Alice Hungerford
Thirty years ago, Alice Hungerford was one of the thousands to protest on the Franklin and Lower Gordon rivers to stop a dam that would destroy the World Heritage-listed South West Tasmanian wilderness. Today [Friday] she releases her first book, UpRiver: untold stories of the Franklin River activists. Its launch in Hobart today marks the commencement of her National Tour of the book, celebrating 30 years since the Franklin River was saved.
“UpRiver gleams because, wall-to-wall, it is the stories of the Franklin River blockaders from their own mouths. This is living history catching up after thirty years, thanks to a devoted job by Alice Hungerford. She was there throughout and has now interviewed 67 of the gallant people who defied Premier Robin Gray’s prohibition on ‘lurking, loitering or secreting’ in the remote riverside forests of the Tasmanian wilderness after he sent the bulldozers in to build the biggest rock-fill dam in the southern hemisphere.” Bob Brown
UpRiver is a real life adventure story, tracing many of the untold stories and events that occurred during the largest non-violent direct action ever seen in Australia.
The struggle saw over 1200 arrests, a change of Federal government, and eventually went all the way to the High Court of Australia. On 1st July 1983, the Federal government was found by 4 judges to 3, to have the constitutional power to stop the dam. This changed the face of Australian law and politics forever.
World Heritage protection was legislated for, and management plans were drawn up. Today, the area sees hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, all with the main aim to experience the rich and diverse natural and cultural values of the area. Now more than ever UpRiver provides essential reading, and draws attention to the rapidly disappearing wilds of Tasmania and why they were saved.
Launch of book:
Fullers bookshop, 131 Collins Street, Hobart
5pm with Alice Hungerford and Bob Brown
