Serventy, Vincent, 1916-2007

Writer, film maker and lecturer on natural history and conservation. In 1955-1958 Seventy was a senior lecturer in science and mathematics at the Claremont Teachers' College, WA and in 1958-1964 a teacher with the WA Education Department. Serventy has published more than 40 books and numerous articles on Australian natural history and conservation and made more than 50 documentary films including 'Nature walkabout'. He edited Wildlife in Australia magazine from 1966-1982 and was the editor-in-chief of the five volumes of Australia's wildlife heritage, 1973-1974. Serventy has been active in numerous wildlife organisations. He led several natural history expeditions including an expedition into the Great Victoria Desert (1960), was a member of the first party to cross Lake Eyre by boat in 1975 and was zoologist to the Australian Geographic Society expedition to Recherche Archipelago in 1951. He was awarded the Australian Natural History medallion in 1974 and the Dutch Order of the Golden Ark in 1985. He was made a member of the Order of Australia in 1976 and an Emeritus Fellow of the Australia Council Literature Board in 1993.