For many who grew up in Australia during
the last century, the Gould name evokes childhood memories. Their first introduction
to birds and wildlife was often through the organisation known as the 'Gould
League of Bird Lovers' (1) . English
ornithologist Sir John Gould was a significant figure in Australia in the
1840s. He is credited with having ‘discovered’ the budgerigar and being
the first to illustrate the koala and Tasmanian devil.
(2)
Founded in 1909 to encourage the love and protection of Australian native
birds amongst young people, the name Gould League honours the work of John
and Elizabeth Gould. The organisation was formed following a bequest from
the estate of Sir John Gould. The first president of the League in 1909
was Australia’s second Prime Minister Alfred Deakin.
John Gould was born September 14, 1804, at Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire, England,
and died February 3, 1881, London. Gould learned taxidermy at Windsor Castle,
where his father was foreman of gardeners. In 1827 he became taxidermist
to the Zoological Society of London. The arrival in 1830 of a collection
of exotic bird skins from the Himalayas enabled him to produce the first
of many folio volumes, A Century of Birds from the Himalaya Mountains (1831-32).
Gould's sketches were transferred to the lithographer's stone by his wife,
the former Elizabeth Coxon, whose artistic talents were to enhance many of
his works until her death in 1841.
The five-volume Birds of Europe (1832-37) and Monograph of the Ramphastidae
(Toucans) (1834) were so successful that the Goulds were able to spend two
years (1838-40) in Australia, where they made a large collection of birds
and mammals. The collection resulted in Gould's most famous work, The Birds
of Australia, 7 vol. (1840-48; supplements 1851-69), and in Mammals of Australia,
3 vol. (1845-63). He was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1843.
Gould's lifetime work comprised
over 40 volumes, with more than 3,000 coloured plates. His many scientific
papers, mostly devoted to descriptions of new species, established his professional
reputation, but he is best known today for his folios and for the league
in his name.
Gould League members were recruited via schools and received membership
certificates and badges. Members were encouraged to enter competitions in
bird mimicry, write stories and poems and attend 'bird-day concerts'. Over
the years the League's aims changed to include a wider focus on environmental
conservation and all wildlife.
Badge No 5528
Issued to Noelene Press
circa 1950
More than one million Australians have joined the Gould League since 1909.
The Bird Lovers Pledge of 1909 stated:
1. I hereby promise that I will protect native
birds and will not collect their eggs.
2. I also promise that I will endeavor to prevent others from injuring native
birds and destroying their eggs.
Today the Gould League is an independent environmental education organisation
and is still highly active in Australian schools with over 60,000 students
participating (3). The Gould League
is about to officially renew its pledge with the re-release of its original
heritage certificate and the launch of a new membership program. The pledge
renewal to be officially launched at Federation Square coincides with preparations
for Gould League’s centenary commemorations in 2009 and its name change to
the Gould Group.
Ann-Maree Colborne, CEO of the Gould Group said, "Gould Group is also launching
a search for descendants of all of the people who were on the first and subsequent
Boards of the Gould League for an official pledge-signing day at Federation
Square. We are also looking for people who may still have Gould League bird
colouring books or original certificates, badges or who would like to tell
us about their recollections as children where and when they signed their
pledge, to register on our website. The search will help rebuild records
destroyed in a fire in the Gould League headquarters twenty years ago”.
Ms Colborne said that the 1909 pledge is as relevant today as it was nearly
one hundred years ago with many native bird and animal species facing threat
of extinction.
Knowing that genealogists are sometimes referred to as the bower birds of
the family, and accused of hoarding much useless ephemera, now is the time
to come forward with your Gould memorabilia. Do you have something that
might be of interest to the Gould Group? If so contact Ann-Maree Colborne
CEO Gould Group Mobile: 0412 123 894 or Ron Smith Corporate Media Communications
Gould Group (03) 9818 5700 Mobile: 0417 329 201.
