12 Facts About Christine Townend

Christine Elizabeth Townend was born on 20 July 1944 and is an Australian animal rights activist, artist, and author.

Christine Townend then received a 6-month fellowship from the Australian Council for the Arts.

In 1975 Christine Townend journeyed to India, returning with a commitment to animal rights.

Christine Townend founded Animal Liberation in 1976, having been influenced by Peter Singer's eponymous book; she and Singer co-founded Animals Australia in 1980.

Christine Townend joined the Australian Democrats, running for election under their banner four times before joining Milo Dunphy on an "Environment Group" ticket in 1988.

Christine Townend has used her art as a means of drawing attention to the needs and interests of animals.

Christine Townend founded Working for Animals Inc, an Australian NGO with the purpose of raising funds for animal shelters in India.

In 2017 Christine Townend was appointed Director and Chair of the Animals Australia Board.

In January 2019 Christine Townend was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for 'service to animal welfare'.

Christine Townend has authored books on animal rights, including In Defence of Living Things, A Voice for the Animals and Pulling the Wool: A New Look at the Australian Wool Industry, and fiction, from her first book, The Beginning of Everything and the End of Everything Else, to more recent explorations of Indian spirituality such as The Hidden Master and The Teaching of Vimala Thakar.

In 2007 her biography Christine Townend's Ark, written by journalist John Little was published by Macmillan.

Christine Townend holds a Doctorate in poetry from the University of Sydney.