The Romeo Lahey Memorial Lecture honours the principal founder of the National Parks Association of Queensland (NPAQ), who remained President or more than 30 years and was instrumental in convincing the Queensland Government to declare many of the state’s national parks gazetted up to the 1970s. Lahey was also co-founder of Binna Burra Lodge, located within the world heritage listed Lamington National Park.

Just one week after the the Queensland Governor Sir John Goodwin opened the Brisbane City Hall the inaugural meeting of the National Parks Association of Queensland was held in the Lord Mayor's Reception Room of the Brisbane City Hall on 15th April, 1930. In recognition of the historical link, this year the NPAQ Romeo Lahey Memorial lecture will again be held at City Hall.