Dave Munro
The Grampians region has lost another long time, strong supporter of the natural environment.
Thelma Argall was farewelled at a graveside service at Redbank Cemetery on Monday 29 December. She died a few months after being diagnosed with cancer. Typically she refused to have any treatment and stoically faced her fate.
Thelma gave truth to the adage that behind every successful man is a woman. While Ian McCann, her partner of many years, was highly regarded as a nature photographer, author and field naturalist, it was Thelma who performed the role of manager and field assistant. She was proficient at finding that elusive orchid or fungus and there is no doubt that her powers of observation matched Ian’s. They were a true partnership. They were both selfless in their willingness to share their knowledge and passion for the bush.
Her life-long love of nature started as a young girl while attending the Redbank State School. She often spoke of being late home from school as she was diverted by some aspect of the world around her. It might have been a butterfly, a flower or, very often, watching the behaviour of birds. She built on these interests throughout her life and developed a friendship with some members of the Maryborough Field Naturalists Club. Shortly after joining a field naturalists bus tour to inland Australia organised by Ian McCann she moved to Stawell and joined the Stawell Field Naturalists Club.
Many FOGG’s will have met Thelma on excursions, fungi forays and other activities over the years. She loved the Grampians as passionately as she did the Box-Ironbarks, a landscape which she knew intimately.
Thelma was an avid contributor to the Bird Atlas of Australia an activity she continued till very recently. Fungi sightings were also contributed to the Fungimap project at the Melbourne Herbarium.