Peter Madvig (1943-) - aviation administrator, bird watcher, president of the Danish church, Australia
Peter Madvig was born in Tanzania and attended boarding schools in Denmark. He moved to Australia in his mid-20s.
After many years in the aviation industry, he is now retired and is a keen birdwatcher.
Peter has also been heavily involved in the Danish community in Australia, particularly in the Danish Church in Australia.
After many years in the aviation industry, he is now retired and is a keen birdwatcher.
Peter has also been heavily involved in the Danish community in Australia, particularly in the Danish Church in Australia.
early years
Johan Nikolai Madvig
Peter Rovsing Madvig was born 22 August, 1943 in Moshi, Tanganyika (now, Tanzania), on the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.
His parents, Poul Egede Rovsing Madvig (a former cultivation manager and co-director of the A.P. Møller Mærsk owned Tanganyika Planting Company) and Inger Margrethe (nee Schmidt, born in Java, the then Dutch East Indies) also had another son, Alan. A relative, Johan Nikolai Madvig (Chancellor of Copenhagen University and member of Parliament) took part in establishing the Constitution of Denmark in 1849.
Peter spent most of his first 11 years growing up on a sugar plantation besides the Pangani River – those days inhabited by hippos and crocs and attended primary school, boarding, in Arusha.
His parents, Poul Egede Rovsing Madvig (a former cultivation manager and co-director of the A.P. Møller Mærsk owned Tanganyika Planting Company) and Inger Margrethe (nee Schmidt, born in Java, the then Dutch East Indies) also had another son, Alan. A relative, Johan Nikolai Madvig (Chancellor of Copenhagen University and member of Parliament) took part in establishing the Constitution of Denmark in 1849.
Peter spent most of his first 11 years growing up on a sugar plantation besides the Pangani River – those days inhabited by hippos and crocs and attended primary school, boarding, in Arusha.
School and military in Denmark
Lt-R P R Madvig, 1968
Peter continued his education at two Danish boarding schools, TMR Tølløse and Herlufsholm, where he completed his O-levels.
Apart from some agricultural and commercial and hospitality industry training, he spent a total of five and a half years in the Danish army, going from basic National Service to being a Reserve Officer.
He served in the Royal Danish Artillery and as a United Nations peace keeper in Gaza and Cyprus.
However, the wide open spaces were calling, and Peter decided to move to Australia. On the 11th of November, 1969, he arrived in Sydney.
Apart from some agricultural and commercial and hospitality industry training, he spent a total of five and a half years in the Danish army, going from basic National Service to being a Reserve Officer.
He served in the Royal Danish Artillery and as a United Nations peace keeper in Gaza and Cyprus.
However, the wide open spaces were calling, and Peter decided to move to Australia. On the 11th of November, 1969, he arrived in Sydney.
australia-bound
After a stint as a Jackeroo in Northern Queensland, he finally settled in Sydney, joining Qantas Airways Limited in their Flight Operations branch. Having always had a fascination for aviation, this led to 30 years with the company; most of that time involved in pilot training administration and finishing as a section manager.
In 1975 Peter married Penelope (neé Flatt) who was born in Kitale, Western Kenya (where Peter’s father had lived and farmed in the 1930s). The couple had two daughters, Annette and Charlotte, both born in Sydney in 1978 and 1981. Penny trained as a nurse and practiced in Australia mostly in Early Childhood services.
In 1975 Peter married Penelope (neé Flatt) who was born in Kitale, Western Kenya (where Peter’s father had lived and farmed in the 1930s). The couple had two daughters, Annette and Charlotte, both born in Sydney in 1978 and 1981. Penny trained as a nurse and practiced in Australia mostly in Early Childhood services.
birdwatching
Peter has been able to travel within Australia and overseas over the years, and especially after he got hooked as a bird-watcher/ornithologist/’twitcher’ after a trip to Botswana in 1999, birding destinations have been a priority, even to the Antarctic and Arctic.
