Romeo Lahey

Romeo Watkins Lahey, M.B.E, (2 June 1887 – 26 October 1968) was an Australian businessman, civil servant and conservationist.[1]

Romeo Lahey

M.B.E
Born
Romeo Watkins Lahey

2 June 1887
Pimpama, Queensland, Australia
Died26 October 1968 (aged 81)
Yeronga, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
NationalityAustralian
CitizenshipAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
OccupationArmy officer
engineer
Timber merchant
National parks advocate
Parent(s)David Lahey (father)
Jane Jemima (mother)

Early life

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 four children, with one sister and two brothers: Frances Vida Lahey, Noel Alaric Lahey and Percival Ethelburt Lahey.[7]

Education

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
Romeo Lahey with Arthur Groom

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

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

In 1919, after returning to Australia, Romeo Watkins Lahey married Sybil Delpratt, the youngest daughter of HJ Delpratt, in St John's Cathedral, Brisbane. They had three children: David, Alison and Ann.[8]

Death

On 26 October 1968,[15][16] Lahey died at his home in Yeronga, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was cremated with Anglican rites.[6]

Legacy

In 1970, the Queensland Government opened a lookout named Kamurun in his memory at Lamington National Park.[8]

References
  1. 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.
  2. Arthur Groom (1951). One Mountain After Another. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. p. 73.
  3. Judith Wright (2006). With Love & Fury: Selected Letters of Judith Wright. National Library of Australia. p. 416. ISBN 9780642276254.
  4. "Number 122 – Lecture slides of Romeo Watkins Lahey MBE". Queensland Government – Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  5. Ross Fitzgerald (1984). From 1915 to the early 1980s: a history of Queensland. University of Queensland Press. p. 87. ISBN 9780702217340.
  6. Australian Dictionary of Biography. 9. Melbourne University Press. 1983.
  7. "P04598.001". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  8. "Romeo Watkins Lahey – A Man of Vision". Scenic Rim. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  9. "Bold But Faithful" (PDF). Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  10. "Declaration of the National Park". Lamington National Park. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  11. "The National Park". The Brisbane Courier. 31 March 1930. p. 23.
  12. Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 18. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X.
  13. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Australia. Parliament. Senate. 1975. p. 2662.
  14. "First World War Embarkation Roll – Romeo Watkins Lahey". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  15. Ann Neale (1996). Romeo Watkins Lahey, 2 June 1887 – 26 October 1968.
  16. Dorothy Jones (1961). Cardwell Shire Story. Brisbane.
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