Arthur Groom (Australian writer)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Groom was an Australian writer
, conservationist
, journalist and photographer, the son of Arthur Champion Groom
.
Rosabelle Downs in Queensland, Australia and worked as a jackaroo
and journalist
. In 1926, he went to Brisbane to write for The Sunday Mail
. In 1930 he became the first honorary secretary of the National Parks Association of Queensland and was active in the promotion of national parks and environmental protection until his death. With Romeo Lahey, he established Binna Burra Lodge on the edge of the Lamington National Park
, in southeast Queensland, in 1933. Though found medically unfit for service in World War II, he trained soldiers from the Canungra Army Base
in jungle warfare
. He was known for his almost legendary ability to walk long distances, and his sense of humour.
and the Hermannsburg Mission in 1946 and 1947 and wrote about his experiences in I Saw a Strange Land. He also published a history of Lamington National Park and the Scenic Rim
region in 1949. His last book, Wealth in the Wilderness, was based on the cattle industry of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. His published works reveal a great love for the Australian landscape and were illustrated with his own photographs. A selection of his photos is kept in the National Library of Australia
digital collection. Groom’s papers, including the manuscript of an unpublished novel, are also held at the National Library of Australia.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, conservationist
Conservationist
Conservationists are proponents or advocates of conservation. They advocate for the protection of all the species in an ecosystem with a strong focus on the natural environment...
, journalist and photographer, the son of Arthur Champion Groom
Arthur Groom
Arthur Champion Groom was an Australian politician and land agent.-Early life:Groom was born at Harefield, Tasmania, the fifth son of Francis Groom and Matilda Emma, née Minnett. He attended Horton College at Ross before arriving in Victoria in 1872...
.
Early career
Arthur Groom was raised on the cattle stationCattle station
Cattle station is an Australian term for a large farm , whose main activity is the rearing of cattle. In Australia, the owner of a cattle station is called a grazier...
Rosabelle Downs in Queensland, Australia and worked as a jackaroo
Jackaroo
-Vehicle:* Holden Jackaroo, an Australian 4WD utility or wagon for rough ground * Thruxton Jackaroo, a 1950s British four-seat biplane-Other:* Buddy Williams , known as the yodeling jackaroo...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. In 1926, he went to Brisbane to write for The Sunday Mail
The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)
The Sunday Mail is Brisbane's only Sunday newspaper. The Sunday Mail is published in tabloid format, comprising several sections that can be extracted and read separately.-Publishing:...
. In 1930 he became the first honorary secretary of the National Parks Association of Queensland and was active in the promotion of national parks and environmental protection until his death. With Romeo Lahey, he established Binna Burra Lodge on the edge of the Lamington National Park
Lamington National Park
Lamington is a national park in Queensland, Australia, lying on the Lamington Plateau of the McPherson Range on the Queensland/New South Wales border...
, in southeast Queensland, in 1933. Though found medically unfit for service in World War II, he trained soldiers from the Canungra Army Base
Kokoda Barracks
Kokoda Barracks is an Australian Army base located in Queensland at Canungra.The Australian Army Intelligence Corps has training facilities known as the Defence Intelligence Training Centre and the Australian Army Land Warfare Centre, Canungra located here....
in jungle warfare
Jungle warfare
Jungle warfare is a term used to cover the special techniques needed for military units to survive and fight in jungle terrain.It has been the topic of extensive study by military strategists, and was an important part of the planning for both sides in many conflicts, including World War II and the...
. He was known for his almost legendary ability to walk long distances, and his sense of humour.
Writing career
He visited Central AustraliaCentral Australia
Central Australia/Alice Springs Region is one of the five regions in the Northern Territory. The term Central Australia is used to describe an area centred on Alice Springs in Australia. It is sometimes referred to as Centralia; likewise the people of the area are sometimes called Centralians...
and the Hermannsburg Mission in 1946 and 1947 and wrote about his experiences in I Saw a Strange Land. He also published a history of Lamington National Park and the Scenic Rim
Scenic Rim
The Scenic Rim is a group of forested mountain ranges of the Great Dividing Range straddling the border between south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
region in 1949. His last book, Wealth in the Wilderness, was based on the cattle industry of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. His published works reveal a great love for the Australian landscape and were illustrated with his own photographs. A selection of his photos is kept in the National Library of Australia
National Library of Australia
The National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
digital collection. Groom’s papers, including the manuscript of an unpublished novel, are also held at the National Library of Australia.