On receiving the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Leadership Award
Accepted by Mary Vallentine AO.
Ladies and gentlemen Imagine my disappointment not being here this evening to receive the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Leadership Award - I was truly surprised on hearing the news and am indeed personally grateful that Mary Vallentine, whom I must congratulate at this moment on her receiving the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Arts Business Leadership award, agreed to read these few words on my behalf.
Mary - - - more about you in a moment...
In a few weeks I will be 76 ! Does this please me ? No... but it has the wonderful upside of having given me the time, space and opportunity to put to the test what I have been able to achieve in my lifetime.
Parenting, grandparenting, building friendships and indeed earning sufficiently for me to build a base for wherever I was going at the various times of my life.
The Fashion Industry started it off and I consider my time there as working in the engine room ...or rather the coal mine ! - as it was dark when I arrived at my desk and dark when I finally went home...
This enabled the next chapters of my life to unfold.
Over 20 years ago amazing things started to happen - I found a new excitement which, without doubt, was to give me my greatest pleasure and satisfaction - AND IT WAS IN THE MOST OBVIOUS PLACE TO FIND.
After all - music was where my childhood began - being a student of the cello at the Conservatorium...
Of all people, together with Mary Vallentine and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra we "invented" Music for Spring - concerts at St James Church in Sydney on Sundays at 3pm ! People flocked to them and loved these performances - as did the select players from the SSO.
I saw so many opportunities - and so much has happened !
I challenged Richard Tognetti in his early 20s and we arranged performances of all Bach sonatas in various churches around Australia. We recorded the Bach suites and I was privileged to be Deputy Chairman of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in its early days. The ACO has gone from strength to strength and has become a world-renowned chamber orchestra.
The Guarneri 'cello purchased in 2007 and, more recently, the Stradivarius are, of course, major highlights and truly reflect my passion for striving only for the best.
There is much to say and little time is given but I must touch on my excitement and indeed involvement when the Sydney Conservatorium of Music was restored leading to my continued care and interest with students of the Australian Youth Orchestra in assisting with annual scholarships.
Many will know the trials and traumas and joy the Australian World Orchestra has given us all just some weeks ago. I was privileged to be invited to be a Patron of the Orchestra.
How inspiring were their ambitions ! And what a success it was.
I cannot let the moment go by without mention of my many exciting years as Trustee of the Art Gallery of NSW Foundation which through Edmund Capon's leadership taught me much and encouraged me to assist with some of the major works that have been added to the collection over recent years. These indeed were exciting times.
I just want to say that my 'giving' is out of proportion to my wealth - BUT THAT'S FINE BY ME - and I really hope that I have enough years and enough strength to continue to encourage those in a similar position and, in particular, those even more privileged and wealthy to be more and more generous and realise the importance of what the arts brings to future generations.
I applaud ABAF for acknowledging the contributions by all award recipients and am particularly grateful to Goldman Sachs for continuing to encourage philanthropy in Australia.