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THE IAN POTTER FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2007/2008 From the late 1930s, ‘seahorse’ was the cable address for Ian Potter and Company, the stockbroking fi rm founded by Sir Ian Potter. The Ian Potter Foundation adopted the seahorse symbol as its logo in 1996. The Ian Potter Foundation was established in 1964 and is today one of Australia’s major philanthropic foundations. Sir Ian Potter (1902–1994) was an Australian fi nancier and stockbroker, and the founder and benefactor of the Foundation. Contents 01 Funding Principles 02 Report from the Chairman Board of Governors and Staff 03 Report from the Chief Executive Offi cer 04 Arts 14 Community Wellbeing 27 The Alec Prentice Sewell Gift 30 Education 36 Environment & Conservation Front Cover Soft corals and anthias – Lizard Island 46 Health Opposite Page The Australian 52 Medical Research Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. Photograph Janusz 58 Science Molinski. Reproduced courtesy of Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne 65 Travel and Conference Funding Principles There are some common A commitment An emphasis on the A focus on prevention. principles that underlie to excellence. ‘Innovate, Evaluate, In seeking to maximise the the Foundation’s We support organisations, Disseminate’ strategy. value of our grants, we try to address the causes of grantmaking. When programs and individuals who We seek to fund programs are outstanding in their fi eld problems, rather than treat assessing applications, and projects that take a new the symptoms. Supporting in a national and international approach to problems and we look for: context. research is fundamental to support the evaluation of this approach. their trial and, if successful, their replication in other locations or contexts. Potential for leverage. Long-term thinking. Partnerships. Sustainability. Our grants have greater We try to fund programs We encourage applications In making grants attention is impact when combined with that will continue to have from organisations that are given to the sustainability of support from other sources. an impact well beyond the working with others in their the project at the conclusion These might include other period of our support. Will the fi eld, and indeed in other of the period covered by the trusts and foundations, grant be signifi cant (within its fi elds. grant. government, business and context) in ten years time? volunteers. We are happy to be one of a number of supporters of a program. 1 Governors The Ian Potter Foundation is governed by a Chairman’s report Board of Governors. The Chairman is Mr Charles B Goode, AC. Governors also serve terms on the Finance and Audit Committees. Life Governor Lady Potter, AC It is often said that it is easy to give away money, but it is not so easy to ensure that Governors it is given away wisely, so that it can make a difference to our society and with maximum impact. Mr Charles B Goode, AC (Chairman) Professor Geoffrey N Blainey, AC When the Governors of the Foundation are making decisions on which submissions Mr Leon Davis, AO to fund, we look for a commitment to excellence – organisations, programs The Hon Sir Daryl Dawson, AC, KBE, CB and individuals who are outstanding in their fi eld, in a national and international The Hon Sir James Gobbo, AC, CVO, QC context; a focus on prevention - in seeking to maximize the value of our grants, we Mr John B Gough, AO, OBE try to address the causes of problems, rather than treat the symptoms; a potential Professor Thomas W Healy, AO for leverage – our grants have greater impact when combined with support from Dr Thomas H Hurley, AO, OBE other sources; and long-term thinking - we support programs that will continue to Mr Allan J Myers, AO, QC have an impact well beyond the period of our support. Mr Frank L Nelson This year’s Distribution Report highlights a number of grants that have been made Dr P John Rose, AO over the past year which we believe will make a positive impact on our community. Professor Graeme B Ryan, AC We made 259 grants during the year in the areas of the Arts, Community Wellbeing, Education, Environment & Conservation, Health, Medical Research, Science, Travel Staff and Conference, and distributed $12,663,776. Chief Executive Offi cer The year has also brought us sadness with the death of Patricia Feilman AM Mrs Janet Hirst on 28 May 2008. Patricia Feilman was the Executive Secretary of The Ian Finance Potter Foundation from 1964, the year the Foundation was established, until her Mr John Kellaway retirement in December 2000. Ms Therese Reidy In his biography of Sir Ian Potter, Dr Peter Yule wrote “Pat Feilman stepped Grant Management naturally into the role of the Foundation’s secretary. From the outset she brought Ms Mary Benson to the Foundation an understanding of the philosophy of philanthropy, a concern Ms Caitriona Fay for the disadvantaged, an interest in nature and the environment, and an Ms Helen Murray appreciation of the arts, together