It was rather a shock to learn of the death of Lindsay Tuffin, founder and editor of Tasmanian Times and previously a journalist with The Mercury newspaper. TT as it was always known was the go-to website for those of us campaigning to stop the pulp mill that timber company Gunns was so determined to build in the Tamar Valley.
Logging on to TT was a daily ritual, not only to check out what else might be happening in Tasmania politically, environmentally, artistically, or in any other sphere, but also to get the latest on the pulp mill. Whether for or against it the pulp mill dominated the headlines for over a decade, and Tassie Times was a forum where ideas, news and comments could be shared. It was also the place to vent feelings (anonymously or with an alias) and I'm sure I wasn't the only one to tell Lindsay that TT was an essential public service during those long years and probably saved people's sanity, as well as ensured queues to the psychologists were less, because we could rely on the unabridged version of whatever the politicians and Gunns were saying being on TT. With all three of the state's newspapers: The Mercury, Examiner and Advocate openly supporting both Gunns and the pulp mill it was hard to get an unbiased and accurate account of the many side issues that emerged that involved air and water quality, pollution, forestry practices and the environmental and human health impacts, all of which came to the fore during the campaign.
But when the community finally won, and Gunns went bankrupt, I renewed my acquaintance with Linz as a result of being on the board for the Tamar Valley Writers Festival As one of the program organisers I suggested he be invited as a guest to the 2016 festival. He certainly cut a memorable figure arriving dressed in full leather bikie gear having ridden up from Hobart on his motorbike. Linz proved to be quite a character too being an erudite, witty and memorable panellist and guest during that year's Festival weekend.
Not long after that he handed the TT baton to a new owner/editor who has ensured the massive archive of content relating to the pulp mill can still be accessed. In writing my book about that time I've had occasion to refer to it on more than one occasion. So thank you Lindsay - you will be missed.
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