Romeo Lahey
Romeo Lahey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Romeo Watkins Lahey 2 June 1887 Pimpama, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 26 October 1968 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Citizenship | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation(s) | Army officer engineer Timber merchant National parks advocate |
| Parents |
|
Romeo Watkins Lahey, M.B.E, (2 June 1887 – 26 October 1968) was an Australian businessman, civil servant and conservationist.[1]
Early life
[edit]Romeo Watkins Lahey[2] was born 2 June 1887[3] in Pimpama, Queensland, Australia.[4][5] His father was David Lahey, an Irish-born farmer and timber miller, and his mother was Jane Jemima (née Walmsley), a homemaker.[6] Lahey was one of twelve children, with three sisters and eight brothers: Frances Vida Lahey, Noel Alaric Lahey and Percival Ethelburt Lahey, Oswald Lahey, Jerome Lahey Jayne Lahey, Mavis Denholme (nee Lahey)[7]
Education
[edit]Lahey received his education at Pimpama State school, Junction Park State School, Normal School and Brisbane Grammar School; his first job was as a clerk at AMP Limited. Lahey studied civil engineering at the University of Sydney.[8] After World War I, he took up town planning at London University.[8][9]
Career
[edit]
A keen explorer, Lahey enjoyed roaming the forests with his spare time. His father, David Lahey, also one of Tamborine Shire Council's councillors, inspired Lahey to be a conservationist.[8] He had exhibited a high degree of conservationism from a young age. Recognising the value in preserving the forests, he tirelessly campaigned, which resulted in the establishment of Lamington National Park in July 1915.[4][10][11][12]
In April 1930, Lahey founded the National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ), where he served as president till his death in 1968.[6] Lahey, NPAQ secretary[13] Arthur Groom and a few supporters of theirs are credited for founding Queensland Holiday Resorts Limited and establishing Binna Burra Mountain Lodge, located next to Lamington National Park.[8]
Lahey was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1960.[4]
Military service
[edit]In World War I, he enlisted in the army, serving with the 3rd Divisional Engineers, initially attaining the rank of second lieutenant. He was promoted to lieutenant in January 1917.[7] Lahey served on ship A29 HMAT Suevic.[14] During World War II, Lahey served again in the army, ranking as a major.[6]
Personal life
[edit]In 1919, after returning to Australia, Romeo Watkins Lahey married Sybil Delpratt, the youngest daughter of JH Delpratt, in St John's Cathedral, Brisbane. They had three children: David, Alison and Ann.[8]
Death
[edit]On 26 October 1968,[15][16] Lahey died at his home in Yeronga, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was cremated with Anglican rites.[6]
Legacy
[edit]In 1970, the Queensland Government opened a lookout named Kamurun in his memory at Lamington National Park.[8]
References
[edit]
- ^ Shirley Lahey (1999). A Pioneer Conservationist Romeo Watkins Lahey MBE, ME (1887–1968): Talk Given to the Lamington Natural History Association Incorporated at the Environmental Study Centre, Binna Burra, on 13th March 1999.
- ^ Arthur Groom (1951). One Mountain After Another. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. p. 73.
- ^ Judith Wright (2006). With Love & Fury: Selected Letters of Judith Wright. National Library of Australia. p. 416. ISBN 9780642276254.
- ^ a b c "Number 122 – Lecture slides of Romeo Watkins Lahey MBE". Queensland Government – Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ Ross Fitzgerald (1984). From 1915 to the early 1980s: a history of Queensland. University of Queensland Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780702217340.
- ^ a b c d Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 9. Melbourne University Press. 1983.
- ^ a b "P04598.001". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Romeo Watkins Lahey – A Man of Vision". Scenic Rim. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
- ^ "Bold But Faithful" (PDF). Retrieved 28 February 2018.
- ^ "Declaration of the National Park". Lamington National Park. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ "The National Park". The Brisbane Courier. 31 March 1930. p. 23.
- ^ Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 18. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
- ^ Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Australia. Parliament. Senate. 1975. p. 2662.
- ^ "First World War Embarkation Roll – Romeo Watkins Lahey". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
- ^ Ann Neale (1996). Romeo Watkins Lahey, 2 June 1887 – 26 October 1968.
- ^ Dorothy Jones (1961). Cardwell Shire Story. Brisbane.
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External links
[edit]- Crouchley, Betty. "Lahey, Romeo Watkins". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
