Back in the 70s, the local mainstream media was a lot less likely to report a situation like the Terania protest in an unbiased way than it is now... to be really honest, they were incredibly dishonest, divisive and critical of the whole thing. My... how times have changed.

Yeah well anyway... back then the underground press played a vital role locally, giving voice to both information and opinion that was shunned by the mainstream. "The Byron Truth" was a good case in point. Printed anonymously, it was a gutsy little outfit that in it's october '79 issue printed a day-by-day diary of the protest. Fot those that were there it's a nostalgic reminder, for those that were not it's an interesting history.

Terania Creek Diary The dispute over logging at Terania Creek has been going on now for four and a half years. We have accounted in brief the major events leading to the Government's decision to stop logging and hold an Environmental Impact Study on 27th September. March 1975. Public meeting at the Channon Hall attended by Bob Fredericks of the Forestry Comm. Large number of timber workers arrived to stack meeting but failed. Two submissions were forwarded to the Forestry Comm. over next 3 yrs. No progress in negotiations has been made since January 1978. Constant negotiation continued with the Forestry Comm., Minister for Conservation, National Parks and Wildlife Service and other ministers. There has been no change in Forestry Commission intentions since Jan 1978.

February 20th 1979. It was announced that Iogging would commence within the next few months. Terania Native Forest Action Group commenced media campaign. Stories on Nationwide, in Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.

May 22nd. Northern Star sub-editor AIan Layton rang through to say that he was investigating a story on the Forestry Comm clear felling sections of a large area designated as a National forest in 1937.

May 23rd. The story didn't appear. Instead a pro-logging editorial appeared. Minister Gordon arrived. Offered no change in the status quo

June. A large scale telephone poll was conducted to determine the attitude of the Lismore electors to logging. 83% support the Terania Forest being declared a nature reserve. On June 15th the Lismore City Council refuse to discuss the poll or allow TNFAG to address council. Various petitions totalling 4,455 were collected in Lismore and forwarded to Mr Wran. It was very hard to make contact with any politician. Despite mounting media pressure there was no Govt. policy change. The scene was set for confrontation despite every attempt to avoid it.

Sunday August 12th. Cars started to move into position in the valley to begin peaceful vigilance. They have come to stop the logging until an Environmental Impact Study is in progress. People from all walks of life arrived from the valley and surrounding districts.

Monday 13th. This morning the press arrived to cover the Festival of the Forest. By 10 o'clock there were 300 people on the edge of the forest enjoying the music. No loggers arrived.

Tuesday 14th. A plane circled the area for about 25 minutes. At 3.00 pm a Forestry truck came down Mackay's Road. After a few tense words it moved back up the road. A camera-shy forester threatened to smash equipment belonging to a freelance Journalist working for the A.B.C. The warning system was tightened and al roads leading into the place were blockaded with cars.

Wednesday 15th. The word was out that the loggers were coming and so the media arrived in their numbers. No loggers came. Loggers at Geebung Road were reported as saying that timbermen were angry and some were carrying rifles in their cars. The night before, someone had rung up a Standard Sawmills director's wife threatening her life and threatening to burn down their mill if logging went ahead. Next morning a spokesperson from TNFAG rang Standards saying that the group were not responsible for the threatening phonecall. Bren Claridge in Sydney talked to politicians and succeeded in having questions asked in Parliament.

Thursday 16th. Another day of waiting. Surprise, a bulldozer and two Forestry vehicles were seen heading for the forest. Everybody to the blockades as the press arrived, some in helicopters. Police arrived with paddy wagon and two cars. All withdrew later.

Friday 17th. Blockades up along Mackays Road and Terania Ck. road. Towtrucks from Trevan's and John Chant Motors plus 5 paddy wagons & 20 odd police cars with 108 police arrived and started removing vehicles from blockades. A protester's Land Rover was pushed onto its side. Bulldozer cleared the old logging road one third of the way into the forest. 17 arrested.

Weekend 18th & 19th. Meetings were formed in circles and decisions made by group consensus. Group members were given coloured ribbon tags relating to the kind of work performed... the "Rainbow Army" was born. The bulldozer was tampered with and subsequently repaired and the circle decided to place a perpetual vigilance at the site of the dozer.

Monday & Tuesday 20th & 21st. Camp up at 5.30 am in readiness but no loggers. Protesters guard dozer.

Wednesday 22nd. 8.30 am a bus, 3 tow trucks, (one with owners name painted out), 5 paddy wagons, 20 police cars and a rescue vehicle arrived (130 Police). They entered and parked on the Nicholson's property. When requested to move off private property, they refused. The dozer made its way on toward the forest. 12 arrests. '

Thursday 23rd. 8.30 am, 38 police vehicles and a bus broke through demonstrators' barricades. 30 additional police flown in from Sydney to relieve police from one man stations. Loggers start cutting down veteran brush box trees. 3 arrests

Friday 24th. Rape of the forest began. Morale very low. 6 arrests.

Weekend 25th & 26th. Everyone very tired. Some people went home while many new people arrived, some from other states. A few logs were found to have been cut up into small unusable sections. A group meeting publicly condemned the action and decided to refrain from any acts of destruction to logs & equipment. Word received from Sydney that over 70 environmental groups supported the vigilance at Terania Creek.

Monday 27th. First court cases heard today. Great sense of unity among protesters. Small demonstration at A.L.P. Rally in Hyde Park, Sydney with short talks with Bob Hawke, Bill Hayden and Premier Wran.

Tuesday 28th. Everyone up before dawn, 80 police and loggers dozed road up to where protesters were sitting high up in trees in order to protect them. 4 arrests. In Sydney, Terania group meets with Premier Wran. Wran unsure of what to do about situation but listens to protesters case. Massive support from major Conservation group and Trade Unions.

