Harry Butler | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Henry Butler (1930-03-25)25 March 1930 Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Died | 11 December 2015(2015-12-11) (aged 85) Perth, Western Australia |
| Alma mater | Claremont Teachers College Western State College |
| Occupation(s) | Environmental consultant television presenter |
| Employer | ABC |
| Known for | Environmentalism, songwriting |
| Television | In the Wild –ABC Television |
William Henry ButlerAO CBE (25 March 1930 – 11 December 2015) was an Australiannaturalist and environmental consultant, best known as the presenter of the popularABC television seriesIn the Wild from 1976 to 1981. He was a household name as he took viewers to remote parts of Australia observing and admiring the natural environment.
His advocacy led to the establishment of offshore islands as reserves for plants and animals, protected from invasive species. Now his legacy is being remembered withMurdoch University's Harry Butler Institute. The new research and education facility brings science, business and the community together to address environmental problems.
He spoke highly of how Indigenous people cared for the land, having extensive knowledge of indigenous culture and vast experience with various language groups throughout Western Australia.
Butler was born on 25 March 1930 in Perth, Western Australia.[1] He attendedClaremont Teachers College in Western Australia and later theWestern State College in the United States.[2]
Butler co-wrote "Sun Arise" with fellow Western AustralianRolf Harris; the song reached theTop 10 in the UK in 1962.[3]
Butler was a populariser of science and natural history for both child and adult audiences, especially through the ABC television seriesIn the Wild, which led to him being namedAustralian of the Year in 1979. He also authored the booksIn The Wild,In the Wild (Part II) andLooking at the Wild.
As conservation consultant to theBarrow Island oilfield and many other projects, Butler played a major role in environmental conservation and restoration in Australia. In 1968, he participated in the fifth of theHarold Hall Australian ornithological collecting expeditions. He lectured, and was honoured, at museums in Western Australia, Canada, and the United States. Butler was a supporter of development projects such as mining, working with corporations and state governments as an environmental consultant.
Butler lost some popularity with his support of the construction of theFranklin River Dam in the early 1980s.[4]
He died of cancer, aged 85, at a hospital in Perth on 11 December 2015.[5]
In 1970, Butler was appointed a Member of theOrder of the British Empire.[6] In 1980 this was upgraded to Commander level (CBE).[7]
In 1979, Butler was named the jointAustralian of the Year,[8] jointly withNeville Bonner.
In 1993, he was awarded a cash prize for his 30 years of work with the petroleum industry.
On 4 March 2012, he was added to theNational Trust of Australia'sNational Living Treasures list.[9][10][11]
On 11 June 2012, he was named an Officer of theOrder of Australia for "distinguished service to the community through the promotion of public understanding of natural history and wildlife conservation, to the development of collaborative environmental partnerships with industry, and to the community".[12]
On 17 April 2016, the newWestern Australian Museum research facility and storage centre inWelshpool was named in his honour.[13]
The Harry Butler Institute was established in August 2017 atMurdoch University, in honour of Harry's legacy. The sustainable research institute fosters a collaborative research environment that drives innovation for a sustainable future.[14] A Harry Butler Science Centre is in development at Murdoch University.[15]
A species of mulga snake,Pseudechis butleri,[16] and a spider,Synothele butleri, are named after Butler.[17][18] Three species of Australian lizards are named after Butler:Delma butleri,Morethia butleri, andNotoscincus butleri.[16] Two species of Australian lizards are named after Butler and his wife Margaret:Ctenophorus butlerorum andEremiascincus butlerorum.[16] Two species of Australian reptiles are named after Margaret: a snake,Anilios margaretae; and a lizard,Diporiphora margaretae.[16]
Dr Butler said it was a shame thousands of his colleagues were not joining him on the list.
Butler was an honorary associate of the Western Australian Museum and the American Museum of Natural History.
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| Preceded by | Australian of the Year Award 1979 Served alongside:SenatorNeville Bonner | Succeeded by |
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