Banding together
A new idea
Flagging the meeting
WPSQ Caloundra
Twelve months on
Reviewing ten years

In 1962 Kathleen McArthur played a major role in the formation of the statewide conservation group the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ). Co-founders were poet Judith Wright, naturalist and scientist David Fleay and publisher Brian Clouston.

In her home town a year later Kathleen started the Caloundra Branch, the Society’s first regional offshoot. Now, WPSQ Sunshine Coast and Hinterland Inc continues working with the community on environmental projects, such as revegetation and fauna monitoring (Faunawatch), as well as alerting government to environmental issues and educating the community about conservation values.

Caloundra Weekly 23 October 1962

MEETING DISCUSSES BRANCH OF WILDLIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY

A meeting on Wednesday 14th November at the residence of Mrs. K. McArthur, Caloundra, to discuss the formation of a Caloundra Branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, was very well attended.

Mr. J. Geddes, who chaired the meeting, said: ‘I would like to welcome you here tonight. Mrs. McArthur is going to tell you the objects of this meeting. This is the first effort outside of Brisbane to form a branch, and I hope this idea will mushroom on and do a lot of good’.

‘This idea,’ explained Mrs. McArthur, ‘grew out of a letter written by David Fleay and Judith Wright, calling for more training in schools concerning the knowledge of wild life. Nothing is done in schools except through individual teachers. If our aim is to publish a magazine that would be free to schools then we must have a society to back us. We called a public meeting in Brisbane in September which was well attended, and formed the Wildlife Preservation Society’. Mrs. McArthur then read the rules and constitution of this society.

‘The main work at present being done,’ said Mrs. McArthur ‘is the magazine. It will be published quarterly and have forty-eight pages and will be lavishly illustrated. All areas of the State will be dealt with and people will be shown what to look for at different seasons. We hope there will be many Branches formed throughout the State. Our work in Caloundra would be conserving beach dunes, preserving patches of scrub in the districts, sand spits extending out of Happy Valley, replant foreshores, plant native trees and shrubs at High School [sic] and put regular Nature notes in the Caloundra Weekly. Suitable native trees could be planted in the local streets and avenues and a reference section [placed] in the School of Arts Library and in School Libraries’.

‘As most of you know I have been interested in research in bird life,’ said Mr. Galletly, ‘and there are some very interesting species in this district. A lot of destruction of rare bird life in Caloundra is caused by stray cats. Someone dumped a cat and her kittens on my property recently and the cat promptly killed a pair of pet opossums [sic] and many of my birds. I would like to tell the people of Caloundra if you have any unwanted animal to get in touch with the Health Inspector and he will send the Pound Keeper to take the animal away. I understand kangaroos roaming over the golf course here have been shot and I would like to know more about this, as it is not legal to shoot in this area. Since I have been here I have recorded 145 species of birds’.

Mr. Geddes [said], ‘It is obvious it is high time a Society should be started here. I belong to the Golf Club and have not heard of any shooting of kangaroos. Shooting is not allowed there’.

Mrs. Marson [said], ‘I have a love of flora and fauna and the corner by the golf course is very beautiful and should be preserved’.

Mrs. Nelson Gracie [said], ‘This club should do a lot to educate our children and give them a love of their natural heritage’.

Mrs. Enid Card [said], ‘To develop and preserve our wildlife would be in the interest of the tourist business in Caloundra. People come here to see wildflowers that are never seen in the South’.

Mr. Geddes then introduced Mr. Babbage from the Forestry Department who said he was most interested in the formation of this Branch and that its activities would be followed with interest by members of the Forestry Department.

After a further discussion it was decided there was sufficient local interest to go ahead and form a Caloundra Branch of the Society.

Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers
© WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc

Caloundra Weekly 15 March 1963

THE WILD LIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND––CALOUNDRA BRANCH

In 1962, in three states of Australia, societies were formed for the conservation and preservation of our natural resources. This is indicative of a world-wide feeling that we are using the land without due thought for the future.

The aims of these movements are not to halt development that is part of a nation’s economy, but rather to use more foresight and intelligence in such action, so that future generations may not be left without resources or inherit a sterile land. These problems are being tackled on an international level by such a body as the I.U.C.N. (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with its headquarters in Switzerland, and by various national bodies. In Australia, conservation is handled by the separate states and as yet, has not been made a national concern, hence these state societies which are closely affiliated. In a few short months of their existence they have developed a close contact with each other and also with the overseas national and international associations.

