Good to hear that the book by Darwin agronomist and decorated activist Robert Wesley-Smith is at long last with the printers and could be available in mid-October. An earlier work of his is shown here .
He was admired by the late editor of the Northern Territory News, Jim Bowditch, who wrote him up in the paper on issues such as the Vietnam War, aboriginal landrights ,the East Timor struggle for freedom , and many other matters, resulting in the Rural Rebel Rob title.
During the Timor campaigning, another activist, Sam Kruger , said to have played a part in the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto's plane in WWll, received an intelligence tip that he and Wes would be assassinated if they flew to Singapore.
The shock warning given to Kruger specifically said it also applied to his "four- eyed mate"- spactacle wearing Wesley-Smith. The first president of the Northern Territory Civil Liberties Council, formed just after the l974 Cyclone Tracy , Wes was involved with many other overseas and local activists , including one who opposed uranium mining and changed his name to Stuart Highway, the main north south road.
Over the years Wesley-Smith built up a large filing system, including one about the Azaria Chamberlain cases in which he took an active part .
Nowadays Wes continues to raise and comment on many issues . He recently dispersed information about a West Australian doctor who played an important part with Australian commandoes in Timor during WWll.
His association with East Timor was so close that Timorese nuns coming to Darwin were often picked up by him , transported and even accommodated down on his rural property, with his large collection of protest T-shirts.
Seen driving by with the nuns, it was said that it was Father Wes with his flock.
He also tends his melons in the hope of taking out first prize again at the Darwin Show .This is a dangerous pastime as a friend of ours fell over and broke his wrist while picking pumpkins.
(Rebel. Book. Melon.)