Vale Dr Jane Goodall
Alan Duffy
It's hard to overstate the extraordinary life, career, and impact that Dr Jane Goodall DBE had and how much she will be missed by scientists, colleagues of her foundation, communities across the regions of her conservation work, and millions worldwide.
I had the distinct honour and pleasure of briefly entering her orbit when the extraordinary public events company ThinkInc and its visionary founder, Suzi Jamil, asked if I would like to interview her nationwide back in 2019. There was also, quite frankly, a fair amount of trepidation because Jane was and always will be more than a globally renowned scientist and science communicator; she was an icon!
Over two never-to-be-forgotten events in Melbourne and Adelaide I interviewed her in front of thousands of adoring fans, hung out with her backstage, and shared tall tales with a mischevious grin (tales which I cannot share here, but with her extraordinary life I suspect they were all 100% true) and also a bottle of whiskey because Jane felt it would be rude of me to allow her to drink alone her “medicinal” pour before an event.
Why did she sell out events across the country? Because Australians in their thousands knew she was truly extraordinary. She became one of the most famous scientists at a time when women in science were something academe wouldn’t tolerate, and despite that, her relentless curiosity and drive saw her succeed. She didn’t just stop there, and what I most admired was that she went beyond the writing of research papers or carrying out meticulous research field trips, and tried to effect change in the world. From adults in countless media appearances to schools through her Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots And Shoots program, she wanted everyone to see and care for the creatures of this world as much as she did. And yet, as if this ambition were not enough, she also recognised that nature could not flourish if the human community alongside it could not either. To that end, her programs began to support the people of the region, with human rights, employment, education and more; bringing together humans and wildlife in a more sustainable, holistic view of a better future. A future vision I hope continues to expand in scale until it is truly a global one for us all.
Unfortunately, in those few years since I was not able to see Jane again, I was privileged to contribute to the Jane Goodall Institute of Australia's educational materials for schools with video narration of a series on our incredible universe. Beyond the memories of an unforgettable week, some wonderful photographs courtesy of ThinkInc, my newborn daughter was gifted a cuddly chimpanzee and a message from Jane (both of which she cherishes).
My thoughts go out to all her friends, loved ones, and colleagues with her passing. Truly you will not be forgotten.