Some of the highlights have been seeing the large and very shy Chestnut Rail in mangroves across Buffalo Creek, Darwin as well as the Goldcrest in Denmark.
Some of the highlights have been seeing the large and very shy Chestnut Rail in mangroves across Buffalo Creek, Darwin as well as the Goldcrest in Denmark.
In Peter's own words he recalls a couple of particularly memorable moments on his many birdwatching trips in Australia and abroad
Hattah-Kulkyne N.P. in Victoria. I had searched around for possible places to catch my target bird, and found just the spot – I just knew this was it for late afternoon. By a smallish lake in glorious sunset, with a nearby full moon smiling down, kangaroos feeding and water fowl dabbling in the shallows, my telescope at the ready: heard them, and then, had a God given encounter with 7 magnificent, Regent Parrots! Our guide and my family had “conspired” to tease me into believing that the fabulous Inca Terns in Chile would all be out at sea! My delight when on a short boat trip around Arica harbour on our last day, when we actually encountered hundreds of them, on wharves and bollards or flying past us – brought tears of relief and joy to my eyes. |
With Regent Bowerbirds, O'Reilly's 2001
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I've dreamt of seeing a Spoon-billed Sandpiper for years. So, a short while ago I found myself on the coast of the Yellow Sea in China, in an area where shore birds in huge numbers use tidal flats for refuelling on their way to wintering grounds. Here, in the space of a week, I came face to face with not just 1, but at least 28 Spoonies....such an enigmatic, delightful little wader! This bird is threatened with extinction, and huge efforts are being made, especially, by Russia, Britain and China to save it.
keeping a connection to Denmark
HC Andersen 2005 Herman Wilhelm Bissen. Photo Richard Glover for City of Sydney
Peter has been privileged to be involved with many organisations within the Australian community (such as the Cumberland Bird Observers Club, Birdlife Australia and SBS Radio) whilst also having close ties to Danes here.
The Royal union between the Danish Crown Prince and his bride from Tasmania in 2004 was very special and Peter was the NSW representative on the Committee associated with the gift to the royal couple through Danes & Friends of Denmark in Australia.
Peter has been dedicated to the Danish church and other Danish associations/events in Australia over the years. He was on the Danish Church Committee for 14 years, during which he was also President (1997-2007). He is also a former committee member of the Scandinavian and Uniting Church, Parish Council and Elder.
He represented Danes Worldwide in NSW for several years and he was part of the group choosing the sculpture and placement of the Hans Christian Andersen bust at Observatory Hill. This artwork was commissioned by the Danish community in Australia and was presented to the City of Sydney. It was unveiled in March 2005 by HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark as part of the bicentennial celebrations of H C Andersen’s birth.
Since then, Hans Christian Andersen's birthday is celebrated through storytelling led by Peter Madvig at Observatory Hill in an annual event organised and supported by the Danish church and the Danish Consul General in Sydney.
The Royal union between the Danish Crown Prince and his bride from Tasmania in 2004 was very special and Peter was the NSW representative on the Committee associated with the gift to the royal couple through Danes & Friends of Denmark in Australia.
Peter has been dedicated to the Danish church and other Danish associations/events in Australia over the years. He was on the Danish Church Committee for 14 years, during which he was also President (1997-2007). He is also a former committee member of the Scandinavian and Uniting Church, Parish Council and Elder.
He represented Danes Worldwide in NSW for several years and he was part of the group choosing the sculpture and placement of the Hans Christian Andersen bust at Observatory Hill. This artwork was commissioned by the Danish community in Australia and was presented to the City of Sydney. It was unveiled in March 2005 by HRH Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark as part of the bicentennial celebrations of H C Andersen’s birth.
Since then, Hans Christian Andersen's birthday is celebrated through storytelling led by Peter Madvig at Observatory Hill in an annual event organised and supported by the Danish church and the Danish Consul General in Sydney.
Peter Madvig - Hans Christian Andersen storytelling, Observatory Hill April 2013.
* Portrait photo of Peter Madvig with Great Grey Owl in Finland, May 2015