14 March 2008

Vale Professor Peter Cullen

| astrojax
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I’m surprised this story hasn’t made it onto RA yet.

Professor Peter Cullen, a great environmentalist, died this morning after collapsing at his Gunning property last Friday. His work in protecting Australia’s in-land river systems and his great many other environmental works compare only to his capacity to communicate these issues to everyday Fred.

His Wentworth Group is a Canberra-based research group and have been instrumental in much of Australia’s innovative water policy doing much – as can be done – to mitigate the effects of neglect and climate on the Murray-Darling and other threatened river systems. He was 2001 Environmentalist of the Year and a Water Commissioner in the previous govt’s PM-sanctioned body.

His funeral is next Wednesday morning and he will be missed as a great advocate of good public policy on a range of issues – water, environment and many other social issues. Vale, Peter.

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Ingeegoodbee9:46 am 17 Mar 08

I met Peter Cullen on a number of occasions and hade numerous dealings with him. He was always extremely generous of his time, experience and knowledge particularly with respect to volunteer organisations. Everyone going to go at some time, but he will be truly missed.

: (

i know this is sarcasm, but really, this man’s demise is really not something out of which to take the piss. i hope you all die of thirst or starvation as food prices skyrocket because of unscrupulous water-hoarding practices meaning you can’t afford to eat. and your kids will never see a river flow.

fugg’n’ell…

Wide Boy Jake4:32 pm 16 Mar 08

Peter who?

probably a great deal more than your good self, smokey, though this is likely to apply to 99.99%of people to whom you might compare him, so it is no rebuke.

the national water initiative is considerably his work and this strategy, while is not going to cause rain, is lauded across the globe as leading edge policy in water management. he founded the wentworth group of scientists and, perhaps most fundamentally, he delivered an understanding and awareness of environmental issues into the australian psyche through his consummate capacity to communicate.

but you’re right in some ways, his real legacy is likely to become more and more telling and apparent beyond his short but packed life. let’s hope he does find some sway with the heavens and occasions rain onto the parched earth.

Probably going to get jumped on from a great height but the reason his passing was ignored by some on this forum was because what did he actually achieve?
A business opportunity for some via the water authority and smoke and mirrors for the rest.
May be his best opportunity will come in the future when may be he can get the Almighty to make it rain down this way and finally get some water flowing again.

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