The ashes of one of the "most revered and beloved champions " of Queensland's wildlife and natural heritage , Margaret Thorsborne , AO, are next month likely to be scattered into the sea , between rugged Hinchinbrook Island and the Brook Islands, near where those of her husband , Arthur , were spread.
Capturing Margaret in action , the above portrait , by artist Catherine Bone, depicting her taking part in an annual count of Torresian Imperial Pigeons , also known as Nutmeg Pigeons , was displayed at the Cardwell John Oliver Feetham Pioneer Memorial Anglican Church service on October 25.
The Thorsbornes were the first to bring attention to the plight of the pigeons that were shot in large numbers at their breeding colony on North Brook Island . In l965 they began annual counts of the colony which became one of the world's longest running wildlife population surveys . Stopping illegal shooting and protecting the coastal forests saw the colony increase from less than 2000 birds in l966 to an average of 30,000-40,000 by the end of the century .
The story of their mighty campaign was told in the 2015 documentary The Coming of the White Birds.
This week , Magnetic Island resident , Tania Schuett , told of her involvement with the Thorsbornes at their cottage , Galmara , above , in the forest at Meunga Creek , Cardwell . She also produced letters and cards from Margaret Thorsborne decorated with her own handpainted drawings of pigeons, newspaper cuttings and a presentation book .
A wildlife carer on the island, off Townsville , for many years , especially interested in Bush Stone Curlews, she had been given official approval to study the life cycle of Torres Strait Pigeons in specially built avaries at her residence , which attracted the attention of Margaret , who spoke to her on the phone and corresponded .
Three young pigeons , named Prince, Princess and Duchess , had been transported with Tania to Galmara , Aboriginal for poet or singer of songs, and released in the surrounding country. On that occasion,Tania had slept in a small , outer building , under a mosquito net ; during the night she felt a tickle on an ear , discovered it was a tiny marsupial mouse , which came back for seconds .
A large python lived in the roof of Galmara and used a ladder up against the roof to slide down for a drink from a water container put out for one and all .
At the time of Schuett's visit , Margaret was deeply involved in the Save Hinchinbrook campaign to try and prevent millionaire developer Keith Williams , who built Sea World on the Gold Coast and the Hamilton Island resort in the Whitsundays , described as the last of the white shoe brigade , going ahead with his Port Hinchinbrook project . This involved removal of a large number of mangroves for a marina , a canal estate and a subdivision , even suggested it have its own airport .
Injunctions were taken out by Williams to prevent key activists, including Margaret, from venturing on site .
Another activist , the late Shirley Prout , once a member of the ALP on Magnetic Island , had been in the thick of the demos at the site , which received much media coverage and condemnation from Williams and others in power . She and Margaret, in Galmara , often used to laughingly accuse each of being one of those wicked women mentioned in the media , subjecting this poor millionaire developer to stress and financial strain , undermining northern development .
An amusing aspect of that struggle was recalled during the recent church service. The congregation was told that Margaret, patron of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland , and another strong campaigner, Kenn Parker , late one day, to avoid detection , slipped into waist deep water in mangroves at Cardwell to check out what was going on at the site , she bringing up the rear . There had been a sound like a log-a crocodile ?- being displaced , sliding into the water . In a slightly tremulous voice, Margaret had said ,"Oh, don't think of crocodiles -think of butterflies !"
Cyclone Yasi smashed Port Hinchinbrook in 2011, yachts piled up on each other in the wreckage;its future operation has been the subject of legal action and uncertainty ever since . The cyclone also caused havoc at Galmara , a large part of the surrounding forest stripped bare.
Cyclone Yasi smashed Port Hinchinbrook in 2011, yachts piled up on each other in the wreckage;its future operation has been the subject of legal action and uncertainty ever since . The cyclone also caused havoc at Galmara , a large part of the surrounding forest stripped bare.
Several months ago this blog was informed that Margaret was unwell and might not live to see the next annual count of nesting pigeons which converge on North Queensland from far and wide , including Papua New Guinea and the Aru Islands . After experiencing palliative care, she returned to her Cardwell retirement village , where she died, aged 91, on October 16, without recording the flash of her beloved white birds .
In an incredibly insensitive act , the Queensland government announced plans to allow tourist facilities to be built to cater for the eco-walk , the Thorsborne Trail , named after Arthur, on Hinchinbrook Island , an act which would appal the couple . Mourners at the church service for Margaret staged a strong protest outside against the proposal .
During the service Swing Low, Sweet Chariot , by the Afro-American singer and civil rights activist , Paul Robeson , was played. Over the years Margaret expressed admiration for him , mentioned he had sung to workers on the Sydney Opera House construction site .
A special event will be held in the Hall of Prayer , Townsville , on November 30 for the many people in this area who were unable to attend the Cardwell service for Margaret
UPCOMING : Hinchinbrook and Bill Clinton / Wildlife and conservation warriors / Poets and poems .
In an incredibly insensitive act , the Queensland government announced plans to allow tourist facilities to be built to cater for the eco-walk , the Thorsborne Trail , named after Arthur, on Hinchinbrook Island , an act which would appal the couple . Mourners at the church service for Margaret staged a strong protest outside against the proposal .
During the service Swing Low, Sweet Chariot , by the Afro-American singer and civil rights activist , Paul Robeson , was played. Over the years Margaret expressed admiration for him , mentioned he had sung to workers on the Sydney Opera House construction site .
A special event will be held in the Hall of Prayer , Townsville , on November 30 for the many people in this area who were unable to attend the Cardwell service for Margaret
UPCOMING : Hinchinbrook and Bill Clinton / Wildlife and conservation warriors / Poets and poems .