At the other end of the scale we see such comings-together on the parochial level as the recent formation of the Noosa Parks Development Association. This is how it should be, and assuredly will be, for local organisations to cope with local problems, state bodies to direct wider policy and so on, and up, to national and international organisations.

Much destruction of the natural landscape and consequently the wildlife it supported has occurred in the Caloundra district since the war, but there is still a great deal for us to save, and if co-operation is forthcoming, to build upon for the future.

Having such hope in mind, a meeting is being called for Wednesday 20th March at 8 p.m. in the Wildflower Room, Midyim, King’s Beach, Caloundra, to form a Caloundra Branch of the Wild Life Preservation Society of Queensland. All those who may be interested in such matters are invited to attend.

Kathleen McArthur

Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers
© WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc

Caloundra Weekly 22 March 1963

WILDLIFE PRESERVATION MEETING

On Wednesday, 20th March at 8 p.m., a number of residents gathered at the home of Mrs. Kathleen McArthur in Orvieto Terrace to form a Caloundra branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Once the decision was made to form a branch, which will be the first branch of this Society in Queensland, an election of officers resulted in: Mr. J. Geddes, president; Mrs. K. McArthur, secretary and treasurer; executive committee, Messrs. I. Bevage from the Forestry Department, and S. Galletly. It was moved and seconded that a letter be written to the Landsborough Shire Council informing them of the formation of this Branch, and seeking their co-operation in the future.

Mrs. McArthur read a letter from a private resident, pointing out the potential of a park reserve at Moffat Beach, and two members were appointed to look over this area and report back at the next meeting. Another letter, from the Noosa Parks Development Association, was read by the Secretary. Mrs. McArthur said the Noosa Association was a very live body with over 100 members and they were working hard to keep the interest alive among the local people. Lists had been made of the various wildflowers in the area, and many interesting nature films had been shown. Mr. Geddes said the more groups formed along the coast the better it would be for the development of the coastal areas.

It was decided that members should contribute nature notes to the Caloundra Weekly under the heading ‘Wildlife and Landscape’ to arouse the interest of the general public, and all members were asked to canvas for increased membership for the Caloundra Branch.

A great deal of discussion followed the announcement that much of the strip of land that follows the lake at Currimundi had been cleared of all natural growth, and as this area is famous for its wildflowers, members were asked to examine the territory and to report back at the next meeting.

Mrs. Nottidge said she had been shocked at the lack of trees in a town such as Caloundra where shade trees were urgently needed. Mr. Geddes said members would have noticed how the Council are now planting a number of trees; but it would be impossible for the Council to plant all the trees needed in this area and to maintain them. This association should encourage people to grow their own trees and do what they can to assist them. Mr. Geddes said he was quite sure they would have the co-operation of many of the clubs in Caloundra. One whose support he knew they would have was the Golf Club. The members of this club were planning an 18-hole course and would soon be at the stage when they would be planting new trees. This area, said Mr. Geddes, comprised nearly 100 acres, and sheltered much wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and even a few koalas. The Golf Club would be glad of any advice the association could give them.

It was decided to hold meetings every third Wednesday in the month at 8 p.m. at the residence of Mrs. K. McArthur, Orvieto Terrace. New members will be made welcome.

Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers
© WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc

Caloundra Weekly 13 March 1964

FIRST ANNUAL WILDLIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY MEETING

Mr. John Geddes, President of the Caloundra Branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society, presented his report at the first annual meeting of the Society held at Caloundra recently. He said the inaugural meeting of this branch was held on the 15th March [actually 20 March] 1963, and since that date the membership has shown a steady increase until the branch now has twenty-eight members. This is a satisfactory rate of growth, as it is our aim to gain members interested in the object of the Society rather than gain large numbers of indifferent supporters.

The Branch has held twelve meetings, four of which have been entirely devoted to lectures by the following guest speakers:

Mr. Charles Roff––Fauna Officer in Queensland
Dr. Len Webb––C.S.I.R.O. Forest Ecologist
Mr. Hardie Buzacott––Authority on the Cooloola Sands
Mr. Selwyn Everist––Government Botanist

The lectures attracted a great deal of interest in the district and attendances reached a peak figure of seventy members and visitors. I have no doubt that these lectures have materially assisted in the establishment of this branch, as well as providing interesting and stimulating evenings for the members.

