At long last , work has started on an Australian epic of activism , the action packed life of Darwin agronomist Robert Wesley-Smith . Refreshed by an occasional dip in his man-made lagoon , Lake Weslee , below , gradually filling during the Wet , hopefully out of bounds to crocodiles , his desk almost cleared for action , more than 50 diaries at hand , he is writing his memoirs , tentatively entitled Rural Rebel Rob.
The desirable project comes after his E-book , 117 Days in East Timor which covered the struggle for freedom from Indonesia in which he played a big part , involving his twin brothers , all three decorated by the East Timor government .
Little Darwin understands RRR will cover his life in a prominent Adelaide family , during which his mother described him as a bit of a rebel , his involvement in Aboriginal issues and working in primary industry in the Northern Territory.
While discussing RRR with him , Wes had a chuckle over Little Darwin's post about a former editor of the NT News, John Hogan , complaining about a piece written in the Darwin Star .
Wes said , as a joke, he had once written to Hogan suggesting that the paper should run stories on subjects in which he - Wesley -Smith- was interested or mentioned , next to each other .
This , he wrote ,would overcome him mutilating so many pages and papers .
Through his contacts in the reporting staff at the News, Wes heard that Hogan had read out the letter in the office , and made derogatory remarks about him.
When a later editor at the News angered Wesley-Smith with erroneous comments about the East Timor situation, he went to the newspaper to put him straight.
Given five minutes to state his case , Wes said the discussion became heated and he was told to leave after about two minutes or he would be removed from the premises .
Recalling the episode , laughing in the process, Wes said he had felt like hitting the editor, but , luckily , he later discovered he had a Black Belt in unarmed combat .
