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{{Short description|Australian naturalist (1930–2015)}}
{{Other people}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Harry Butler
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of Australia|AO]] [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]]
| image = 
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = William Henry Butler
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1930|03|25}}
| birth_place = Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2015|12|11|1930|03|25}}
| death_place = Perth, Western Australia
| nationality = Australian
| education =
| alma_mater = [[Claremont Teachers College]]<br/>[[Western State Colorado University|Western State College]]
| occupation = Environmental consultant<br />television presenter
| years_active =
| employer = ABC
| organization =
| agent =
| known_for = Environmentalism, songwriting
| notable_works =
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| television = ''[[In the Wild]]'' – [[ABC Television (Australian TV network)|ABC Television]]
| spouse =
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| children =
| parents =
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}}

'''William Henry Butler''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO|CBE}} (25 March 1930 – 11 December 2015) was an Australian [[natural history|naturalist]] and environmental consultant, best known as the presenter of the popular [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] television series ''[[In 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 with [[Murdoch 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.

==Biography==
Butler was born on 25 March 1930 in Perth, Western Australia.<ref name="AotY2006">[http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/page88.asp Australian of the Year Awards: Harry Butler CBE, 1979] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212201117/http://australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/page88.asp |date=12 February 2009 }} (2006). Retrieved on 4 December 2007.</ref> He attended [[Claremont Teachers College]] in Western Australia and later the [[Western State College]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url=http://www.eoas.info/biogs/P001957b.htm | title=Butler, William Henry (1930 – ) | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Australian Science | access-date=7 May 2013}}</ref>

Butler co-wrote "[[Sun Arise]]" with fellow Western Australian [[Rolf Harris]]; the song reached the [[UK Music Charts|Top 10 in the UK]] in 1962.<ref name=sunarise>{{cite news|last1=Morgan|first1=Joyce|title=Chairman of the wobble board|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/28/1064687666041.html|access-date=12 December 2015|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=29 September 2003}}</ref>

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. He also authored the books ''In The Wild'', ''In the Wild (Part II)'' and ''Looking at the Wild''.

As conservation consultant to the [[Barrow Island (Western Australia)|Barrow 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 the [[Harold Hall Australian Expeditions|Harold 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 the [[Franklin Dam controversy|Franklin River Dam]] in the early 1980s.<ref>[https://aso.gov.au/titles/series/in-the-wild-with-harry-butler/ In the Wild with Harry Butler (1976 – 1981)], [[Australian Screen Online]]</ref>

He died of cancer, aged 85, at a hospital in Perth on 11 December 2015.<ref name=death>{{cite news|title=Harry Butler: Conservationist dies of cancer in Perth aged 85|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-12/conservationist-harry-butler-dies-of-cancer-at-85/7023708|access-date=12 December 2015|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=12 December 2015}}</ref>

==Honours==
In 1970, Butler was appointed a Member of the [[Order of the British Empire]].<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1089174 It's an Honour: MBE]</ref> In 1980 this was upgraded to Commander level (CBE).<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1065250 It's an Honour: CBE]</ref>

In 1979, Butler was named the joint [[Australian of the Year]],<ref>{{cite book | author= Lewis, Wendy | title=Australians of the Year | publisher=Pier 9 Press | year=2010 | isbn=978-1-74196-809-5 | author-link=Wendy Lewis }}</ref> jointly with [[Neville 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 the [[National Trust of Australia]]'s [[Australian Living Treasures|National Living Treasures]] list.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seven added to national living treasure list|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/seven-added-to-national-living-treasure-list-20120304-1ubaq.html|access-date=19 December 2015|quote=Dr Butler said it was a shame thousands of his colleagues were not joining him on the list.|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=5 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationaltrust.com.au/nationallivingtreasures |title=National Trust of Australia (NSW) – National Living Treasures |access-date=2012-03-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321053059/http://www.nationaltrust.com.au/nationallivingtreasures/ |archive-date=21 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Australian National Living Treasure|url=http://alldownunder.com/australian-aussies/national-living-treasure.htm|website=ALLdownunder.com.au|access-date=5 April 2017}}</ref>

On 11 June 2012, he was named an Officer of the [[Order 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".<ref>{{cite web|title=Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia – The Queen's Birthday 2012 Honours Lists|url=http://www.gg.gov.au/res/file/2012/honours/qb2012/Media%20Notes%20AO%20(final).pdf|publisher=[[Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia]]|page=[http://www.gg.gov.au/res/file/2012/honours/qb2012/Media%20Notes%20AO%20(final).pdf#page=5 5]|date=11 June 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617004657/http://www.gg.gov.au/res/file/2012/honours/qb2012/Media%20Notes%20AO%20%28final%29.pdf|archive-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