with solid fi nancial and organisational skills”. Ms Maria Roberts Of all the areas of the Foundation’s work, Pat Feilman’s most outstanding Administration Manager contribution was to the environment. In the 1980’s, she initiated a far-sighted Ms Gail Lewry three year programme, the Potter Farmland Project, in Western Victoria, which Assistant to the Chief Executive Offi cer demonstrated that both ecologically and economically sustainable farming was Ms Kay Roworth feasible, and this plan was the forerunner to the Federal Government’s Landcare Mrs Josephine Berthelemy Program. The Potter Farmland Project was aimed at changing farmers’ attitudes to the land. Pat Feilman truly believed that it is better to give than to receive and her life was a testimony to that. The Governors of the Foundation express their appreciation for Patricia Feilman’s life and the privilege of knowing her, and wish to recognise the extraordinary contribution she made to the Foundation, our community and philanthropy. In 1972, in the fi rst formal report on the operation of the Foundation, Pat wrote ‘the very nature of foundation philosophy requires that trustees be ever ready to consider new concepts and to devise new ways of assisting with the many problems confronting society at all levels’. This is a statement we believe in and seek to carry out. I would like to thank my fellow Governors, who give so generously of their time to the Foundation to ensure that Sir Ian Potter’s vision is continued, and I thank Janet Hirst, our Chief Executive Offi cer, and the staff for their excellent contribution throughout the year. Above Staff Photo. Standing, L to R: Josephine Berthelemy, Charles Goode (Chairman), Janet Hirst, John Kellaway, Charles Goode, AC Caitriona Fay, Helen Murray. Seated, L to R: Gail Lewry, Therese Reidy, Maria Roberts. Absent: Kay Roworth Chairman 2 The Ian Potter Foundation Annual Report Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report Stimulating debate Looking to the future The environment has always been a key focus of the Foundation The Foundation continues to support projects of excellence, and we are proud of our strong track record in supporting many back innovative approaches to problems and seek out worthwhile major environmental projects, particularly the Potter Farmland initiatives. One of our large grants this year was to the University Project and, more recently, the Lizard Island Research Station of Melbourne for the Indigenous Eye Health Program, led by on the Great Barrier Reef. Professor Hugh Taylor, AC. With the support of $1 million from Two issues that are of particular concern are sustainable water the Foundation, the program aims to eradicate trachoma in use and the impact of transport emissions on greenhouse gases. Australian Indigenous communities over the next fi ve years. To stimulate new thinking, debate and awareness of these vital In October 2007, the ABC ran a story on the National Trachoma issues, the Governors have agreed to support a new initiative and Eye Health Program, started by Professor Fred Hollows to generate and distribute information for the Australian thirty years ago. It reported that trachoma is still endemic community on one or both of these critical environmental issues. among Aboriginal communities and that Australia remains the The initiative will provide a scholarship to a well-respected only developed country in the world where trachoma is still a journalist to write for a community audience on one or both major public health problem. Unlike many illnesses, trachoma of these two topics, aiming to highlight new ways of doing things, is preventable and curable. challenge current accepted thinking and stimulate community Following this report, the Foundation approached Professor debate about the topic. Taylor to learn more about the Eye Health Program and is Spreading the word now committed to assist in the quest to eradicate trachoma in Indigenous communities. The Foundation’s ‘Innovate, Evaluate, Disseminate’ Strategy is structured to provide grants for innovative projects; review or Enabling leadership enable project evaluation; and then work to ensure that the Major grants were made during the year including an additional successful elements of a project are spread as widely as possible. $5 million to the Howard Florey Institute for the establishment of During the year, a review of the Strategy was undertaken by the Florey Neuroscience Institutes; $1 million to the Walter and Catherine Brown of Catherine Brown & Associates. The review Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research for new cancer research considered the level to which the approach is being implemented facilities and $270,710 to the Children’s Protection Society for by the Foundation and made recommendations which will be the Doula project, which aims to assist vulnerable women during implemented over the coming year to strengthen the application pregnancy and in the early years of their children’s lives.

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