Wednesday 29th. Peaceful observation by protesters. 2 timber jinkers leave with first logs. Polic ride shotgun. 70 police, 1 arrest.

Thursday 30th. An entourage of 4 timber jinkers, 8 police cars, towtruck & paddy wagon left the forest. Lismore City Council discuss ways of removing the camp. In Sydney, 30 people staged a sit-in in Conservation Minister Gordon's office with heavy media coverage. Debate between Aust. Conservation Foundation vice president, Milo Dunphy and Minister Gordon. Terania Forest embassy opened at Total Environment Centre.

Meeting with Premier Wran new evidence was shown and first photographs of damage to rainforest. Wran starts listening intensively.

Friday 31st. Everyone ecstatic at the possibility of talks in the air to halt logging. Lismore City Council sends letter to the Nicholsons ordering removal of the camp. In Sydney, information kits with photos of damage prepared for all Cabinet Ministers.

Weekend 1st & 2nd September. Saturday was a busy day with preparations for next day's rally. Burnham Burnham, Liason officer for the N.S.W. Select Committee on Aboriginal Land Rights, said that Terania Creek was a sacred aboriginal place and that "not a fern should be touched". Sunday brings almost 2000 people from all over the area to walk in the forest, Many national environmental authorities talk about the forest, Dr Len Webb calls for a massive reafforestation scheme to be commence in northern N.S.W.

Monday 3rd. Day of rest after busy weekend of informing the public of the damage being done in the forest In Sydney, information kits with photos hand delivered to Cabinet Ministers. Conservationists meet Minister Gordon who threatens them with photos of burly timber workers, stating that violence likely over Terania Creek, then retracts statement. Terania group meet with Premier Wran on into the night. Wran looking for solution to end dispute and interested in Govt. inquiry into north coast timber industry and solving north coast unemployment through reafforestation. Shows group a press release from meeting between Associated Country Sawmillers, Standards, Hurfords, Forestry Commission, Lismore City Council and Police which first mentions "terrorist activity". Calls moratorium on logging for one week.

Tuesday 4th. Reafforestation workshop begins at Terania Creek. Sawmillers petition on law and order begins circulation. In Sydney, sawmillers were to meet Wran but meeting deferred until Friday. Cabinet decides to halt logging for a week. Wednesday 5th. Lismore City Council Health Inspector visits camp. Sawmillers public opinion poll begins.

Thursday 6th. Sydney Group returns and tells camp good news after talks with Premier Wran & Cabinet Ministers. Meeting of Lismore City Council, Mayoral minute approval & motion approving legal action to remove camp at Terania Creek. Council refuses to hear any statements from Terania group. Camp prepares for lunar eclipse party and celebration. Victory feelings high. James Hurford's sawmill in Lismore burns down. Fire believed to have started at 11:30 pm.

Friday 7th. Advertisement in Northern Star states that Hurford's are a contact for law and order petition (placed in paper the night before the fire). Rob Hurford (Manager, James Hurford & co) states on radio news that he believes the fire was deliberately lit, before police made official statement on cause of the fire. Some local detectives say that a fanatic cult associated with the Terania Creek protest could be responsible for the fire. James Hurford states that the electricity had to be disconnected every night at the ancient buildings to prevent fire risk.

Weekend 8th & 9th. The Channon Market. Rumours of violence by sawmillers aimed at protesters. Police had to be called in.

Monday 10th. In Lismore Court, 41 charged protesters were remanded. Reafforestation meeting decides to commence "Project Trees". Forestry officer and secretary of Ecology Action, Dick Thompson, resigns and shows Premier Wran large bundle of documents showing mismanagement in the Forestry Commission. Ex Lismor mayor, Hosie states that Terania logging could endanger Lismore's water supply.

Tuesday 11th. State Cabinet meets, is still divided and decides to send subcommittee of 6 Ministers led by Environment Minister, Landa and Conservation Minister, Gordon to inspect Terania Basin. Reafforestation meeting at camp followed by party celebration.

Wednesday 12th. Camp disbanded at the Nicholson's property.

Thursday 13th. TNFAG people went up to inspect landslide caused by previous tree felling.

Friday 14th. Preparations for visit by Cabinet Ministers. Associated Country Sawmillers offer $2000 reward for information on the destruction of equipment at Terania Creek and the fire at Hurfords.

Monday 17th. Cabinet Ministers visit Terania Creek forest. 50 people from Terania Ck welcome Ministers at Casino Airport.

Tuesday 18th. State Cabinet meets to discuss Terania. Cabinet still divided on issue. Gordon was to write report so Caucus decides to send 12 backbenchers to inspect Terania Creek. Lismore City Council orders demolition of 15 homes at Bodhi Farm near Terania Ck (Many people from Bodhi involved in protest).

Sunday 23rd. 1000 Sawmilling associates protest at airport when backbenchers arrive, holding signs such as "Logs pay dole" & "Wran is a hippy". Free beer.

Monday 24th. 250 pro-logging demonstrators arrive at Terania Ck to meet 11 backbenchers inspecting forest. Present also were a few members of TNFAG, world rainforest expert Dr Len Webb and Mrs M. Fox of the National Herbarium.

Tuesday 25th. Cabinet decides to halt logging for an environmental impact study to be carried out.

Wednesday 26th. Caucus supports Cabinet's decision to stop logging and to hold an Environmental Impact Study. Motion to continue logging by opposition defeated.

Thursday 27th. A victory celebration held at Terania Creek by conservationists to celebrate State Government's decision.

Intro

Terania Protest 20 th anniversary programme

An interview with Len Webb

The terania protest -how it worked

May the circle be unbroken