The Royal Societies of Australia is deeply saddened by the passing of our inaugural Patron, Major General The Honourable Michael Jeffery AC AO (Mil) CVO MC (Retd) who died on 18 December at the age of 83. Our thoughts are with his family and the wider Australian community at this time. General Jeffery was Australia’s twenty-fourth Governor-General following a term as Governor of Western Australia and a distinguished career in Australia’s armed services. Subsequently, his deep-seated concern for Australia’s environment led him to become Australia’s first National Soils Advocate and the founder and Patron of Soils for Life, a not-for-profit organisation advocating for the health of Australia’s soils.
The RSA has recorded its condolences for inclusion in a memento for the family. The text of the message can be found here. A more complete account of the life of General Jeffery can be found on the Royal Society of NSW website as he was a Fellow of that Society. Requiescat in pace.