CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST AWARDS PRESENTATION Friday, 10 February 2017 Associate Professor Jane Munro, Chair of the Victorian Regional Committee of the Trust Mr Adam Davey, Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Distinguished guests (which of course includes our 2016 Fellows) Ladies and Gentlemen I also acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are gathering and pay my respects to their elders, past and present, and to any elders who are with us this morning. It is a pleasure to welcome you here today. In 1994, I had the thrill of coming to Government House to receive the Percy Baxter Churchill Fellowship to visit Canada, The United States and the United Kingdom to look at ways to reduce cost and delay in the criminal justice system. My husband, Tony, sat where you, family, friends and colleagues are now sitting. He apologies for not being able to be with us today, due to another commitment. I recall him speaking of the vicarious pride that he felt that day. It is no doubt a pride that those close to you, the 2016 Fellows are feeling this morning. In all honesty, he did speak too of the anxiety that he also felt, given that he would soon enough be at home caring for our children, to support my opportunity to travel. That might not be an entirely foreign feeling to some of you here today! Anyway, all those 22 years’ ago now, I sat where you, the most recent Churchill Fellows, are sitting. I vividly recall how excited I felt being welcomed to Government House by the Governor and Mrs For Official Use Only 1
McGarvie. I anticipated the enriching opportunity to travel and study as a Churchill Fellow: I did not for one moment anticipate that one day this beautiful House would be our home! After my Fellowship, I remained involved with Churchill, as I hope that many of you might choose to be. For my part, I was pleased to join one of the specialist selection panels, then to Chair it and ultimately to Chair the Victorian Regional Selection and join the National Board. But today is not about me. It is about you, the magnificent 2016 Churchill Fellows, and your wonderful projects that will enhance so many different aspects of our lives in Victoria, and beyond. I see that your projects are varied. They range across topics as diverse as multi-agency responses to family violence, nurturing the participation of vulnerable young people, optimised pasture variety choices, the better recycling of waste tyres and costume design in our film industry. You all know they are just samples of the fascinating projects that we shall hear about shortly. What I do want to observe today about the Churchill Trust is that, as in all organisations, things change, but they also remain the same. I think that is in fact the hallmark of a successful and resilient organisation. And so, since we last gathered for a Churchill awards ceremony, the timetable for the selection process has changed, so that this is the first time this awards ceremony has been held in glorious summer sun, rather than in the depths of winter. The long-term CEO, Paul Tys, has retired after 16 dedicated years at the helm, and Adam Davey has settled into the role. And longstanding President, Elizabeth Alexander AM has retired after an enormous contribution to the Trust. So, despite all those changes, what remains the same? Well, the ethos and values remain the same. The vision of Sir Winston Churchill, in whose name and memory the Trust was established, remains the same. That is, that there should be an opportunity to travel extended to those who are accomplished in their field, with a capacity to bring back to Australia the fruits of their study so as to enhance this community. For Official Use Only 1
And the vision that sets this Fellowship apart from many others: that academic achievement is not the measure for this award. What lies within the Trust’s DNA is a sense of service, in keeping with Churchill’s famous words that ‘ We make a living by what we get ’ , but ‘ we make a life by what we give .’ That has not changed across the more than 50 years’ now of the Trust’s existenc e. Let me mention one other thing that has not changed. I mentioned my long association with the Trust but I am mindful that we have many in the room with an even longer – in some instances, very much longer – association. There are those I have mentioned already, but there are also the philanthropists, volunteers, and staff members, whose generous contributions are the hallmark of the spirit that has enabled the work of the Trust to continue and flourish. That leaves me only to say “Congratulations” t o you, the 2016 Victorian Fellows, and your families and the friends and colleagues with you today. It is in every way your day, and I do hope you relax and enjoy it, and that you enjoy looking around this beautiful House when the formalities are shortly over. It is now my pleasure to hand over to the Chair of the Victorian Regional Committee, Associate Professor Jane Munro. I met Associate Professor Munro when we were interviewing her for a Fellowship in 2003. She was an outstanding applicant, became an outstanding colleague in the selection process, and is now a hardworking and well respected Chair. I welcome her to address us now. For Official Use Only 1
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