The "analysis" (if I can call it that) of Walmsley's conservation efforts
are plagued by the usual attempts to first decide if he is a "good guy" or a
"bad guy". If he's a good guy, we then classify everyone else as worthless
"bad guys". Likwise, if JW is a bad guy, the others are the good guys.
How about accepting the fact that JW had some novel approaches, some of
which made a valuable contribution to conservation or our ways of thinking.
But, his achievements do not elevate him to the status of all-knowing and
perfect. And I have to admit I tire of the nonsensical claim that he is the
only person who has ever really done anything.... There are lots of other
tireless and effective workers out there, both in and outside of government.
The difference between JW and many others is just that he had a higher
(media) profile.
As I say, he's made a contribution. But it also looks like he's made some
mistakes. Mistakes he would almost certainly have pilloried others for
making. Accept that he was prickly, not perfect. I suspect that many of the
sweeping statements about ECA which elevate its founder to messiah status
are made by people who spend a lot of time looking for others to "lead the
way" by letting others do most of the work. Stop looking for messiah. Get
busy yourselves. And support the other people that are getting on with
the job rather than running them down because they are a little more humble
than JW.
Looks to me like he had some great ideas on land management, but needed to
shrink his ego a bit and listen to the perspectives of others, particularly
about financial management. Im glad he wasnt keeping books for gluepot.
Scott O'Keeffe
-----Original Message-----
From:
Behalf Of Graham
Sent: 16 January 2002 16:10
To: Birding-aus
Subject: Problems at Earth Sanctuaries
G'day birders,
Harry Clarke wrote
> Most in the conservation movement have more than a little respect
> for John Wamsley and for the success he has achieved.
>
Oh that it were true. When earth sanctuaries tried to open a sanctuary in
the Blue Mountains, it seemed to be the local conservation groups leading
the charge to tar and feather Mr Wamsley.
Cheers
Graham Turner
Lower Blue Mountains
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