Ian Kiernan | |
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 Kiernan in 2013 | |
| Born | Ian Bruce Carrick Kiernan (1940-10-04)4 October 1940 Sydney,New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 16 October 2018(2018-10-16) (aged 78) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Environmentalist, property developer, builder |
| Years active | 1993–2018 |
| Known for | Clean Up Australia andClean Up the World movements |
Ian Bruce Carrick KiernanAO (4 October 1940 – 16 October 2018) was an Australian yachstman,property developer, builder, and environmental campaigner. He known for co-founding withKim McKay the not-for-profitClean Up Australia campaign in 1989, which developed into a global campaign in 1993.
Ian Bruce Carrick Kiernan was born on 4 October 1940 inSydney,New South Wales, to George Arthur and Leslie Katherine Kiernan.[1]
He was educated atThe Scots College in Sydney,The Armidale School in northernNew South Wales, and theSydney Technical College, where he trained as a builder.[1]
Kiernan became a property developer, who owned a number of dwellings in the Sydney suburb ofRedfern. He acquired around half of the housing inThe Block in the early 1970s via his company Tierra del Fuego. After lobbying by local residents, the Whitlam government persuaded Kiernan and others to sell their properties to the government, leading to the establishment of the Aboriginal Housing Company, which managed The Block from then on.[2] Kiernan's construction company, IBK Construction Pty Ltd, sold the houses at a cost price and was tasked with redeveloping the site, promising to hire additionalAboriginal people to complete the work. Kiernan said that he would not be making a profit, and saw it as "our contribution, and because we think people should get behind a responsible government which is doing something for the under-privileged".[3]
Kiernan was also a yachtsman, sailing competitively for more than 40 years and representing Australia at theAdmiral's, Southern Cross, Dunhill, Clipper, Kenwood, and Trans-Pacific Cup competitions.[4]
In 1986/87 Kiernan represented Australia in theBOC Challenge solo around-the-world yacht race. He finished 6th out of a fleet of 25 yachts from 11 countries,[5] setting an Australian record for a solocircumnavigation of the world.[6]
During theBOC Challenge yacht race, Kiernan was appalled by the amount of rubbish choking the world's oceans.[7] The first "Clean Up" event, called "Clean Up Lake Macquarie", was instigated in 1987 byIvan Welsh as mayor ofLake Macquarie.[8] In 1988, withKim McKay[citation needed], and the support of a committee of friends, Kiernan organised "Clean Up Sydney Harbour" on Sunday 8 January 1989. Around 40,000 volunteers turned out to help, and collected over 5000 tonnes.[9][7] Clean Up Australia Day was first held in January 1990.[10] The success of the 1989 event sparked national interest.[11]
The first "Clean Up the World" event took place in 1993.[12] By 2007 some 35 million people from 80 nations turned out to clean up their part of the world and in 2017 it was estimated that 120 nations took part.[12] By the time of Kiernan's death in 2018, more than 21 million people had participated in annual Clean Up Australia Days, Friday Schools Clean Up Days, and Business Clean Ups in Australia.[11]
Kiernan's environmental efforts were recognised in 1991 when the Australian Government awarded him theMedal of the Order of Australia (OAM).[13] He was awardedAustralian of the Year in 1994.[14] During the ceremony he assisted the Premier of New South Wales,John Fahey, in stopping a "pseudo assassination" attempt onCharles, Prince of Wales.[citation needed]
In 1995, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).[15]
In 1998, Kiernan was the recipient of the UNEP Sasakawa Prize.[16] The prize is awarded every year to individuals with an established track record of achievement and the potential to make outstanding contributions to the protection and management of the environment consistent with UNEP's policies and objectives.[17] He received theWorld Citizenship Award from theWorld Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1999.
In 2001, Kiernan was awarded theCentenary Medal for "service to the Clean Up Australia Campaign and the Clean up the World Campaign".[18]
In 2006 Kiernan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Trust of Australia (NSW).[19]
The 2007Reader's Digest "Most Trusted Poll" voted Clean Up Australia as the country's most trusted environmental charity and Kiernan as the fourth "most trustworthy" Australian.[20] In 2008 in the same poll Kiernan was ranked number three.[21]
Kiernan was also the recipient of theToastmasters International Communications and Leadership Award, the Berger-Sullivan Tourism Award, the International Banksia Award, and the 1999 Building World Citizenship Award.[22]
In 2014, Kiernan pleaded guilty to aDUI charge in Sydney, following a previous charge for the same offence in 1998. This record was cited by thegovernment of New South Wales when Kiernan was overlooked for the honour of having a Sydney ferry named after him.[23]
He died on 16 October 2018[24] in Sydney at the age of 78. He is survived by his daughters Sally and Pip and son Jack.[11]
First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on April 17, 1973
In 1987 he instigated the Clean-Up Lake Macquarie campaign as an Australian Bicentenary event. After its success, Ian Kiernan arranged a series of meetings at Lake Macquarie to learn more.
Kiernan then went on to organise the inaugural Clean-Up Sydney event, which then grew into Clean-Up Australia Day and now Clean-Up the World Day.
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