Another important activity of the branch has been the weekly publication of articles appearing under the title ‘Wildlife and Landscape’ in the Caloundra Weekly, the Maroochydore Advertiser and the North Coast Comet. These articles have created tremendous interest amongst the local residents in our own and surrounding districts. I formally thank the contributors for their splendid efforts on behalf of the branch.

A further successful project was the sale of native trees, organised just before Christmas. The cost of the trees has virtually been recouped and many suitable trees have been distributed for planting in the district. Some stock remains and is being cared for by the secretary, who reports that sales are continuing. Whilst on this subject, I must mention that several members have planted trees in gardens for owners who are unable to do so themselves.

It is interesting to note that requests for advice have been received by the Branch from several groups interested in the planting. The Caloundra Golf Club and the Lions Club are two groups that come to mind. In all cases we have been able to assist, and in the latter we supplied forty-five trees and a plan for their planting.

In conclusion, I wish to thank our very hard-working secretary, Mrs. K. McArthur, for the tremendous amount of work she has done for this branch and the Society. She has, at all times, carried out her duties with great zeal and efficiency. At present she is keeping a record for 1964 of local birds observed between Bell’s Creek and Noosa on the coast, to Kondalilla National Park and Mary Cairncross Park to the ranges. I shall leave further details for her to report. Suffice to say that the progress of the Society and of this branch in particular is in part due to the unsparing efforts of our secretary.

I must draw your attention to the efforts of our treasurer Mrs. J. Nelson Gracie. She has looked after our financial problems so ably we find we have none. As well as to those two hard-working officers my thanks go to all you members who have taken a keen interest in the Society and assisted in many ways. I trust you will continue to support the Society in all its activities.

The secretary, Kathleen McArthur’s report will be given in later issues.

Sunshine Coast Weekly Advertiser 3 May 1972

Wildlife and Landscape

REVIEWING TEN YEARS

Come June it will be ten years since four people resolved to form the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Those four were Brian Clouston of Jacaranda Press, whose idea it was, and David Fleay, Judith Wright and myself, to whom he put his proposal.

Brian Clouston offered to publish a natural history magazine for Queenslanders for which a society was needed to provide voluntary contributors. And so ‘Wildlife in Australia’ (first titled simply ‘Wildlife’), a quarterly, was first published. After the very first issues, by demands from other States, it quickly became a national magazine.

In theory, our plan was that a copy should go free to all primary schools in Queensland, distributed through the Education Department. That scheme fell through, not because of any failure on our part. Nowadays, the Education Department subsidises it by 50 per cent when it is ordered through the Department.
While ‘Wildlife in Australia’ is now paying its way and paying an editor, assistant editor and production manager (it is printed by the Courier-Mail in Brisbane), all contributions are still honorary. It is a fine magazine of which we are mightily proud.

Initially, the Society was literally concerned with wildlife, ie, flora and fauna. Soon it was to be seen that this was too limiting and evolved into a concern for a broadened concept of conservation when the term ‘conservationist,’ then often used derogatorily, slipped into local common usage. Within the past year, under threats of supersonic transport, we have broadened our outlook still further and conservationists are rapidly becoming environmentalists. Conservative thinkers, as so many of our politicians, departmental officers and local authority officers are, find it difficult to keep up with these expansions.

Reviewing our campaigns, there seem to have been too few firm decisions. One of our first projects, in 1963, was an objection to two mining applications for Cooloola, followed the next year by our carefully prepared proposal for a large Cooloola National Park. These applications were withdrawn after a well-mounted campaign supported by a large number of organisations.

The story of the eleven applications that sparked off the bitter fight between the ‘people’, not just the ‘conservationists’ on the one side and the mining companies, backed by Government members, on the other, is too well-known to be repeated here. What is not fully realised is that the last chapter is still not written, as no National Park has yet been publicly defined. We know that it cannot be gazetted because at the height of the controversy the Mines Department renewed an Authority to Prospect, but there is no logical reason why the ‘people’ should not be told how this Cooloola National Park is planned. AND TOLD NOW!

