Han's green gift to next generation

Rob Black | 27th March 2009

HE'S the type of bloke who has done it all, but now adventurer and the original eco-warrior Hans Tholstrup has decided to leave a legacy to his adopted country and the world by greening the Gladstone region and investing in Australia's future - our children.

His ambitious plan is to plant three million native trees on three Gladstone properties to raise money to educate kids about how to save the environment.

The native-born Dane who moved to Australia more than 40 years ago built the first solar-powered car and started the Solar Challenge Car race.

Mr Tholstrup was honoured in the 2008 Australia Day Awards and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his service to conservation and the environment. But he says it's not enough.

“That's all in the past, little boy stuff, when I didn't realise how much damage I was doing (to the environment),” Mr Tholstrup said.

“But really I failed, because I gave up on saving the world. I thought I could convince politicians to change what we are doing to the environment through solar cars and all the other things.

“Now I have decided to do the only thing that can save us from running out of oil and the increasing greenhouse gases - educate the children - they are the future and the only hope we have got.”

Mr Tholstrup moved to the Gladstone region “a couple of years ago” and decided to buy up suitable properties to plant as many native species as he could on sustainable tree farms.

He has 1214 hectares north of Gladstone, 809ha at Lowmead and 607ha in the Burnett Valley.

Though not your typical plantations, the tree farms, using environmentally-friendly and sustainable methods, are set up to become income producing through the value of the timber, with profits to go towards the education of children who he hopes will gain the knowledge, scientific skills and “commonsense” to save the planet.

An adventurous life

• First to fly solo around the world without navigation aids or crew, 1972-3

• Fastest motorcycle circuit around the world (BMW), 1974

• First motorcycle crossing of Australia east-to-west, 1970s

• First south-to-north car crossing of Australia, 1979

• Created and built world's first solar-powered car, 1981

• First solar car to cross a continent (from Perth to Sydney, 1982)

• First to walk solo across the Simpson Desert