The late Margaret and Arthur Thorsborne , two of the honoured names in the long list of activists who fought long and hard to save glorious parts of Queensland , along with the local flora and fauna , wrote a book dealing with a much loved spot, the ruggedly beautiful Hinchinbrook Island, off Cardwell .
When US President Bill Clinton was on a visit to Australia , Margaret Thorsborne presented him with a copy of the book , an internationally regarded eco-walk on the island named after her late husband, a schoolteacher .
Now some supporters of the Thorsbornes , of which there are many scattered across the nation , are suggesting that Bill Clinton be asked to lend his support /his name to a campaign to prevent the Queensland Government from opening the island to tourist development .
The government proposal was made public soon after Margaret Thorsborne died. Angry mourners at the Cardwell church service for her demonstrated outside against the highly insensitive government announcement .
It was subsequently reported that a member of Katter 's Australian Party , the Member for Hinchinbrook no less , Nick Dametto, supports the Hinchinbrook development plan . A Townsville Bulletin item said there would be some "argy-bargy " over the plan .
The top cover photograph of the Hinchinbrook Island book is a special presentation copy to Magnetic Island wildlife carer and friend , Tania Schuett , with Margaret's handwritten inscription : If they could , all wildlife, especially the nutmeg pigeons, would thank you , as I do, for all your love , care and work to protect wild places. Hinchinbrook would thank you too. With love , Margaret . Cardwell , October 1999. It contains cuttings relating to the work of the Thorsbornes and the plight of Bush Stone Curlews on Magnetic Island
The superbly illustrated volume contains photographs by freelance photojournalists and zoologists Clifford and Dawn Frith who specialised in the studies of tropical birds of Australasia . Renowned poet , activist Judith Wright, who campaigned to save the Great Barrier Reef , a leading figure in the wildlife preservation society , provided the foreword .
The Weekend Australian Magazine for November 17-18 contained a cover article by Kate Legge about the "new push " to unlock Australian wilderness areas , in which Hinchibrook Island was named as one of three Queensland National Parks in which the state government has called for expressions of interest for eco-tourism ventures . A key player in the move is Brett Godfrey, former Virgin Australia CEO , chair of Tourism and Events Queensland , who describes himself as an " environmental capitalist ", linked in the article with Hinchinbrook . It is to be hoped that the Queensland proposals get full and balanced coverage in the media , thoughtful political consideration , not just scrambled argy bargy.
The Weekend Australian Magazine for November 17-18 contained a cover article by Kate Legge about the "new push " to unlock Australian wilderness areas , in which Hinchibrook Island was named as one of three Queensland National Parks in which the state government has called for expressions of interest for eco-tourism ventures . A key player in the move is Brett Godfrey, former Virgin Australia CEO , chair of Tourism and Events Queensland , who describes himself as an " environmental capitalist ", linked in the article with Hinchinbrook . It is to be hoped that the Queensland proposals get full and balanced coverage in the media , thoughtful political consideration , not just scrambled argy bargy.
Upcoming : More about Hinchinbrook , poets, poems and activists .
