Honoring former WFFM President Caroline Serventy, 1930-2023

Caroline Serventy OAM
1930 – 11 December 2023

Conservationist and influential supporter of museums in Australia and internationally, Caroline (Carol) Serventy OAM passed away in December 2023. Carol and her husband, Vincent Serventy, were noted conservationists in the 1960s and 1970, and encouraged Australians to protect their natural environment.

Carol made notable contributions to the world of museums, beginning in 1972 when she chaired the committee that founded the Australian Museum Society (TAMS), with the goal of supporting the Australian Museum in interesting a broad spectrum of the public in the environment and its conservation. 

In 1975 Carol was a prime mover in establishing the Australian Federation of Friends of Museums (AFFM), and became the first Australian President of the World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) from 1997 to 1999, hosting a world congress of WFFM, ‘New Century, New Museums, New Friends’ in Sydney in 1999. 

Carol was also instrumental in the formation of the Friends of the National Museum of Australia in March 1989. Her passionate advocacy for the Museum, along with other influential Australians, contributed to the decision by government to establish the National Museum of Australia, which opened in March 2001 on Acton Peninsula, Canberra.