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The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded 9.7m short-term
resident departures in the year to June 2016.
For younger generations of Australians who were not alive in
Churchill’s lifetime – but now enjoy a freedom of life that can in no
small part be attributed to the pivotal role that he played in World
War 2 – there is a need to translate his vision, determination and
passion into a modern context. Our smallest field of applicants
comes from people aged under 25 and perhaps this presents a
driver for us to find new ways to engage with newer generations of
inspiring Australians to become ambassadors for Churchill’s legacy.
In reading the steady stream of Churchill Fellows’ reports. I am
only too aware of my good fortune to be in this role. There are
so many ways that inspirational Churchill Fellows find to benefit
their communities and their willingness to share their knowledge
is universal. I encourage you to read these reports to deepen your
understanding of an issue and broaden your thinking. We add over
100 reports every year to our website – I challenge you to not find
one that captures your interest and gives you a new perspective or
fresh ideas.
Even though we freely publish all Churchill Fellows’ reports online,
I see sharing the findings as one of the biggest challenges and
opportunities in front of us. We now live in the ‘information age’
and the Internet has opened seemingly limitless opportunities for
sharing information and connecting with people all over the world
in real time. We have a virtual treasure trove of information, ideas
and knowledge made freely available to anyone via our website.
But how do people find this information? How do they know it is
there? Increasing awareness of our Fellows’ reports and helping to
connect them with policy makers, decision makers and the broader
community is an area of focus for us over the coming years.
I would also like to acknowledge our National Chair, the
Honourable Margaret White who retired from the Board at the
2017 Annual General Meeting following an involvement as a QLD
selection panel member in 1993 and 14 years on our Board, the
last five as Chair.
In her report, our National Chair has paid tribute to one of our first
Churchill Fellows, Robert (Bob) Prickett who died on 3 January
2017. Bob was a special friend of the Trust who touched the lives
of so many people. He had a special connection with the recipients
of the Churchill Fellowships that he sponsored.
I feel lucky to have met Bob and it is no coincidence that on my
first meeting with him, one of ‘his’ Fellows, Dianne Greathead had
also come to visit. A memorial event in Brisbane was attended by
many Churchill Fellows who wanted to celebrate Bob’s life. We
have dedicated pages in this Annual Report to acknowledge Bob’s
contribution to the Australian community.
I have been encouraged and supported in my role by Life Members,
Churchill Fellows and our Board of Directors who have laid out a
clear Strategic Direction Statement for the Trust. I am thankful to
our previous CEO, Paul Tys, who has provided me with a guiding
hand and support as he handed over the role. Learning from Paul’s
contribution and stewardship of the Trust over sixteen years has
been invaluable.
Our small team at Churchill House are not only the engine room
but also an ideas factory, keen to innovate.
This year we recruited a new position focused on ‘Fellowship
Engagement and Development’. This new role will help increase
the level of engagement with Churchill Fellows well beyond their
overseas travel and increase our capacity to develop and deliver
new ways of supporting our Fellows to share their findings.
It is pleasing to work with an optimistic and passionate team of
people – Ms Sally Campbell, Ms Meg Gilmartin, Ms Julia Quantrill,
Ms Emma Robertson and Ms Beverley Payne. The positive feedback
from Churchill Fellows and applicants is testament to their
professionalism.
In December, I had the opportunity to meet with the team at the
UK Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. We discussed in detail how
we administer our respective Churchill Fellowship schemes and
compared the challenges and opportunities that we see ahead.
Unsurprisingly, we share the same optimism for the future and
are embracing new technology to connect and share the work of
our Churchill Fellows with the community. I thank Julia Weston,
UK Churchill Trust CEO and her team for their hospitality and am
pleased that a positive relationship between our staff has resulted
from my visit, with interaction between our teams now a regular
occurrence.
I was also privileged to meet the Honourable Jeremy Soames and
Mr Randolph Churchill, both of whom gave me additional insight
into the ways that Sir Winston Churchill’s legacy is being honoured
and perpetuated internationally not just through the travelling
Fellowships but through scholarships and enduring partnerships
that are inspiring excellence.
A Churchill Fellowship represents more than a source of research
funding or recognition of personal achievement. The purpose
of a Churchill Fellowship is to enable a person to further their
knowledge for the benefit of the Australian community on their
return, as part of a lifelong journey.
The overwhelming message that I consistently hear from Churchill
Fellows is that a Fellowship is ‘a life changing experience’. That is
the essence of a Fellowship that we must maintain as the Trust
continues to grow and evolve.
I look forward to working with you all as we continue in this
great enterprise.
Pictured below
Adam met Bob Prickett
for the first time in
August 2016 with
Churchill Fellow
Dianne Greathead
and Paul Tys
Rewarding Australians Striving for Excellence
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