Mayor rules out building icon‘s statue
CAIRNS’ mayor says it is better for Far North Queenslanders to live with memories of Michael “Tarzan” Fomenko, rather than a statue of the iconic bushman.
Edmonton pensioner Fred Morris is leading a campaign to have Mr Fomenko, who died at Babinda Multi Purpose Centre in August last year, immortalised by a monument by the side of the Bruce Highway at Babinda.
Mr Fomenko was a regular sight walking alongside the highway, between Innisfail and Cairns, shirtless and lugging a sugar bag over his shoulder.
The rainforest hermit’s extraordinary life, involving Russian royalty, wrestling crocs, and living among PNG tribesmen, has become local legend.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said his council, however, had no plans to build a bronze statue in memory of Mr Fomenko.
“He was a character, certainly one of our more unusual citizens,” he said.
“I remember seeing him as a good-looking young bloke.
“He was well built, always just in a pair of shorts with no shirt, and he used to run and jog everywhere – he didn’t walk back then.”
He said Mr Fomenko was a quiet and private man, who did not make a fuss.
“He wanted that respected, so perhaps it’s better that we have memories of him running and walking beside the road, rather than a statue,” he said.
The campaign to have Tarzan immortalised in either statue or plaque form had received a mixed response online from Cairns Post readers.
Deszree Bridget Edwards, who had fond memories of Mr Fomenko, believed he was deserving of a statue.
“What a local legend,” she wrote.
“We gave him lifts in our car sometimes, and he would share his chocolate bars with us.
“So glad he was able to come back to where he called home, to rest in peace.”
Geoffrey Hastie wrote that Mr Fomenko had led an interesting life, but didn’t believe he should have a statue.
“What was his contribution to society?” he said.
“I think that a documentary would be a better idea.”
Kathie Holmes suggested that Mr Fomenko, who reportedly came from a life of royalty, had chosen to remain in a life of seclusion.
“Why anyone would think he would have wanted to be immortalised in a public statue is beyond me,” she wrote.
“Yes he was a local legend but only in as far as being a recluse and therefore something for people to talk about – not for doing anything worthwhile or life changing for anyone in our community.”