Christine Fensham died in November 2024 and left a significant gift to ACF in her will. As passionate conservationists Christine and her husband Peter (dec. 2021) were long time supporters and annual financial contributors to the ACF, since June 1981. For 35 years they fought with ACF to protect wildlife and precious places and now their generosity lives on.
Peter and Christine considered our relationship with the environment to be fundamental to our humanity.
Their environmentalism didn't stop with donations and campaign support; it was multidimensional.
Peter and Christine considered our relationship with the environment to be fundamental to our humanity. Their environmentalism didn't stop with donations and campaign support; it was multidimensional.
They were active conservationists, particularly through local volunteer groups including foundation members of the Smiths Beachcomber Conservation Association on Phillip Island, and Christine was involved with saving Mullum Mullum Creek Reserve when the Eastern Freeway was being extended in the 1990s.
They understood the importance of organisations such as the ACF for their critical and skilled advocacy for a sustainable future, and the way they represent hope and empower communities to take action for climate and nature.
Both Peter and Christine contributed to the development of environmental education, Peter in a formal capacity leading curriculum development in Victoria and around the world as Professor of Science Education (and later dean) at Monash University and Christine as a secondary school teacher in biology, and later through adult education as a pioneer in the Neighbourhood House movement in Victoria.
Christine's love of nature was ever-present through her knowledge of native plants (species and genera) and early championing of their use in gardens. She had a fascination with sea-life through years of snorkeling in Victorian rock-pools, and spent hours in her curation of fish tanks, waterfalls and ponds in her homes.
She passed this citizen science enquiry on to both children and grandchildren in their choice of careers.”
The Fensham family, and regular visitors to the family home, were constantly reminded of Australia's incredible natural environment and the rolling campaigns of the ACF by its beautiful posters of, for example, the Franklin Wilderness, Tropical Daintree or Mountain Ash forests, adorning bedroom, lounge and bathroom walls.”
Christine and Peter's dedication to Australia's conservation movement was fundamental to their community activism, and the family are delighted that this has had further expression via a donation to the ACF in Christine's will.
— The Fensham Family