Alliance to Save Hinchinbrook Inc. (ASH) Only legitimate successor to Friends of Hinchinbrook Inc. (FOH).

​When an incorporated body is wound up, its committee must decide which entity will inherit its “books” and its assets. To ensure continuity of dedication to Hinchinbrook Island National Park, FOH created a new body (ASH) rather than risk the dissipation of its assets and energy on other causes.

In 1996, FOH challenged the Commonwealth Government Consent for the state- approved development known as “Port Hinchinbrook”, under the Commonwealth ADJR Act. The state government joined the action (supporting the Consent).
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​In 1997 FOH lost on Appeal in the Federal Court and was refused leave to go to the High Court.

Although FOH had sued only the Commonwealth, the State government had joined the action against FOH. FOH was therefore faced with paying the costs of both the other parties. The bill of taxation (ie, the amount determined by the court) was less than the sued parties’ claims, but still beyond FOH’s capacity to pay. At a meeting in Cardwell on the 20th of June, 1996, the FOH committee made the only decision possible – ie, to wind up the organisation

​ASH had been conceived early in 1997, with the clear intent of giving former FOH members another formal group structure within which to continue the Oyster Point Campaign, as it was then known.
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ASH was incorporated on the 11th of August 1997 (Incorporation Number: IA18380). Our first president was Jeremy Tager.

Photo left: Hinchinbrook Island and Passage, off Cardwell 1996. Yacht S.V.Pisces II, skipper ASH member Virginia Ilyff. Sail provided by Margaret Moorhouse and painted by activists.

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