Farewell Ruth Rowe - a stalwart advocate for conservation is lost to Tasmania

Media Release - 23rd December 2010

The Wilderness Society today acknowledged the outstanding contribution to nature conservation by the late Ruth Rowe, who died yesterday aged 95.

Just last week Ruth and her daughter Jackie were awarded Honorary Life Memberships of the Wilderness Society for their outstanding contributions to its campaigns.

"Ruth's commitment to protecting Tasmania's environment dates back decades, to before her arrest at the age of 67 at a Franklin Dam protest on the West Coast," said Vica Bayley, spokesperson for The Wilderness Society. "She spent a week in Risdon Prison following that arrest, choosing to go to jail in solidarity with other environmental campaigners and in a statement of her commitment to the protection of the river from damming."

"More recently, Ruth's stance against Gunns' Tamar Valley pulp mill has been an inspiration to Tasmanian's of all ages and helped demonstrate the depth of community opposition to the project."

Ruth has authored many hundreds of letters to the editors of newspapers in Tasmania and across Australia.

"Ruth will be remembered as one of the most prolific letter writers Tasmanian newspaper editors have ever seen, unafraid to voice her opinions on a plethora of issues, particularly environmental ones," said Mr Bayley.

"Ruth's outstanding contributions to the protection of the environment led the Wilderness Society to award her an honorary life membership, her passing is a loss to both the Wilderness Society and Tasmania as a whole."

The Wilderness Society wishes Ruth's daughter Jackie and her remaining family well at this difficult time.


For more info call Vica Bayley on 0400 644 939