O'Reilly, Michael Robert ('Big Mick')   (1935 - 2026)

Born on 21 June 1935 at Beaudesert, Queensland; died on 14 August 2026 at Gleneagle, Queensland.

He was the Eldest child of Luke and Marie O'Reilly (née Enright), and he was brought up on their farm near Beaudesert.

After a short stint at a catholic seminary in Ireland, he returned to Australia and started working for a sawmill out west.

He then moved north to Atherton where for a while he worked in forestry with Bernie Hyland.

Then to the new mining town of Weipa on Cape York in the late 1960s, living there for about 25 years, marrying and raising a family. For a time he was the local bus-driver, but always the 'town photographer'. There he also became involved with local regeneration projects.

The ill-health and eventual death of his wife brought him back south to be with his extended family.

He was part of the famous O'Reilly family from 'O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat', one of the first eco-tourist accommodation facilities adjacient to the Lamington National Park in S.E. Queenslland. His cousin gave him a job with the family business and he worked at the Retreat for the next 20 years or so, remarrying and raising a second family.

"For many years, 'Big Mick' enriched the O'Reilly's experience with his genuine love of the birdlife, unforgettable personality and remarkable ability to remember the names of so many guests—with a little help from his treasured library of notebooks.
"He will also be fondly remembered for burning the toast, attempting to play the harmonica and bringing plenty of laughter and character"

It was during his time at Weipa in Queensland that he collected herbarium specimens.

Source: Extracted from:
https://www.facebook.com/100057269656587/posts/livestream-link-available-here/1586289299956710/
The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld) Tue 25 June 1935 Page 1 Family Notices - O'REILLY
passing-of-michael-big-mick-oreilly-l/1461299109359230/
Pers.Comm. email P.Forster-M.Fagg 21/8/2026
https://www.funeral-livestream.com.au/events/f0263/ (25/8/2026)
Portrait Photo: BROWN FAMILY FUNERALS - Michael Robert O'Reilly - Facebook August 2026.

Collecting localities for 'O'Reilly, M.R.' from AVH (2026)

Data from 109 specimens