The Dalai Lama has expressed “deep sympathy and heartfelt condolences’’ to Australia’s prime minister, Kevin Rudd, for all families affected by the Victorian bushfires. Yesterday, Mr Rudd announced there is to be a national day of mourning and national memorial service for those who died in the fires. “It’s important that the nation has the formal opportunity to grieve,’’ he said.
The death toll is currently 181, but as police and forensic teams begin searching the ruins of burned out homes and cars, they anticipate that figure could rise to around 300.
Among those confirmed dead is Victorian ecologist and environmental campaigner Jenny Barnett and her husband, Professor John Barnett, a University of Melbourne endocrinologist and senior researcher with the Animal Welfare Science Centre.
Angela Brunton, a printmaker and painter, who made respect for the environment a consistent and passionate theme in her work, also died in the fires with her partner, actor Reg Evans.
The Victorian National Parks Association has created an online dedication page for people wishing to pay tribute to Jenny, who was a tireless, tenacious and superbly well-informed champion of environmental causes. Her knowledge of ecological science, planning laws and government process made her a formidable campaigner.
Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, former CSIRO climate scientist Barrie Pittock and Sean Cadman of the Forest Stewardship Council are among those who have posted tributes on the association’s website. Parks rangers, community activists and people who recall Jenny’s passion and willingness to help with grassroots campaigns have also posted eloquent recollections of her energy, determination and love of the natural world.
“I will remember her particularly for the little ground orchid tubers she cultivated and gave to me,’’ wrote a friend, capturing in that one line, Jenny’s vast, fine-scale detailed knowledge of bush ecosystems. Another recalled Jenny camping out in the bush on her parents property while doing doctoral studies on bull ants. “Jenny the Ant lady became part of the landscape of my growing up,’’ she writes.
Angela Brunton, who ran an art gallery at St Andrews, died with her partner Reg Evans – a respected, in-demand actor who appeared in a number of films including “Mad Max’’, “Strikebound’’ and “Gallipoli’’ as well as episodes of “Blue Heelers’’ “Sea Change’’, “Prisoner’’ and “Skippy.’’ They died trying to save their small farm at St Andrews.
Angela recently received an artist in residence award from the Bundanon Trust, to take up studio space at the late Arthur Boyd’s home at Bundanoon, on the Shoalhaven River in New South Wales. She loved the Australian bush and used her art to express her passion and concerns. One recent exhibition “Roadside’’ addressed the environmental consequences of roadkill, with a series of stark, evocative images of wombats, and her most recent exhibition featured kangaroos.
If you would like to post a tribute to Jenny Barnett, go to www.vnpa.org.au