 |
Peter GarrettRock musician, politician
Date of Birth: 16.04.1953
Country:  Australia |
Content:
Biography of Peter Garrett
Peter Garrett, a rock musician and politician, was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his contributions to environmental conservation and advocacy in the music industry. He was born on April 16, 1953, in Sydney. Garrett attended Barker College in Hornsby and later pursued his studies in art at the Australian National University and law at the University of New South Wales.
Music Career
During his time at university, Garrett developed an interest in music. In 1973, he joined the rock band Midnight Oil as the lead vocalist and frontman after responding to an advertisement placed by the band's founder, Rob Hirst. Prior to Midnight Oil, Garrett played in the band Rock Island Line. Alongside his bandmates, Garrett actively engaged in political and environmental activism. Midnight Oil gained recognition for their involvement in various protests concerning issues such as Aboriginal rights and workers' struggles.
Environmental Activism
In 1989, Peter Garrett became the president of the Australian Conservation Foundation, a position he successfully held until 1993 when he joined the international organization Greenpeace. He is also an activist for organizations including Jubilee Debt Relief and Surfrider Foundation. Both on and off the stage, Midnight Oil members often made bold political statements. During the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, Garrett and his bandmates appeared on stage wearing black armbands with the word "Sorry" written on them, sending a message to then-Prime Minister John Howard about the need for an apology to the Indigenous Australians for past government policies.
Awards and Political Career
In 2000, Peter Garrett received the Australian Humanitarian Foundation Award for his environmental work and became an honorary student of the University of New South Wales in 2001. In 2002, he temporarily left Midnight Oil, stating that it was time to focus on what truly mattered to him, his environmental and social activism.
In 2004, Garrett rejoined Midnight Oil for two charity concerts to raise funds for those affected by the Southeast Asian tsunami. Later that year, he joined the Australian Labor Party and was elected as the federal member for the Kingsford Smith electorate in the suburbs of Sydney. Following the Labor Party's victory in the 2007 elections, Garrett was appointed as the Minister for the Environment, Heritage, and the Arts in Kevin Rudd's government.
In 2009, the reunited Midnight Oil performed a series of charity concerts for Sound Relief, an organization raising funds for those affected by the bushfires in Victoria.
