Margaret Thorsborne

Margaret Grace Thorsborne (3 June 1927 – 16 October 2018) was an Australian naturalist, conservationist and environmental activist. She was notable for her efforts, with her husband Arthur Thorsborne, in initiating the long-term monitoring and protection of the Torresian imperial-pigeon on the Brook Islands, north east of Hinchinbrook Island, Far North Queensland. Toward the end of her life, she was involved in the struggle to protect Queensland's Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and animals such as the southern cassowary, mahogany glider and dugong.

Early life Margaret Kemp-Pennefather was born in 1927, the daughter of Lionel Hugh Kemp-Pennefather and his wife, the highly decorated Australian nurse Constance (née Keys).She is also the granddaughter of the botanist and schoolteacher James Keys.

Margaret married Arthur Thorsborne in 1963. Then living on Queensland's Gold Coast, they were foundation members and office bearers of the Gold Coast branch of the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland.

Hinchinbrook The Thorsbornes began visiting Hinchinbrook Island in 1964. In 1972 they settled at Meunga Creek, near Cardwell, on a property ("Galmara") consisting mainly of coastal wetlands and rainforest facing Hinchinbrook Island across the Hinchinbrook Channel. The property was given in 1980 to the Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service to extend the Edmund Kennedy National Park. Arthur Thorsborne died in 1991. The Thorsbornes are commemorated in the Thorsborne Trail, a popular 32 km walking track on Hinchinbrook Island. and matching stamps. Her cards were sold at several centres in the region to raise money for conservation.

Honours 1998 – WPSA Serventy Conservation Medal 2001 – Centenary Medal for distinguished service to conservation and the environment. 2006 – Queensland Natural History Award 2011 – Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to conservation and the environment through advocacy roles for the protection and preservation of wildlife and significant natural heritage sites in Australia, as a supporter of scientific research, and to the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland.

Legacy Tetrastigma thorsborneorum, a vine in the grape family from north Queensland, was named in honour of Margaret and Arthur Thorsborne.