Remembering Frank Fisher
Frank Fisher (d. August 2012) was a long-time supporter and critic of Environment Victoria. His support was not limited to his generous financial contributions to our organisation over more than a decade. It included challenging our fundamental assumptions, critiquing our positions and questioning our motivations and approaches to achieving environmental change.
Frank influenced thousands of students, colleagues, peers and practitioners over his decades as an educator and academic at Monash and Swinburne Universities, including many in Environment Victoria’s extended family. Like history’s great teachers, there was no division between Frank’s teaching and his life. He lived what he taught. He donated large portions of his earnings to charities; he famously produced less than a one litre milk carton of ‘waste’ per week, and did not own a car. Far from being austere or spartan, Frank lived a rich and generous life. All elements of his thinking and living were open to his students for interrogation. One of the great satisfactions of studying with Frank was hearing him say incredulously “My god I have never thought of that. You’re right!”
He was inspired by Gary Ablett Senior’s footy for Geelong, and set essays applying systems theory to AFL football teams.
For Frank, trying to live sustainably asks us to change the way we think, not just the way we use resources.