William Henry "Harry" Butler was an Australian naturalist and environmental consultant, best known as the presenter of the popular ABC television series In the Wild from 1976 to 1981.
15 Facts About Harry Butler
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Harry Butler was a household name as he took viewers to remote parts of Australia observing and admiring the natural environment.
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Harry Butler's advocacy led to the establishment of offshore islands as reserves for plants and animals, protected from invasive species.
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Harry Butler spoke highly of how Indigenous people cared for the land.
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Harry Butler attended Claremont Teachers College in Western Australia and later the Western State College in the United States.
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Harry Butler co-wrote "Sun Arise" with fellow Western Australian Rolf Harris; the song reached the Top 10 in the UK in 1962.
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Harry Butler was a populariser of science and natural history for both child and adult audiences, especially through the ABC television series In the Wild, which led to him being named Australian of the Year in 1979.
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Harry Butler authored the books In The Wild, In the Wild and Looking at the Wild.
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Harry Butler lectured, and was honoured, at museums in Western Australia, Canada, and the United States.
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Harry Butler was a supporter of development projects such as mining, working with corporations and state governments as an environmental consultant.
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Harry Butler lost some popularity with his support of the construction of the Franklin River Dam in the early 1980s.
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Harry Butler died of cancer, aged 85, at a hospital in Perth on 11 December 2015.
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In 1970, Harry Butler was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.
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In 1979, Harry Butler was named the Australian of the Year, jointly with Neville Bonner.
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The Harry Butler Institute was established in August 2017 at Murdoch University in partnership with Chevron to help shape a new generation of leaders in conservation and environmental management.