Harry Butler Honoured

Harry Butler Honoured

Doctor Harry Butler may not be well known now, but he was a household name in the late 70’s and early 80’s with his nature program “In the Wild” on ABC Television.

Dr Butler pioneered a style of presentation that was mimicked around the world by celebrities like David Bellamy. He might have been a famous television personality, but it was merely a sideline for the real work he did as an environmental consultant in the resource sector.

His most significant role was as an environmental advisor on Barrow Island, which is located off the Pilbara coast in Western Australia when it was explored and developed as one of Australia’s first oilfields between 1950-60.

The tireless work he did promoting wildlife conservation in the community and for developing collaborative environmental partnerships with the oil and gas sector, resulted in Dr Butler being appointed as an officer of the Order of Australia.

Dr Butler’s work on Barrow Island, which is a class-A nature reserve, has set standards for any organisation wanting to manage environmental impact. In a recent press conference he said; “With no false modesty, it’s come from a model we set up on Barrow Island, which has not only been copied by many people, it’s been used by government to make legislation.”

“The things we did voluntarily, everyone now has to do,” he added.

Now aged 82-years-old, Dr Butler is still working on Barrow Island advising Chevron as it develops the Gorgon Project. The quarantine measures taken on this project are a testament to his thorough and practical attention to the detail required to protect the unique wildlife found on the site.

Today, the pioneering and effective work Dr Butler implemented on Barrow Island 50-years ago is a powerful example about how protecting of the environment and resource development can go hand in hand.

Based on his passion, contribution and hard work as an environmental advisor, Dr Butler is a worthy recipient of the Order of Australia.