Next was an application to mine Ellison Reef for limestone. Ellison Reef, offshore from Innisfail, is part of the Great Barrier Reef. This campaign of objection was brilliantly carried through to success by the Innisfail Branch under the ebullient leadership of the late John Busst, of Bingil Bay, and with support from all over the world led to the setting-up of the currently sitting Royal Commission on the Reef. What the final outcome [will be] for the preservation of this precious natural wonder remains to be known.

Nearer home and nearer this date are our Caloundra Branch projects over the past seven months. Although climaxing in this time, the Currimundi–Point Cartwright beach is a matter that we, as individuals, have been involved with since 1960 when the bulldozing of the Point Cartwright dunes first revealed to us that the Government had signed a contract with the developers which permitted them to destroy the beach dunes in return for a road and three bridges.

At present we are awaiting a decision on our proposal to have that beach included in our local Beach Erosion Control District, and also another proposal to have a 3-mile x 8-chain area from high water back over the dunes, to be rescinded from the Development Lease and added to the Wildflower Reserve. Two mining applications for the area, one dating back to last year, which we are opposing, will not be heard until June 19. And at this very moment of writing we are impatiently waiting to see what our Government will do about the developer who proceeded with a road closure before the final date for objections.

No mean aspect of the Branch’s activity has been the bringing to Caloundra of a constant series of fine lecturers, many of world renown. The latest is Professor L. S. Hamilton of Cornell University, U.S.A., who will give an address at the Hotel Perle this Thursday, May 4, at 8 p.m. For anyone interested in a world view on conservation issues, this lecture is a must. Mike Ahern, who played a vital role in bringing the professor to Queensland, will introduce him, and Roger Jeffries will move the vote of thanks. Both Mike and Roger are Society members of long standing.

No, The Wildlife Preservation Society has no apology to make to the Queensland people after ten years of dedicated voluntary work.

Kathleen McArthur
Caloundra Branch, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland


