Gilly Flower

Tuesday 1st July was the 25th anniversary of Australia's High Court decision that stopped the damming of the Franklin River.

Now I realise that most people who might be reading this blog won't have a clue about the significance of either the Franklin River, or the historic decision, but in the context of Tasmania, and the fight we are currently having about a pulp mill, the timing of this particular anniversary is really quite extraordinary.

The campaign to save the Franklin back in 1979 was an environmental landmark for a number of reasons.
A - it was the first serious win for the environment in Australia
B - it saw the birth of the Green movement in this country, and
C - it catapulted a Launceston GP (who had initially come to the state as a locum) into politics. Dr Bob Brown is now a federal government senator, and leader of the Australian Greens.

For many of us he is a national treasure; a hero; a person to admire and emulate. He's also genuine, humble and completely committed to environmental and social justice. The antithesis of your average politician really.

Coincidentally 1979 was the year I first came to Tasmania. I came here on a fly/drive holiday from WA, with M. It was our first holiday since arriving in the country 18 months previously. I can't say that we heard the words 'Franklin River', 'Hydro-electric Commission' and 'dam' spoken during those three weeks that we toured the island, but I do remember we visited some of the more remote areas in the state, (including Cradle Mtn) so we certainly gained an appreciation of the wilderness, and its unspoiled wild beauty.

Back home in WA I remained unaware of the Franklin until an evening in probably 1982 when my then flatmate, (a Tasmanian) dragged me and a number of other friends off to a film being screened at the uni. D was absolutely insistent we saw this film about an amazing wild river in Tasmania's remote west coast, that was under threat of being dammed by the state's powerful Hydro-electric Commission. And the campaign being waged to stop it by a local GP and the fledgling Wilderness Society, of which he was director.

The uni theatre was packed, the film photography was stunning, and we were all encouraged to donate as much as we could to the cause. And I was subsequently very pleased to ultimately read the news that the Franklin was to be spared.

It wasn't until I came here to live that I gained a greater appreciation of what had occurred at that time, the history behind it, and just how significant the win was for environmentalists.

And here we are, 25 years on and with another environmental battle on our hands. The third major battle in fact, (the first was over Lake Peddar; environmentalists lost that one). But the big 'do' at Hobart's Grand Chancellor hotel on Tuesday evening was a sell-out. Over 1000 people from across the state, the country, and the world, (David Bellamy was there for one) came along to remember, and celebrate.

As well as take the opportunity to remind our current (and very new) premier, just what he can expect if this pulp mill goes ahead.

I travelled down on a bus with 11 others, having wangled a couple of hours off work, and negotiated a slightly later start the following day. The atmosphere was incredible, the speakers inspiring, the film footage of the blockade, and the personal stories of some of those who took part in it were equally inspriring, and the emotion was palpable. We sang, we clapped, we listened, we laughed. Some of us even cried a little. It was definitely a night to remember, and well worth the three hour drive there, and the three hour drive back again, (in the pouring rain). I arrived home at 2.30am, and survived the remainder of Wednesday on minimal sleep and adrenalin.

Along with at least three other fellow travellers I even went to the L'ton launch that night for Geoff Law's book 'A river runs free', with more footage of that time of the Franklin blockade. Peter Cundall launched the book, and naturally used the occasion to compare the Franklin fight with the pulp mill. But I think Peter is right about that 'sweetness in the air'. I can smell it too. Gunns are 'protesting too much' and the rumours we're hearing are seriously encouraging.

Never, ever give up, he says. And we won't.

But enough for one night, and if you've stuck with me this long, thanks for listening.