JCU Library Special Collections continues to collect documentary evidence and records pertaining to the history of North Queensland across many fields of research, including environmental studies. The Library Archives feature a number of archives which pertain specifically to this theme including notably the
John Busst Archive and the
Nelly Bay Archive. Explore our complete listing of holdings for the
Library Archives here.
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| Donor, Ben Trupperbaumer in the studio of Monsoon Publishing in Townsville, signing his new folio of limited edition artist prints (woodcuts) connected to the Newsletters of the MRCD. |
This year Ben Trupperbaumer's generous donation, currently on display in the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library (Townsville Campus), enriches this aspect of our collections as it includes, not only a beautiful artist print folio and matching wood blocks, but importantly a complete set of the Newsletters of the MRCD: The Movement for the Responsible Coastal Development which was the first incorporated conservation group based in Mission Beach during the early 1990s.
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| The donation includes all of the Newsletters and the Annual Report. See the cover of the first Newsletter above featuring an image of an artwork (woodcut) by Ben Trupperbaumer. Every Newsletter is adorned with a reproduction of a woodcut print by Ben. |
The MRCD was established in April, 1990 with 10 founding members and held its first formal meeting on June 26 of the same year. By early 1991, more than 200 members had joined the group, some from as far afield as Europe. During its early years the Movement was actively concerned with improving the environmental quality of developments at Clump Point, Wongaling Beach and Mission Beach South, and with related issues of sewerage, disposal, recycling, and energy efficiency. Submissions were made to many official agencies and Committees of Enquiry, including the Tully Millstream Review, the House of Representatives Protections of the Coastal Environment Subcommittee, and the Federal Government’s Ecologically Sustainable Development Discussion Paper.
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| Inside the first Newsletter of the MRCD published in 1990. Photo shows the inside cover (left) and first page (right). |
Importantly, the MRCD Newsletters document these activities from the group’s point of view and add to the historical record for North Queensland.
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| Original woodcut print titled "Breaking (the) ice" by Ben Trupperbaumer reprinted in 2016 for the new print folio he has included in his current donation. JCU Library has received number 1 in the edition of 15 copies of the artist print folio. |
In the current exhibition, each Newsletter of the MRCD: The Movement for
Responsible Coastal Development is displayed with its corresponding artwork - woodcut print (as
featured on the cover) and the unique wood block employed to produce the original artist print.
Read more now about all facets of the donation (artist print folio, wood blocks and MRCD Newsletters) in our first blog post.
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| Three different views of the one of the beautiful wood blocks made by Ben Trupperbaumer. The one shown pertains to his artwork (woodcut print) titled "Breaking (the) ice". All of the wood blocks are included in his donation to JCU Library Special Collections. |
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