Few clues on farewell
‘Tarzan’ may receive intimate send-off
MICHAEL Fomenko, aka Tarzan, is expected to be farewelled at a private service.
Details remain scant about the funeral, but Division 9 councillor Brett Moller said the wishes of Mr Fomenko’s family ought to be respected.
“I’ve called around Babinda and nobody knows too much there,” Cr Moller said.
“We’ve just got to be respectful of his sister, who is very elderly, and just find out what the family arrangements are.”
The legendary north Queensland bushman and recluse died peacefully aged 88 while living at a Babinda agedcare home.
“I remember him as a young kid, driving in mum’s Valiant when she picked us up from school,” Cr Moller said.
“He camped down the back of our shed. We had farms over on the Mulgrave River near the mountain and he had camps over there.”
Tarzan’s legend was immortalised into literature after he paddled 700km in a dug-out canoe from Cooktown to Dutch New Guinea.
“He’s one of those romantic icons and obviously got a lot of respect from the community,” Cr Moller said.
Mr Fomenko was famous for walking between Cairns and Innisfail for decades.
He returned to the Far North after a stay at Gympie’s Cooinda Aged Care Centre.
“They were glad to see him come back to Babinda,” Cr Moller said. “He will be missed.”
Mr Fomenko was renowned for his generosity, adventurous spirit and privacy.
“He wasn’t a very public man so his wishes should be respected all the way through,” Cr Moller said.
“There are a lot of people out there who would want to pay their respects in some manner.”
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