Deny King | |
---|---|
Born | Charles Denison King 12 September 1909
Huonville, Tasmania |
Died | 12 May 1991
Hobart, Tasmania | (aged 81)
Nationality | Australian |
Occupation(s) | Naturalist, ornithologist, artist, miner |
Known for | Preservation of the orange-bellied parrot |
Spouse | Margaret Ann Cadell |
Children | Mary and Janet |
Charles Denison (Deny) King AM (12 September 1909 – 12 May 1991) was an Australian naturalist, ornithologist, environmentalist, painter and tin miner. He spent fifty-five years living in Melaleuca in Port Davey, part of the remote South West Wilderness of Tasmania where he discovered the extinct shrub, Banksia kingii, among other major exploits. [1]
King was a tin miner by profession and followed his father, Charlie, to Melaleuca in 1936, where he built a house, which was accommodation for himself and workers as well as the airstrip which opened up tourism for the South West Wilderness.
On 6 June 1940, Deny King enlisted in the Australian Army where he served through World War II being discharged on 15 October 1945. [2]
On 5 November 1949, Deny King married Margaret Ann Cadell at St David's Cathedral, Hobart. [3] The couple had two daughters, Mary and Janet. [4]
He was instrumental in preserving the habitat of the orange-bellied parrot and it was in Melaleuca that he discovered the extinct tree or shrub Banksia kingii. King also discovered a species of eyebright, Euphrasia kingii (nowadays known as Euphrasia gibbsiae subspecies kingii), as well as a flowering evergreen in the Protea family ( Proteaceae): King's Lomatia (also known as King's holly, Lomatia tasmanica). [1]
In 1971, the King family's life at Melaleuca was the subject of an episode of the ABC television series " A Big Country". [4]
In 1975, King was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for his community service. [5] [6]
On 12 May 1991, Deny King died suddenly of a heart attack at the home of his daughter Mary King in Hobart. He was cremated and his ashes scattered at Melaleuca. [7]