	Home Who is Kathleen McArthur? Introducing Kathleen A book of Queensland wildflowers Practising what she preaches Kathleen keeps on fighting Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Century Engage Engaging the community Painting with purpose Introduction Inspiration The paintings Banding together Writing for the newspapers Showing and telling Educate The power of education Newspapers Lunch Theatre Working with Golden Beach State School The books Energise Energising the community Growing and showing Campaigning Environmental advocacy Cooloola The Pumicestone Passage Beach protection Volunteering Past and future Reflecting on the past Disappearing species Vanishing habitat Currimundi Park When the mind opens Sources
	Banding together A new idea Flagging the meeting WPSQ Caloundra Twelve months on Reviewing ten years In 1962 Kathleen McArthur played a major role in the formation of the statewide conservation group the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland (WPSQ). Co-founders were poet Judith Wright, naturalist and scientist David Fleay and publisher Brian Clouston. In her home town a year later Kathleen started the Caloundra Branch, the Society’s first regional offshoot. Now, WPSQ Sunshine Coast and Hinterland Inc continues working with the community on environmental projects, such as revegetation and fauna monitoring (Faunawatch), as well as alerting government to environmental issues and educating the community about conservation values. © WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc Caloundra Weekly 23 October 1962 MEETING DISCUSSES BRANCH OF WILDLIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY A meeting on Wednesday 14th November at the residence of Mrs. K. McArthur, Caloundra, to discuss the formation of a Caloundra Branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, was very well attended. Mr. J. Geddes, who chaired the meeting, said: ‘I would like to welcome you here tonight. Mrs. McArthur is going to tell you the objects of this meeting. This is the first effort outside of Brisbane to form a branch, and I hope this idea will mushroom on and do a lot of good’. ‘This idea,’ explained Mrs. McArthur, ‘grew out of a letter written by David Fleay and Judith Wright, calling for more training in schools concerning the knowledge of wild life. Nothing is done in schools except through individual teachers. If our aim is to publish a magazine that would be free to schools then we must have a society to back us. We called a public meeting in Brisbane in September which was well attended, and formed the Wildlife Preservation Society’. Mrs. McArthur then read the rules and constitution of this society. ‘The main work at present being done,’ said Mrs. McArthur ‘is the magazine. It will be published quarterly and have forty-eight pages and will be lavishly illustrated. All areas of the State will be dealt with and people will be shown what to look for at different seasons. We hope there will be many Branches formed throughout the State. Our work in Caloundra would be conserving beach dunes, preserving patches of scrub in the districts, sand spits extending out of Happy Valley, replant foreshores, plant native trees and shrubs at High School [sic] and put regular Nature notes in the Caloundra Weekly. Suitable native trees could be planted in the local streets and avenues and a reference section [placed] in the School of Arts Library and in School Libraries’. ‘As most of you know I have been interested in research in bird life,’ said Mr. Galletly, ‘and there are some very interesting species in this district. A lot of destruction of rare bird life in Caloundra is caused by stray cats. Someone dumped a cat and her kittens on my property recently and the cat promptly killed a pair of pet opossums [sic] and many of my birds. I would like to tell the people of Caloundra if you have any unwanted animal to get in touch with the Health Inspector and he will send the Pound Keeper to take the animal away. I understand kangaroos roaming over the golf course here have been shot and I would like to know more about this, as it is not legal to shoot in this area. Since I have been here I have recorded 145 species of birds’. Mr. Geddes [said], ‘It is obvious it is high time a Society should be started here. I belong to the Golf Club and have not heard of any shooting of kangaroos. Shooting is not allowed there’. Mrs. Marson [said], ‘I have a love of flora and fauna and the corner by the golf course is very beautiful and should be preserved’. Mrs. Nelson Gracie [said], ‘This club should do a lot to educate our children and give them a love of their natural heritage’. Mrs. Enid Card [said], ‘To develop and preserve our wildlife would be in the interest of the tourist business in Caloundra. People come here to see wildflowers that are never seen in the South’. Mr. Geddes then introduced Mr. Babbage from the Forestry Department who said he was most interested in the formation of this Branch and that its activities would be followed with interest by members of the Forestry Department. After a further discussion it was decided there was sufficient local interest to go ahead and form a Caloundra Branch of the Society. Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers © WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc Caloundra Weekly 15 March 1963 THE WILD LIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF QUEENSLAND––CALOUNDRA BRANCH In 1962, in three states of Australia, societies were formed for the conservation and preservation of our natural resources. This is indicative of a world-wide feeling that we are using the land without due thought for the future. The aims of these movements are not to halt development that is part of a nation’s economy, but rather to use more foresight and intelligence in such action, so that future generations may not be left without resources or inherit a sterile land. These problems are being tackled on an international level by such a body as the I.U.C.N. (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), with its headquarters in Switzerland, and by various national bodies. In Australia, conservation is handled by the separate states and as yet, has not been made a national concern, hence these state societies which are closely affiliated. In a few short months of their existence they have developed a close contact with each other and also with the overseas national and international associations. At the other end of the scale we see such comings-together on the parochial level as the