as having contributed so much to Australian art research .
Present at the wake was carpenter and sculptor Andy Frost who had been commissioned by Margaret to make her coffin . Margaret , he said , had regarded her many pets-Wallabies , Curlews, Possums , Kookaburras-as her children . Some of the wallabies had been named after politicians, according to a woman, conjuring up an image of unusual bounders.
Another point of interest that surfaced during the wake was the fact that on the island is the Harrod's dog blanket which had once belonged to Margaret's pet Beagle , Ponsonby, and there is also a special Ponsonby recipe for Christmas cake .
Some of the women present wore jewellery and clothing in colours that Margaret favoured .This writer was given a packet of seeds to plant and attract butterflies .
