Butler made his first Australian representative appearance in 1995 in a lightweight four which competed at the 1995 and took the silver medal at the Nations Cup in Groningen.[5]
He made his Australian senior representative debut in 1999 in a lightweight pair which finished second at the World Rowing Cup II in Vienna.[5] He didn't make selection for the World Championships that year but in 2000 secured a seat in the Australian men's lightweight eight. He rowed in that crew at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne to a gold medal.[5]
The next year he gained a seat in the Australian lightweight men's eight. They rowed to first place at the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne and then at the 2000 World Rowing Championships in Zagreb, they took the bronze medal.[5] In the heat they finished second behind the eventual gold medallists USA and won the repechage by half a length. In the final the Australians finished third behind a comfortable USA followed by the British crew who had won their heat easily.[6]
He remained in Australian selection contention in 2001 rowing in the lightweight coxless four at the World Rowing Cup IV in Munich.[5] Then at the 2001 World Rowing Championships in Lucerne he rowed in both the lightweight coxless four (to ninth place) and the men's lightweight eight (to sixth place).[5]
