Ian Kiernan, the round the world sailor and environmentalist who founded the Clean Up Australia organisation, has died, aged 78.
Ian Kiernan, the round-the-world sailor and environmentalist who founded Clean Up Australia, has been remembered as a larrikin and quintessential Australian who inspired millions to care for the environment.
Kiernan, who was diagnosed with cancer in July, died overnight surrounded by his family.
The 78-year-old had fought valiantly and worked to protect his legacy, including by appointing his daughter to the Clean Up Australia board, the organisation said in a statement on Wednesday.
“While we will deeply miss Ian’s guidance and humour, it was his greatest wish that the work he inspired continues,” the statement said.
“Ian Kiernan’s greatest legacy is the creation of an informed, concerned, committed and involved community – sharing his passion for the safeguarding of our most precious asset, our environment.”
Kiernan founded Clean Up Australia 30 years ago as Clean Up Sydney Harbour after becoming dismayed by the pollution he saw as he sailed the world’s seas.
The following year his idea went national before going global in 1993.
He received several honours including a Medal of the Order of Australia in 1991 and Australian of the Year in 1994. In 1995, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Clean Up co-founder Kim McKay said he raised awareness among people that they had the power to do something, “not just taking individual action, but the impact of that collectively”.
“He had no airs and graces, he was just an average bloke, he’d say – he was far from that I might say, he was a very interesting, larrikin, quintessential Australian,” she told ABC News.
“He was a larger than life figure, and when larger than life figures leave us in Australia there is a void.”
Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O’Shanassy said that by inspiring millions to pick up litter, he raised widespread awareness of the problems caused by plastic packaging.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also paid tribute, saying Kiernan’s passion for oceans and the coast struck a chord with all Australians.
“The thing I think Ian did more than anything else was just tap us all on the shoulder and say ‘Hey, we’ve got to take care of this, this is our responsibility’,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
“For that, Ian, I want to say thank you. I want to say thank you for what you’ve done for our country.”
A Clean Up spokeswoman said Kiernan’s loved ones would hold a small family funeral but wanted to give the community a chance to say farewell further down the track.
They’ve asked that people donate to the organisation rather than send flowers, and have invited the public to record condolences at www.cleanup.org.au.
