Grateful for courage, efforts of a truly selfless man

After a long fight with the Queensland Government and the bankruptcy of Dr Sinclair, the mining and logging ceased in 1991.

VALE: John Sinclair. Picture: Meaghan Shelton

DR JOHN Sinclair (pictured) died on February 3 this year after more than four decades of campaigns to have the environmental, scientific and cultural values of Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Straits Region Marine and National Parks protected.

This modest man of courage was the catalyst for and leader of Fraser Island Defenders Organisation (FIDO) formed in 1971.

FIDO spearheaded Dr Sinclair's best known and longest running campaign, to end sand mining on Fraser Island's fragile sand dunes.

He then fought to have the logging of the ancient forests of Fraser Island cease.

After a long fight with the Queensland Government and the bankruptcy of Dr Sinclair, the mining and logging ceased in 1991.

For Fraser Island the inclusion in National Estate Register came in 1977.

The final protection - listing of Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Region Marine and National Parks as one of the world's most significant World Heritage sites - was in 1992.

Dr Sinclair trained as an economist.

He believed if we conserve this extraordinary island people will come then return but not if it is destroyed for short-term gain.

FIDO has been a member group of Sunshine Coast Environment Council for many years.

No words describe how grateful SCEC is for Dr Sinclair's extraordinary courage, knowledge and his dedicated conservation efforts.

JILLIAN ROSSITER

Vice president

Sunshine Coast Environment Council