Media Release
May 2017

The Friends of Ninney Rise (FoNR) held a lovely ceremony on Sunday afternoon 14th May to officially open the Margaret Thorsborne Library at Ninney Rise, Bingil Bay.

Margaret Thorsborne AO has been a lifetime supporter of social justice and environmental protection. FoNR are thrilled that Margaret has generously donated her life’s reading and that the books now have a new, secure and fitting home into the future. Rescued after Cyclone Yasi, when some were lost, there are some old, rare and valuable books.

Virginia Edlington recently kindly gifted to FoNR more than 500 original photos and slides of John and Alison Busst and friends at their original home on Bedarra Island then later at Ninney Rise.

FoNR successfully applied to Cassowary Coast Regional Council for a RADF grant to digitise, preserve and share the images and consult with people from that era to gain knowledge of the people and places in the images.

On Saturday 8 May, FoNR held a workshop at Ninney Rise that was attended by Brenda Harvey, Alf McDonald, Innis Campbell, Elsie Salleras, Olive Linnett,  Alison Salleras,  Bob and Julie West, Mike Katahanas and Dave Nissen.

On the 17th August the Friends of  Ninney Rise (FoNR) held a launch for the Ninney Rise and John Büsst Plaque Conservation Management Plan at  Ninney Rise.  Friends of Ninney Rise inc are very pleased with the outcome of a year’s work in research and assessment, leading to the acceptance of this plan.
 
DEHP kindly approved an Everyone’s Environment  grant to FoNR to engage a consultant to prepare the CMP, supplemented by FoNR fundraising.

The long awaited Plan will now guide the future of the  Qld Heritage listed property at Bingil Bay.

A draft Conservation Management Plan for Ninney Rise has been released, describing the history and significance of the place and proposing policies for its conservation and appropriate development. Ninney Rise is the heritage-listed Bingil Bay home of reef and rainforest conservation pioneers the late John and Alison Busst. The draft plan can be viewed at www.ninneyrise.com and Wongaling Library.  Comments are invited and should be emailed to friendsofninneyrise@gmail.com by 15 April.

In other news, FoNR are honoured to accept Queensland Government’s offer of trusteeship of Banfield’s Grave on Dunk Island, following JCU’s relinquishment of the role.

JCU’s Rohan Lloyd enthralled the audience at Ninney Rise with his talk about the social history of the Great Barrier Reef, especially the Busst era

Members of  the  Friends of Ninney Rise committee take  a visit to the Tully lawn cemetery to find John Busst's burial site.

From left; Sharon Lord, Suzie Smith, Tony O'Malley, Helen Larson, Liz Gallie

Friends of Ninney Rise successfully applied for a Queensland Government Everyone's Environment Grant to develop a Conservation Management Plan and  video history of Ninney Rise.

Michael Gunn of Michael Gunn Architects and Catherine Brouwer -  Landscape Architect,visited Mission Beach between 3rd and 6th August inspecting Ninney Rise and the grounds and interviewed some of the locals who had knowledge  and memories of John and Alison Busst and later  Mrs Tode.