In memory of Malcolm Fraser

Greening Australia saddened by the passing of former Prime Minister.

Our Chairman, Gordon Davis has expressed sincere sadness at the passing of Malcolm Fraser.

Without Mr Fraser there would simply be no Greening Australia and consequently no large scale landscape restoration programs.

In 1982 the Australian ‘Year of the Tree’ draw attention to the serious decline in tree cover in rural Australia. Subsequently United Nations ‘Year of the Tree’ committees were established in several states.

Then on World Environment Day in 1982, Prime Minister Fraser announced the establishment of the National Tree Program, which was given the task of reversing tree decline throughout Australia. Greening Australia was established as the non-government arm of the National Tree Program.

As the pictures above show – taken during the ceremonial planting of a River red gum at the National Arboretum – Malcolm Fraser always retained his interest in the environment.

The Fraser Government developed many significant initiatives to protect the Australian environment, including;

• establishment of Greening Australia
• ending sand mining on Fraser Island
• the proclamation of the Kakadu National Park
• the proclamation Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
• banning whaling in Australia
• signing the international convention against trading endangered species
• the convention on the conservation of seals in Antarctica
• the convention on the international importance of wetlands.

Our Chairman added that “as a nation we now take these protections and conventions for granted, we are all wealthier for Mr Fraser’s vision and commitment.

“We simply can’t imagine an Australia without the Kakadu National Park, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or Greening Australia.

“The Greening Australia family offers Mr Fraser a collective thank you for his commitment to the environment and extend sincere condolences to his family.”