On 17 April 2016, the new [[Western Australian Museum]] research facility and storage centre in [[Welshpool, Western Australia|Welshpool]] was named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-17/new-museum-facility-honours-harry-butler/7333324|title = New museum centre honours legendary naturalist Harry Butler| publisher=ABC News|location=Australia |date = 17 April 2016}}</ref>

The Harry Butler Institute was established in August 2017 at [[Murdoch University]], in honour of Harry's legacy. The sustainable research institute fosters a collaborative research environment that drives innovation for a sustainable future.<ref>The pioneering approach to science that he championed in Murdoch’s early years has become a mainstay, not only at Murdoch, but the world over.</ref> A Harry Butler Science Centre is in development at Murdoch University.<ref>{{cite web | title=Architect selected to design Harry Butler Science Centre | date=21 November 2022 | url=https://www.murdoch.edu.au/news/articles/architect-selected-to-design-harry-butler-science-centre?_gl=1*11cat5p*_gcl_au*ODk0ODQ0NTU2LjE3MjQzMTIzMjk.*_ga*MTIwODQyNTQyNi4xNjg4NjEzOTE3*_ga_JJL7264DX3*MTczMDc3MTc1OS41MDAuMS4xNzMwNzcyMTIwLjE4LjAuMjY3NTAzMzQ2 }}</ref>

=== Species named after Butler ===
A species of mulga snake, ''[[Pseudechis butleri]]'',<ref name="EDR" /> and a spider, ''[[Synothele butleri]]'', are named after Butler.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uq.edu.au/~xxrraven/baryhons.html |title=A spider honours list? |last=Raven |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Raven |author2=Marshall, Tracey |work=Staff publications |publisher=University of Queensland |access-date=6 March 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/old/snakes/Pseudechis/Pseudechis.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030924220705/http://www.kingsnake.com/toxinology/old/snakes/Pseudechis/Pseudechis.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2003|title=''Pseudechis ''|year=1998 |publisher=kingsnake.com |access-date=28 February 2009}}</ref> Three species of Australian lizards are named after Butler: ''[[Delma butleri]], [[Morethia butleri]]'', and ''[[Notoscincus butleri]]''.<ref name="EDR" /> Two species of Australian lizards are named after Butler and his wife Margaret: ''[[Ctenophorus butlerorum]]'' and ''[[Eremiascincus butlerorum]]''.<ref name="EDR">[[Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]]; [[Michael Watkins (zoologist)|Watkins, Michael]]; [[Michael Grayson|Grayson, Michael]] (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (Butler, W.H., p. 44; Margaret B., p. 168).</ref> Two species of Australian reptiles are named after Margaret: a snake, ''[[Anilios margaretae]]''; and a lizard, ''[[Diporiphora margaretae]]''.<ref name="EDR"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite web | url = http://www.asap.unimelb.edu.au/bsparcs/biogs/P001957b.htm | title = Butler, William Henry (1930 – ) | access-date = 4 December 2007 | author = McCarthy, G.J | date = 4 December 2006 | work = Bright Sparcs Biographical entry | publisher = The University of Melbourne eScholarship Research Centre (Australian Science and Technology Heritage Centre) | quote = Butler was an honorary associate of the Western Australian Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. }}
*{{cite web | url = http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2006/1689055.htm | title = Harry Butler | access-date = 4 December 2007 | author = Robyn Williams (presenter) | author-link = Robyn Williams | date = 27 July 2006 | work = In Conversation | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Radio National }}
{{refend}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach | aw }}
{{s-bef | before = [[Alan Bond (businessman)|Alan Bond]] and<br /> [[Galarrwuy Yunupingu]] }}
{{s-ttl | title = [[Australian of the Year Award]] | years = 1979 | alongside = Senator [[Neville Bonner]] }}
{{s-aft | after = [[Manning Clark]] }}
{{s-end}}

==External links==
*[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/inconversation/stories/2006/1689055.htm In Conversation 27 July 2006 ABC Interview]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090212201117/http://australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/page88.asp Australian Of The Year website- Harry Butler]

{{Australians of the Year}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Harry}}
[[Category:1930 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian naturalists]]
[[Category:Australian conservationists]]
[[Category:People from Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Australian of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:Australian Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Western Colorado University alumni]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in Western Australia]]

Harry Butler - Revision history

imported>Doug butler: /* External links */ another cat