This is the most wonderful story that i feel you have ever written! I’ve always known some of the details but never to this extent and your descriptions of the island simply marvellous. Thank goodness for pioneers like John Sinclair and that he was eventually rewarded for his courage and the Island is preserved for generations to follow, kind regards Roger ps thanks must go to you as well for your long term vision to understand the significance of stopping the commercial development there at that time.
Thank you Roger for understanding what the article was all about. It took me a long time -- two weeks -- to put it all together in a readable way: i wrote about 15 drafts. Then I had to collect the pictures -- rejecting soe so as not tomake it too long.
It's people likeyou who encourage me to write more.
splendid story and pix on your Fraser Island adventure.
Your work gets even crisper and sharper as you age.
You might be sheltering under a bed or in the cast iron bath tub from a cyclone right now, but you might like to know you still one old phart appreciating your skill on this side of Gondwana.
intrigues me that you somehow have all these pictures in this century. Have you lugged them through life in a bloody big portmaneau on wheels?!
In your list of exotics, do you have Harry Reade(?) and Charlie wright known for a few years for his orange outfits? is liz Johnston still on deck curating those heritage-listed legs?
He said sexistly
And reminding you of the unwritten book of Owen Thomson atrocities.
George, you keep telling me my writing is improving -- and coing from a former News Editor of The Australian that is encouraging. But I'd better hurry up as I'm 84 next month and may start to go th other way.
It warms my insides to hear someone like you "appreciating your skill".
No I haven't lugged these pics around: like everyone I have a few pics I've taken during my life and I dig them out for an article like that -- most of them were taken by me.
I haven't got huge numbers: just enough to illustrate some stories. They actually look much better than they were because a reader, Mike, uses his skill as an IT pro to improve the quality -- remove the dust and brighten to subjects etc. In return I've taught him to pay tennis and he's getting pretty good.
I wrote abut lal those journo charaters you mentio in "Working for Rupert in a chapter aply-named "Pig of the Week" -- which referred to one Owen Thomson who was your Editor and mine.
Last I heard Liz Johnston -- who was a terrifi reporter -- was living on Staradbroke Island. Charlie right took off his orange outfit and became the IT expert on ABC radio in Melbourne for a number of years (he was always very bright as well as Mt Isa tough. Harry reade, who fought for Castro at the Bay f Pigs and then painted roofs and then became a journo -- don't know what other War he ended up in. Nigel Dique is one of my subscribers and, for some reason, Ralph Sharamn rings e everynow and then from sydney.
Hi Hugh. thanks for your recollections of this historical time. I am writing a sort of biography about John Sinclair. interested in a chat if you are willing, Zela Bissett
So one man CAN make a difference. The tourism income would be more than the mining and logging now. And most of that 20 dollars that tree was going to earn at the Maryborough mill would go out of the district or out of Australia. Your observation that Europeans have historically viewed Australia as a resource, not as a place to be valued for itself really hit home. First Nations people clearly saw it differently, but still as a means of survival. Thankyou for reminding us all of an unselfish person who gave up so much, including a peaceful life, for the future people to come.
Yes A.H., One man can make a difference. But look what it cost him! He went bankrupt; had to leave his home town; and, in the end, he and Helen eventually split up. I don't think an Order of Australia would make up for that -- and, anywy, who was ever to pedict he would be successful? Certainly not me.
Dear Hugh,
This is the most wonderful story that i feel you have ever written! I’ve always known some of the details but never to this extent and your descriptions of the island simply marvellous. Thank goodness for pioneers like John Sinclair and that he was eventually rewarded for his courage and the Island is preserved for generations to follow, kind regards Roger ps thanks must go to you as well for your long term vision to understand the significance of stopping the commercial development there at that time.
Thank you Roger for understanding what the article was all about. It took me a long time -- two weeks -- to put it all together in a readable way: i wrote about 15 drafts. Then I had to collect the pictures -- rejecting soe so as not tomake it too long.
It's people likeyou who encourage me to write more.
best regards
Hugh
I agree with Roger, it is no wonder they made Hugh a Q150.
A Q100 makes me sound like an aeroplane Peter!
Hugh
Wonderful- thank you! I love how you celebrate true heroes.
I always put all I know in a story.
One critic of mine said during the Joh era "Hugh Lunn knew much more than he ever wrote". Actually I always wrote much more than I ever knew!
gday Hugh
splendid story and pix on your Fraser Island adventure.
Your work gets even crisper and sharper as you age.
You might be sheltering under a bed or in the cast iron bath tub from a cyclone right now, but you might like to know you still one old phart appreciating your skill on this side of Gondwana.
intrigues me that you somehow have all these pictures in this century. Have you lugged them through life in a bloody big portmaneau on wheels?!
In your list of exotics, do you have Harry Reade(?) and Charlie wright known for a few years for his orange outfits? is liz Johnston still on deck curating those heritage-listed legs?
He said sexistly
And reminding you of the unwritten book of Owen Thomson atrocities.
ooroo Georgew
George, you keep telling me my writing is improving -- and coing from a former News Editor of The Australian that is encouraging. But I'd better hurry up as I'm 84 next month and may start to go th other way.
It warms my insides to hear someone like you "appreciating your skill".
No I haven't lugged these pics around: like everyone I have a few pics I've taken during my life and I dig them out for an article like that -- most of them were taken by me.
I haven't got huge numbers: just enough to illustrate some stories. They actually look much better than they were because a reader, Mike, uses his skill as an IT pro to improve the quality -- remove the dust and brighten to subjects etc. In return I've taught him to pay tennis and he's getting pretty good.
I wrote abut lal those journo charaters you mentio in "Working for Rupert in a chapter aply-named "Pig of the Week" -- which referred to one Owen Thomson who was your Editor and mine.
Last I heard Liz Johnston -- who was a terrifi reporter -- was living on Staradbroke Island. Charlie right took off his orange outfit and became the IT expert on ABC radio in Melbourne for a number of years (he was always very bright as well as Mt Isa tough. Harry reade, who fought for Castro at the Bay f Pigs and then painted roofs and then became a journo -- don't know what other War he ended up in. Nigel Dique is one of my subscribers and, for some reason, Ralph Sharamn rings e everynow and then from sydney.
Thanks All Folks!
Hugh
Hi Hugh. thanks for your recollections of this historical time. I am writing a sort of biography about John Sinclair. interested in a chat if you are willing, Zela Bissett
Dear Zela,
I'm sure my story on John will be a big help to you -- now you can go look for his memoir and you'll have all you need, I'm sure.
I don't think I could add much more -- I always put all I know in a story.
One critic of mine said during the Joh era "Hugh Lunn knew much more than he ever wrote". Actually I always wrote much more than I ever knew!
Hugh
I have his memoir thanks
So one man CAN make a difference. The tourism income would be more than the mining and logging now. And most of that 20 dollars that tree was going to earn at the Maryborough mill would go out of the district or out of Australia. Your observation that Europeans have historically viewed Australia as a resource, not as a place to be valued for itself really hit home. First Nations people clearly saw it differently, but still as a means of survival. Thankyou for reminding us all of an unselfish person who gave up so much, including a peaceful life, for the future people to come.
Yes A.H., One man can make a difference. But look what it cost him! He went bankrupt; had to leave his home town; and, in the end, he and Helen eventually split up. I don't think an Order of Australia would make up for that -- and, anywy, who was ever to pedict he would be successful? Certainly not me.
Hugh
Thanks Aunty Helen, you really can get to the nub of my stories. John Sinclair was unselfish and that was what enabled him to good.