recent formation of the Noosa Parks Development Association. This is how it should be, and assuredly will be, for local organisations to cope with local problems, state bodies to direct wider policy and so on, and up, to national and international organisations. Much destruction of the natural landscape and consequently the wildlife it supported has occurred in the Caloundra district since the war, but there is still a great deal for us to save, and if co-operation is forthcoming, to build upon for the future. Having such hope in mind, a meeting is being called for Wednesday 20th March at 8 p.m. in the Wildflower Room, Midyim, King’s Beach, Caloundra, to form a Caloundra Branch of the Wild Life Preservation Society of Queensland. All those who may be interested in such matters are invited to attend. Kathleen McArthur Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers © WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc Caloundra Weekly 22 March 1963 WILDLIFE PRESERVATION MEETING On Wednesday, 20th March at 8 p.m., a number of residents gathered at the home of Mrs. Kathleen McArthur in Orvieto Terrace to form a Caloundra branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Once the decision was made to form a branch, which will be the first branch of this Society in Queensland, an election of officers resulted in: Mr. J. Geddes, president; Mrs. K. McArthur, secretary and treasurer; executive committee, Messrs. I. Bevage from the Forestry Department, and S. Galletly. It was moved and seconded that a letter be written to the Landsborough Shire Council informing them of the formation of this Branch, and seeking their co-operation in the future. Mrs. McArthur read a letter from a private resident, pointing out the potential of a park reserve at Moffat Beach, and two members were appointed to look over this area and report back at the next meeting. Another letter, from the Noosa Parks Development Association, was read by the Secretary. Mrs. McArthur said the Noosa Association was a very live body with over 100 members and they were working hard to keep the interest alive among the local people. Lists had been made of the various wildflowers in the area, and many interesting nature films had been shown. Mr. Geddes said the more groups formed along the coast the better it would be for the development of the coastal areas. It was decided that members should contribute nature notes to the Caloundra Weekly under the heading ‘Wildlife and Landscape’ to arouse the interest of the general public, and all members were asked to canvas for increased membership for the Caloundra Branch. A great deal of discussion followed the announcement that much of the strip of land that follows the lake at Currimundi had been cleared of all natural growth, and as this area is famous for its wildflowers, members were asked to examine the territory and to report back at the next meeting. Mrs. Nottidge said she had been shocked at the lack of trees in a town such as Caloundra where shade trees were urgently needed. Mr. Geddes said members would have noticed how the Council are now planting a number of trees; but it would be impossible for the Council to plant all the trees needed in this area and to maintain them. This association should encourage people to grow their own trees and do what they can to assist them. Mr. Geddes said he was quite sure they would have the co-operation of many of the clubs in Caloundra. One whose support he knew they would have was the Golf Club. The members of this club were planning an 18-hole course and would soon be at the stage when they would be planting new trees. This area, said Mr. Geddes, comprised nearly 100 acres, and sheltered much wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies and even a few koalas. The Golf Club would be glad of any advice the association could give them. It was decided to hold meetings every third Wednesday in the month at 8 p.m. at the residence of Mrs. K. McArthur, Orvieto Terrace. New members will be made welcome. Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers © WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc Caloundra Weekly 13 March 1964 FIRST ANNUAL WILDLIFE PRESERVATION SOCIETY MEETING Mr. John Geddes, President of the Caloundra Branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society, presented his report at the first annual meeting of the Society held at Caloundra recently. He said the inaugural meeting of this branch was held on the 15th March [actually 20 March] 1963, and since that date the membership has shown a steady increase until the branch now has twenty-eight members. This is a satisfactory rate of growth, as it is our aim to gain members interested in the object of the Society rather than gain large numbers of indifferent supporters. The Branch has held twelve meetings, four of which have been entirely devoted to lectures by the following guest speakers: Mr. Charles Roff––Fauna Officer in Queensland Dr. Len Webb––C.S.I.R.O. Forest Ecologist Mr. Hardie Buzacott––Authority on the Cooloola Sands Mr. Selwyn Everist––Government Botanist The lectures attracted a great deal of interest in the district and attendances reached a peak figure of seventy members and visitors. I have no doubt that these lectures have materially assisted in the establishment of this branch, as well as providing interesting and stimulating evenings for the members. Another important activity of the branch has been the weekly publication of articles appearing under the title ‘Wildlife and Landscape’ in the Caloundra Weekly, the Maroochydore Advertiser and the North Coast Comet. These articles have created tremendous interest amongst the local residents in our own and surrounding districts. I formally thank the contributors for their splendid efforts on behalf of the branch. A further successful project was the sale of native trees, organised just before Christmas. The cost of the trees has virtually been recouped and many suitable trees have been distributed for planting in the district. Some stock remains and is being cared for by the secretary, who reports that sales are continuing. Whilst on this subject, I must mention that several members have planted trees in gardens for owners who are unable to do so themselves. It is interesting to note that requests for advice have been received by the Branch from several groups interested in the planting. The Caloundra Golf Club and the Lions Club are two groups that come to mind. In all cases we have been able to assist, and in the latter we supplied forty-five