Media Releases from the NSW Premier
We join the many people around the world who are mourning the death of Ian Kiernan AO, whose Clean Up campaign became a worldwide movement inspiring millions of people to change their attitude towards littering.
I have spoken with Mr Keirnan’s family today and they have accepted the NSW Government’s offer of a State Memorial Service.
There is no doubt Ian Kiernan’s first "Clean Up" campaign in 1989 was instrumental in changing community attitudes about what we do with waste.
It is a tribute to his determination, capability and high degree of personal commitment that an event that started with 40,000 people in Sydney became a worldwide movement – Clean Up the World – attracting 40 million people in 120 countries.
A passionate and highly competitive yachtsman, he set the Australian record for a solo circumnavigation of the world and it was the amount of litter he saw at sea that brought him back to Sydney determined to make a change.
The patron of many environmental and sailing groups and the holder of national and international honours, Ian leaves behind a truly noble legacy.
I extend my condolences to his wife Judy and daughters Sally and Pip.
