Spike's conservation work in Australia
Spike became involved, with other Woy Woy locals, in the
fight to save Riley's Island in the Brisbane Waters
off Woy Woy from housing development. It is now a nature
reserve.
Spike played a major role in bringing public attention
to an Aboriginal cave in the bush near his parent's
house that was being damaged by graffiti and insensitive
visitors. The cave is now fenced of and has been called
"Milligan's Cave" in his honour.
While Spike came to be known as the 'godfather of
comedy', his friend Vincent Serventy is considered
by many of his fellow Australians as the 'godfather
of conservation'.
Serventy was probably the most famous naturalist and conservation
in Australia in the 1970s. He has published numerous books
and has presented his own TV series, called "Nature
Walkabout".
Vince, as Spike affectionately called him, started the
Australian operations of the Wildlife Preservation Society
in the 1970s with the support of then prime minister Malcolm
Fraser... and much help from Spike raising funds.
They corresponded regularly over the next 30-odd years
and Spike often wrote for the Society's newsletter.
When in Australia, Spike would often stay at Vince's
and his wife Kathy's cottage, where he wrote his poetry.
One topic of many of their letters was population control.
"We both understood that there's no solution to our environmental
problems unless we stabilise our population," says Vince.
"Spike was always serious, although he did funny things.
He was tormented but he turned that into good through his
conservation work."
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