trees and a plan for their planting. In conclusion, I wish to thank our very hard-working secretary, Mrs. K. McArthur, for the tremendous amount of work she has done for this branch and the Society. She has, at all times, carried out her duties with great zeal and efficiency. At present she is keeping a record for 1964 of local birds observed between Bell’s Creek and Noosa on the coast, to Kondalilla National Park and Mary Cairncross Park to the ranges. I shall leave further details for her to report. Suffice to say that the progress of the Society and of this branch in particular is in part due to the unsparing efforts of our secretary. I must draw your attention to the efforts of our treasurer Mrs. J. Nelson Gracie. She has looked after our financial problems so ably we find we have none. As well as to those two hard-working officers my thanks go to all you members who have taken a keen interest in the Society and assisted in many ways. I trust you will continue to support the Society in all its activities. The secretary, Kathleen McArthur’s report will be given in later issues. Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers © WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc Sunshine Coast Weekly Advertiser 3 May 1972 Wildlife and Landscape REVIEWING TEN YEARS Come June it will be ten years since four people resolved to form the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland. Those four were Brian Clouston of Jacaranda Press, whose idea it was, and David Fleay, Judith Wright and myself, to whom he put his proposal. Brian Clouston offered to publish a natural history magazine for Queenslanders for which a society was needed to provide voluntary contributors. And so ‘Wildlife in Australia’ (first titled simply ‘Wildlife’), a quarterly, was first published. After the very first issues, by demands from other States, it quickly became a national magazine. In theory, our plan was that a copy should go free to all primary schools in Queensland, distributed through the Education Department. That scheme fell through, not because of any failure on our part. Nowadays, the Education Department subsidises it by 50 per cent when it is ordered through the Department. While ‘Wildlife in Australia’ is now paying its way and paying an editor, assistant editor and production manager (it is printed by the Courier-Mail in Brisbane), all contributions are still honorary. It is a fine magazine of which we are mightily proud. Initially, the Society was literally concerned with wildlife, ie, flora and fauna. Soon it was to be seen that this was too limiting and evolved into a concern for a broadened concept of conservation when the term ‘conservationist,’ then often used derogatorily, slipped into local common usage. Within the past year, under threats of supersonic transport, we have broadened our outlook still further and conservationists are rapidly becoming environmentalists. Conservative thinkers, as so many of our politicians, departmental officers and local authority officers are, find it difficult to keep up with these expansions. Reviewing our campaigns, there seem to have been too few firm decisions. One of our first projects, in 1963, was an objection to two mining applications for Cooloola, followed the next year by our carefully prepared proposal for a large Cooloola National Park. These applications were withdrawn after a well-mounted campaign supported by a large number of organisations. The story of the eleven applications that sparked off the bitter fight between the ‘people’, not just the ‘conservationists’ on the one side and the mining companies, backed by Government members, on the other, is too well-known to be repeated here. What is not fully realised is that the last chapter is still not written, as no National Park has yet been publicly defined. We know that it cannot be gazetted because at the height of the controversy the Mines Department renewed an Authority to Prospect, but there is no logical reason why the ‘people’ should not be told how this Cooloola National Park is planned. AND TOLD NOW! Next was an application to mine Ellison Reef for limestone. Ellison Reef, offshore from Innisfail, is part of the Great Barrier Reef. This campaign of objection was brilliantly carried through to success by the Innisfail Branch under the ebullient leadership of the late John Busst, of Bingil Bay, and with support from all over the world led to the setting-up of the currently sitting Royal Commission on the Reef. What the final outcome [will be] for the preservation of this precious natural wonder remains to be known. Nearer home and nearer this date are our Caloundra Branch projects over the past seven months. Although climaxing in this time, the Currimundi–Point Cartwright beach is a matter that we, as individuals, have been involved with since 1960 when the bulldozing of the Point Cartwright dunes first revealed to us that the Government had signed a contract with the developers which permitted them to destroy the beach dunes in return for a road and three bridges. At present we are awaiting a decision on our proposal to have that beach included in our local Beach Erosion Control District, and also another proposal to have a 3-mile x 8-chain area from high water back over the dunes, to be rescinded from the Development Lease and added to the Wildflower Reserve. Two mining applications for the area, one dating back to last year, which we are opposing, will not be heard until June 19. And at this very moment of writing we are impatiently waiting to see what our Government will do about the developer who proceeded with a road closure before the final date for objections. No mean aspect of the Branch’s activity has been the bringing to Caloundra of a constant series of fine lecturers, many of world renown. The latest is Professor L. S. Hamilton of Cornell University, U.S.A., who will give an address at the Hotel Perle this Thursday, May 4, at 8 p.m. For anyone interested in a world view on conservation issues, this lecture is a must. Mike Ahern, who played a vital role in bringing the professor to Queensland, will introduce him, and Roger Jeffries will move the vote of thanks. Both Mike and Roger are Society members of long standing. No, The Wildlife Preservation Society has no apology to make to the Queensland people after ten years of dedicated voluntary work. Kathleen McArthur Caloundra Branch, Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland Reproduced with permission of Sunshine Coast Newspapers © WPSQ, Sunshine Coast & Hinterland Inc