philanthropyOz Blog

A Big Year for Philanthropy in Australia

Recently in the Resource Centre here at Philanthropy Australia we’ve been doing in-depth researching of the history of philanthropy in Australia. The gathering of these ‘stories’ of Australian philanthropy is a fascinating process, and our plans to archive them in order to better share the history is coming along well.

Of course, we’ve started sharing these stories through our Celebrating 30 Years project, as part of Philanthropy Australia’s 30 year anniversary.

Through this research process – and of course, communication with our Members – we’ve discovered more than once some serendipitous convergences of dates and numbers in the Australian philanthropy sector.

The following philanthropic organisations in Australia are celebrating significant anniversaries this year:

• Philanthropy Australia – 30th (and 10 years since we changed our name from “The Australian Association of Philanthropy”)
• Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund - 90th
• Queensland Community Foundation – 10th
• Melbourne Community Foundation – 10th
• RACV Foundation – 10th

It’s also been 100 years since the Administration and Probate Duties Act (in Victoria) established that “no duty whatsoever shall be payable thereunder in respect of any public charitable bequest or public charitable settlement”. It was this ruling that fostered the establishment of philanthropic trusts and foundations, and its beginning in Victoria explains why so many private philanthropic foundations are still based in the state today.

Last but definitely not least, we’d like to take this opportunity to wish Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Life Member of Philanthropy Australia and inspiring philanthropist, many happy returns on her 98th birthday today.