MAUREEN Cooper was born on Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands. She spent her childhood in Gordonvale and then moved to Brisbane during high school years before a move with her family to Slade Point, Mackay where she lived until she married. Maureen then moved to Walkerston, a small town outside Mackay, and created Padaminka Nature Refuge on 184 acres of land. She moved to Woolshed Valley in 2011 and three years ago shifted to Beechworth.
What do you do workwise?
Over the last 14 years I have undertaken volunteer work for Bimblebox Nature Refuge and helped fundraise for our court case against Clive Palmer who wanted to mine the nature refuge for coal. I have also been part of many bird surveys done for the refuge. After winning our court case, I can concentrate on my fibre art experiments and am learning the art of natural fabric dyeing.
What brought you to your volunteer role?
While I was in the Mackay Bird Observers Club (now Birdlife Mackay), I was asked to conduct bird surveys at several of the region’s coal mines. This was a soul-destroying job because our data was never used, and I saw first-hand the devastation which coal mines left behind. Bimblebox Nature Refuge covers 8000 hectares in the Desert Uplands of Queensland and when I was asked to help save it from mining, I did everything I could to prevent it from being destroyed by a coal mine.
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What did you love about your volunteer work?
I have always enjoyed undertaking bird surveys for Birdlife Australia and over the years I have met so many dedicated people who are trying to save our environment. I have learnt much from Dr. Norm Duke and his students in the fight to save the mangroves around Mackay and who all stayed on my nature refuge during their survey periods. The selfless efforts of the people behind Bimblebox Alliance and the artists who gave their time to paint this wonderful Desert Upland landscape inspired me to keep fundraising to save this flora and fauna-filled refuge.
What do you do in the community?
As I no longer need to fundraise for Bimblebox, I am hoping to raise money for other local charities through my sewing and fibre art. Beechworth is a very community-minded town and I am filled with gratitude to the Beechworth Health Service ladies who take me to hydro therapy twice a week in Wangaratta. I would like to repay the kindness that has been given to me.
Is there an important community issue that you think needs addressing?
I would love to see a heated hydro pool set up in Beechworth. There are so many other people with health problems who would benefit from it. However, I realise that the cost of heating and upkeep would be enormous.
What do you see as one of the most important current world issues?
Climate change. It will create more migration of people from unliveable areas and possibly cause more wars for food, water and a space to live. We humans are now seeing and experiencing the devastating effects around the world with droughts, floods and fires causing starvation and sickness.
If the person you would most like to meet came to Indigo Shire – who would that be, what would you show them, and why?
I have kept in touch with Dr. Stacy Jupiter who did so much work on the mangrove dieback. I would take her up Mount Pilot during one of the constellation events. It makes you realise that you are just a speck in this vast beautiful universe, and I think that Stacy would enjoy it immensely.
What book are you reading?
‘Homo Deus – A Brief History of Tomorrow’ by Yuval Noah Harari.
