Fraser Island Defenders' Organisation (FIDO), 1966-1994
- Component identifier:
- Series 5
- Content Summary:
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Sinclair's involvement in Fraser Island began with visits to the Island in his youth. In 1968 his parents were employed as assistant managers at the Orchard Beach Resort on the eastern side of the Island. His sister Margaret later worked as the resort's resident nursing sister. Sinclair organised safaris to Fraser Island for the members of the Maryborough and Bundaberg Wildlife Preservation Societies in the late 1960s.
The campaign against sand mining on Fraser Island commenced in January 1971 when Murphyores Incorporated applied for two mining leases on Fraser Island. The Fraser Island Defence Organisation (FIDO) was formed in January 1971 with Sinclair as President. In 1976 when the organisation became an incorporated body, its initials stood for the Fraser Island Defenders' Organisation.
Activities of FIDO included running Fraser Island safaris as a means of raising funds and increasing awareness of the island. FIDO also published a newsletter Moonbi, (a Batjala word for the central part of the Island) and a booklet, Fraser Island past, present and future (1971). In July 1975, FIDO had 546 financial members and was affiliated with 30 conservation groups.
In July 1975 the Fraser Island Environment Inquiry was established by the Acting Minister for the Environment, E.G. Whitlam to inquire into the environmental aspects of the exportation of minerals from Fraser Island. The commissioners made a seven-day inspection of the island. Hearings were held in Maryborough and Brisbane between 5 August and 3 October 1975. Sinclair was subpoenaed by the inquiry, allowing him to continue attending after his leave with the Adult Education Office had expired.
On 26 October 1976, the Report of the Environmental Inquiry was published. The report recommended interalia that the export of Fraser Island minerals be prohibited (except for minerals extracted from the high-water mark on the eastern beach south of Indian Head) and that the whole of Fraser Island be recorded as part of the National Estate. As a result of the recommendations, the Fraser Government introduced export bans from 31 December 1976.
After 1976, FIDO continued to be active in management issues including logging activities on the Island, the provision of proper camp sites and protecting heavily used places such as Eli Creek. In 1977, Sinclair toured the United States, Canada and Europe to study the voluntary conservation movement. Fraser Island received World Heritage listing in 1992. Sinclair served as President of FIDO from 1971 until 1983 when he relinquished the position to his son John. After this time, Sinclair continued to act as Honorary Project Officer.
The papers comprise numerous files maintained by Sinclair relating to the formation and activities of FIDO including corporate records, correspondence with supporters, politicians and the media, papers relating to legal cases, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings and subject files.
- Immediate source of acquisition:
- The collection was donated to the Library by Sinclair in 1995 and 2000.
- Names:
- Sinclair, John, 1939-
Contents
Access and use
- Parent Restrictions:
- The collection is available for reference.
- Parent Terms of Access:
- Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
- Location of this collection:
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Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: