Did you know that the Great Barrier reef was almost mined for its coral as lime fertiliser for cane farmers?
Are you aware of an unsung hero John Büsst who was the architect in the activism campaigns to ‘Save the Reef” and proved the reef was alive… counter to prevailing beliefs that the reef was just dead coral.
4ZZZ’s Eliot Rifkin spoke with Sandal Hayes of the Friends of Ninney Rise, which was John Büsst’s Bingil Bay home and centre for the inception of the ‘Save the Reef’ movement.
For a deep dive…
Ninney Rise is the base from which John Büsst organised the 'Save the Reef' and rainforest campaigns decades ago. Set in rainforest by the Coral Sea, it was a meeting place for the campaigners and scientists including Prime Minister Harold Holt, poet Judith Wright, and scientists Len Webb & Geoff Tracey.
Two notable books on the Great Barrier Reef one may find interesting - 'Coral Battleground' by Judith Wright and 'The Reef - A Passionate History' by Iain McCalman
The Australian Marine Conservation Society - AMCS (founded as Queensland Littoral Society) is one of the oldest conservation groups in Australia, and the only conservation group dedicated solely to protecting Australia’s amazing oceans and marine wildlife.
Did you know the first bumper sticker used in Australia was ’Save the Barrier Reef’?