2019-20 Annual Report Final - Flipbook - Page 85
VIC CFA President’s Report
I would like to express how much
of an honour and privilege it was
in July 2019 to take over the role of
Churchill Fellows Association of
Victoria (CFAV) President, from my
predecessor Anne Hooker whose
strong contribution over her 2 years
as President saw the CFAV continue
being a forum for the strong body of
Victorian Fellows. Thank you Anne
for guiding and maintaining the
direction of the CFAV with humility
and good humour.
If I didn’t need reminding of Sir
Winston Churchill’s legacy, on
a recent trip to London I again
observed the strength of spirit and
presence of Churchill – visiting the
Churchill Arms Hotel, a unique and
quintessential English pub and the
Houses of Parliament where a large
statue of Churchill casts an imposing
figure over the passing parade of
politicians and visitors. To quote
Winston himself …”we make a living
by what we get, but we make a life
by what we give”; in other words
being involved with the CFAV is
a great way to ‘pay it forward’ for
future Fellows and community
benefit.
2019 started out with six roadshow
events across February and
March, in Wodonga, Ballarat, Sale,
Geelong, and two in Melbourne,
including a lunchtime presentation.
The roadshows were supported
by the CFAV Committee who share
the common bond of the Churchill
legacy to work tirelessly promoting
CFAV and supporting the Trust in
actively encouraging people to
apply for Churchill Fellowships.
The roadshow included
presentations from returned Fellows
providing lively insight to their
respective Fellowship experiences,
generating rich conversations and
engagement with the audience
reflected by the high number of
Victorian applications.
In July we hosted the CFAV AGM
and Medallion Dinner with 115
attendees enjoying the Pavilion
at the Arts Centre in Melbourne
with spectacular views over the
Yarra River towards the Melbourne
CBD. Returned Fellows enthralled
the guests with a diverse range of
learning and travel experiences by
sharing humorous and sometimes
emotional anecdotes leaving
everyone invigorated and inspired.
August saw the CFAV host a
breakfast session promoting
Churchill Fellowships with over
50 guests taking the opportunity
to enjoy the Fellowship esprit de
corps. The guest speaker was John
‘Sly’ Silvester, a Walkley-award
winning crime writer, columnist and
author whose weekly 3AW radio
segment attracts a large following.
Sly held the audience in the palm of
his hand providing an entertaining
and informative insight to the
Melbourne crime scene from his
journalist perspective, explaining
both the humorous and serious
sides of the world of crime, the
justice system, and the politics of
law and order. Sly deftly linked the
spirit of innovation and inspiration of
Churchill Fellows to what is required
in the community to effectively
tackle law and order issues – a nice
touch indeed.
On 22 November, 2019, Governor
the Honourable Linda Dessau AC
presented 22 inspiring Victorians
with their Fellowships at the historic
and grand Government House.
That evening, over 110 guests
attended the New Fellows Dinner at
Pavilion at the Arts Centre with the
event ‘live streamed’ online - a first
for a CFAV event.
The standout highlight of the night
was the Churchill Trust’s National
Chair, Mr David Trebeck, presenting
Mr John Miles (1998 CF) with the
Trust’s Recognition Award for those
who’ve made a great contribution
to the Trust and CFAV. The award is
a beautiful limited edition print of a
botanical drawing of the Churchill
Rose produced by Gilbert Dashorst,
a South Australian Churchill Fellow.
The 2020 year has started
promisingly with strong numbers
in attendance for roadshows in
Melbourne and Victorian regional
cities of Shepparton, Bendigo,
Horsham and Bairnsdale.
Sadly, the COVID-19 Pandemic
impacted all of our lives. However,
hopefully social isolation will afford
strong 2020 Churchill Fellow
applications no matter what the
future holds!
Martin Hardy
President CFA VIC