Jackson, Victor Henry (1924 - 2005)

Summary

Victor Jackson was a keen butterfly collector from an early age. His intended career as a music teacher was derailed by WWII, during which he served in the Royal Australian Air Force. After the war, Jackson and his family lived in Sydney, moving to Mylestom on the New South Wales coast in 1958 where he operated the local general store. In 1971 the family moved to Townsville, Queensland. Wherever the family lived he continued his butterfly collecting. In Townsville he became adept at raising butterflies, growing the appropriate food plants in his garden and striving to prevent eggs being parasitised by wasps. He was particularly interested in birdwing butterflies, Australian fritillaries and sword-grass butterflies, keeping detailed records of the birdwings he raised from wild-laid eggs and released. Jackson's collection comprised over 600 specimens, including those he collected on Bougainville while stationed there during WWII. After Jackson's death, his son Philip had care of the collection, making sure it was properly stored. Eventually, with the assistance of Trevor Lambkin, the collection was donated to the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in 2024. Jackson's later musical career included playing violin with the North Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

Details

Chronology

1944 - 1946

Military service - Served with the Royal Australian Air Force

1946 - 1958

Life event - Lived in Sydney

1958 - 1971

Career position - Owner of general store, Mylestom, New South Wales

1971

Life event - Moved to Townsville

2024

Life event - Butterfly collection donated to Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery

Related entries

Published resources

Journal Articles

• Fearn, Simon, 'Victor Jackson Butterfly Collection at QVMAG', Moths and Butterflies Australasia newsletter, 6 (2024), 17-22, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YkiDU8oHXzYk6x5kmw8giNsuO3qdP9i6/view. Details