philanthropyOz Blog

Philanthropy Australia Appoints Two New Council Members

Melbourne, 30 January 2008 – The Council of Philanthropy Australia is very pleased to announce the appointment of two new Members of the Council: Mr Tim Fairfax and Mr Paul Clitheroe.

In welcoming the new Council Members, the President of Philanthropy Australia, Mr Bruce Bonyhady, said “I am delighted to welcome Tim and Paul to the Council. They bring a great deal of experience and fresh perspectives to Philanthropy Australia, and we will benefit greatly from the breadth of their knowledge and their wisdom.”

Tim Fairfax AM is a businessman and philanthropist and very involved in his local community in South East Queensland. He is Director of the Vincent Fairfax Foundation and a Director of Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal; Trustee of the Queensland Art Gallery and President of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation; Deputy Chairman of the National Portrait Gallery; Chairman, Salvation Army Brisbane Advisory Board; Deputy Chancellor, University of the Sunshine Coast and Chairman University of the Sunshine Coast Foundation. He is also Patron, AMA Queensland Foundation. His business interests include being a director of Marinya Media Pty Ltd, Brickworks Ltd, and Cambooya Pty Ltd.

Paul Clitheroe is a businessman and philanthropist and a Trustee of the Clitheroe Foundation. He is a founding partner and director of ipac securites. He hosted the long running television show “Money” and is Chairman of “Money” magazine. He is also Chairman of the Financial Literacy Foundation, established by the Federal Government to improve financial literacy of children, through the school curriculum, and adults.

» Download this Press Release as a PDF document
» Find out more about Philanthropy Australia’s Council

Clive Palmer pledges $100m for WA medical research

Mining magnate Clive Palmer has pledged $100 million to medical research in Western Australia, stating that it was the first of a planned $1 billion giving campaign.

Go to Topical Issues: Major Donations for more info.

Philanthropists stamped as 2008 Legends

This afternoon I attended the Australia Day 2008 Luncheon, at which the Australia Post Australian Legends Award was presented. Issued each year to coincide with Australia Day, the Australia Post Australian Legends Award “recognises great Australians who have made life-long contributions to the development of our national identity and character”.

For the 2008 Legends series, Australia Post has chosen to honour some great Australian philanthropists. Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, Victor Smorgon AC and Loti Smorgon AO, Lady (Mary) Fairfax AC OBE and Frank Lowy AC have been bestowed the title of 2008 Australia Post Australian Legends and will be immortalised in a stamp series. At today’s ceremony, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and Victor and Loti Smorgon were present to accept 24-karat gold replicas of their stamps in recognition of the honour.

The 2008 Australian Legends stamp issue features 4 x 50c stamps, a first day cover and a set of maxicards. A commemorative book, A Lasting Legacy: Legends of Australian Philanthropy by Paul O’Farrell, accompanies the stamp issue. Philanthropy Australia was consulted and quoted in the production of the book, which contains an excellent introductory chapter on the history of Australian philanthropy, and also explores the lives and giving of each of the 2008 Legends in detail. Full Members will shortly be receiving a complimentary copy of A Lasting Legacy.

Philanthropy Australia congratulates the 2008 Legends, as well as Australia Post for recognising and celebrating the lasting contribution of Australia’s philanthropists to our community.

Vodcast - Symposium on Philanthropy & the Humanities

On 23-24th September 2007, the University of Melbourne held an “Inaugural Symposium on Philanthropy and the Humanities”, with Peter Goldmark as a guest speaker. You can view a video of this event online at the CASE website.

Event

5 March 2008: Business and Human Rights workshop (Melbourne)

Winston Churchill Fellowships Available

New Churchill Fellowships have been announced for 2008.

A Churchill Fellowship is the award of an opportunity through the provision of financial support, to enable Australian citizens from all walks of life to travel overseas to undertake an analysis, study or investigation of a project or an issue that cannot be readily undertaken in Australia.

There are approximately 120 Churchill Fellowships available for award nationally for the 2008 application round and 37 of these are the result of donations and sponsorship by individuals and organisations. Included in this number is a new sponsored Fellowship that have recently become available for award by the Churchill Trust in 2008.

Find out more about the new Fellowships on the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust website.

Positions Vacant

• Fundraising and Communications Coordinator - Education Foundation Australia, Melbourne
• Initiative Manager (Indigenous grants & other projects) - Foundation for Young Australians, Melbourne

Go to the Positions Vacant page for more information.

Ethical leaders: Noel Purcell

A Philanthropy Australia Council Member, Noel Purcell, has been declared by UK magazine Ethical Corporation to be one of “the 15 individuals from business, politics and civil society who have done most to push forward the case for responsible business in 2007″.

Read the article here: Ethical leaders: Best of the best – 15 leaders who made a difference in 2007

Philanthropy Australia congratulates Noel on this international recognition.

Position Vacant, Events & a link

Position Vacant: Business Development Manager at Osteoporosis Australia (Sydney)

Events:
- EcoEDGE 2 (February, Melbourne)
- Convergence, citizen journalism and social change: building capacity (March, QLD)
- 1st National Indigenous Family and Community Strengths Conference (April, Newcastle)

Go to the Events Calendar for more details.

In slightly less formal news, readers may be entertained to find that the phrase “give back” (in relation to donating to charity) is one of 2007’s most resented cliches. Read the article here.