Summary

Artist and dedicated conservationist John Horatio Busst became the first President of the Innisfail branch of the Wildlife Preservation Association of Queensland, President of the Tully-Innisfail branch of the Queensland Littoral Society and a Councillor of the Australia Conservation Foundation to promote environment issues especially in North Queensland and generally in Australia. On becoming president of the first northern branch of Queensland's Wildlife Preservation Society, Busst stated it was "most important that [Queensland's] disappearing wildlife ... be protected" and that the Society should become a "bridge between the scientist and the public" (Evening Star, 9 August 1966).

Believing the preservation of wildlife and the conservation of rainforests were united issues, Busst also became chairman of the Committee for Tropical Rainforest Preservation so he could pursue the goals of both organisations conjointly. In addition, the endeavours of the Littoral Society and Conservation Foundation complement those of the Wildlife and Rainforest preservation groups with the major aims of all organisations being to educate the public on the value of conservation, to protect native flora, fauna and the aquatic environment, to lobby government to improve environmental legislation and promote academic study into conservation matters.

Assisted by his wife Alison, John Busst's contribution to the conservation mission in North Queensland and Australia was considerable. On the rocks at the northern end of Bingal Bay a tribute from poet Judith Wright reads "John Busst, Artist and Lover of Beauty, who fought that man and nature might survive". A sizeable remnant of this fight is contained within this collection which was donated by Alison Busst.