2015-08-19
Mr BARBER (Northern Metropolitan) — With many of my friends I have been mourning the loss of my friend and colleague Felicity Wishart, partner of Todd Harborow and mother of two boys, Bardi and Clancy. Felicity died suddenly near Mullumbimby in New South Wales on 20 July. Felicity — Flic to her friends, Fliss to her family — was one of the greats of the Australian environment movement and will be missed by all those who had the privilege to work alongside her. At 16 she joined the Franklin Dam protests and like many of her fellow activists was arrested and jailed for two days. This was a defining moment in the lives of many young Australians who care deeply about the natural world. Felicity graduated with an environmental science degree and straightaway started working for the Australian Conservation Foundation to get world heritage listing of the wet tropical rainforests of north Queensland, and that is where I first met her. Her next campaign was about tropical rainforests in the Asia-Pacific region.
Felicity always believed in the potential of the Greens to transform politics, culture, economy and society in Australia and globally. She was our co-convenor for several years. I could go on with many more of her achievements. Felicity believed passionately in training and mentoring young activists, especially young women. In her frequent travels she met countless young people who she supported, advised or mentored, me included, although I was only one year younger than her.
Felicity was a remarkable leader who loved being with people. She drew her strength from people and from her family, which was her private source of power and joy. Felicity left a tremendous legacy both for the environment and in the hearts and minds of all those who were privileged to meet her and work with her.