Message from Bob Brown

Bob Brown is a former Australian politician and parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens Party. Renowned as a great champion of environmental causes, he rose to national prominence in 1981/2 when, as director of the Wilderness Society, he helped galvanise opposition to damming of the Franklin River which lies in a particularly beautiful part of the mid-northern Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. (Melaleuca, the Orange-bellied Parrot breeding grounds, is situated in the same Wilderness Area, further south.)

After careers in both state and federal politics, Bob stood down from the Australian Senate in June 2012. He continues active campaigning for the environment and helps fund worthy causes through his Bob Brown Foundation.

In 2005, Bob brought a legal case against Forestry Tasmania in an attempt to stop logging in Wielangta Forest, an important habitat for four endangered species, including the Swift Parrot. These birds frequent his country property in spring and summer. He often wears a Swift Parrot lapel pin on his jacket.

Save the Orange-bellied Parrot is an unashamed fan of Bob Brown for his courage, tenacity and intelligence. His contribution to the environment movement in Australia is immeasurable. So when we spied him walking along Melbourne's Southbank in mid-November, we did what a star-struck teenager would do: we bowled up and said hi.

Bob was pleasant and down-to-earth. He listened to us gush, introduced his partner and met our friends. We had a thoroughly good time, talking about - you guessed it - Swift Parrots and Orange-bellied Parrots. When we parted, he promised to write something for readers of Save the Orange-bellied Parrot.

Two weeks before Christmas, it arrived - a hand-written card in a hand-addressed envelope. Here's what Bob wrote:

The Orange-bellied Parrot is as beautiful a creature as Earth's biosphere contains.

Yet we, who dominate, expand and displace, are about to extrude this delightful fellow species from existence here on Earth, unless we take decent stock.

My gratitude and congratulations to all those who are working to save the Orange-bellied Parrot from extinction.

Bob Brown, Cygnet 11.12.12