Yesterday was a tragic day for Australia, yesterday Malcolm Douglas died. He will be sorely missed.
I grew up watching Malcolm Douglas films, i’m pretty sure i’ve seen all 50 odd of them, many times. He was the initial inspiration for my love for the wild places of Australia, the Kimberley in particular.
I remember seeing my first one of his films at a community hall someplace, i don’t remember where, being shown by Malcolm Douglas himself. I sat on the wooden floor of the hall, and saw images of places i had never even dreamed existed, fabulous exotic places, that i wanted to visit and wild adventures that i wanted to be a part of too.
That’s where it all began for me and many other Australians, Malcolm Douglas brought the outback into our living rooms and showed us how beautiful and important it is.
Malcolm Douglas was a bushman, a true ecologist and a statesman, he believed passionately in the sanctity of the Kimberley and fought most of his life for its preservation. He was instrumental in setting up the Save the Kimberley Foundation, was very vocal about having the whole Kimberley coast World Heritage listed, and vigourously opposed the James Price Point gas development. He was a caring compassionate man who believed in standing up for what’s important.
Now he is gone, and with so much left to do and so many things yet to be completed, its up to us to continue the fight.
Goodbye Malcolm, i’m proud to say i met you once, and i shook your hand.
For those who don’t know who Malcolm Douglas is…