IMPACT REPORT

YOUR DONATIONS TO RMIT 02 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015

ABOUT RMIT

RMIT is a global university of technology, design and enterprise. The University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in practical education and outcome-oriented research.

Founded on philanthropy, RMIT is a leader in technology, design, global business, communication, global communities, health solutions and urban sustainable futures.

KEY INFORMATION ’s largest tertiary institution Founded in 1887 82,000 students Campuses in and Vietnam, a centre in Barcelona and programs offered through partners in Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Indonesia. RMIT is ranked Australia’s top university for art and design. The University is among the world’s top 100 in architecture and built environment; engineering (civil and structural; electrical and electronic and mechanical); accounting and finance; and business and management studies (2016 QS World Rankings by Subject).

CONTACT US For more information on donating to RMIT, please contact the Alumni and Philanthropy team on + 61 3 9925 5220 or email [email protected]. Visit us online: www.rmit.edu.au/giving This publication was produced by the Alumni and Philanthropy team, as part of the Global Development portfolio, at RMIT University. Cover and page six: Jess Junor, photographed by Carla Gottgens (Bachelor of Arts, Photography, 1999. Master of Arts, 2009). 03

VICE-CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE

Your contributions to RMIT have a wonderful impact on our University and our students. This publication is all about showing you how your support makes a difference, and expressing a very sincere thank you on behalf of the University.

From the day our doors opened in 1887 thanks to philanthropic donations, our approach has been captured by a simple motto: “A skilled hand and a cultivated mind.”

Our new Strategic Plan to 2020, Ready for Life and Work, outlines how we must remake ourselves in ways that are true to our founding purpose and embrace the disruptive changes happening around us.

Our goal is to offer our students life-changing experiences, and to shape the world with our talent, knowledge and learning.

In the great tradition of RMIT, we must continue to empower everyone to thrive in this exciting new era of technological, economic and social change.

Our vision is to not only be a global university of technology and Vice-Chancellor’s Circle to honour those who have made design, but also of enterprise. significant contributions to the University in recent years. We hope Philanthropy has always been at the heart of RMIT and continues to create more of these opportunities for donors in future. to be vital to our vision. RMIT is an amazing institution, and I thank you again for your By donating to scholarships, you give bright students access to ongoing support. the transformative experience of tertiary education – and all the lifelong advantages that flow from that experience.

Your donations will help us to shape the world with our research, teaching and innovation. We hope to continue to support and grow our network of supporters at RMIT.

Last year we established RMIT’s Bequest Program to recognise CBE those who will leave gifts to RMIT in their will, as well as the Vice-Chancellor and President 04 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Thank you for supporting RMIT.

I’m thrilled to join RMIT University, an institution with its For this edition of our impact report to donors, we wanted to foundations in philanthropy and a growing community examine some of these experiences for students, donors of supporters. and researchers.

RMIT is proudly a modern, urban, technical and global university. We asked a selection of donors and recipients of gifts about how We are unique, and philanthropy continues to shape and support philanthropy has transformed their lives. our ability to remain so. From vocational education, travel and The stories that emerged are truly wonderful, reflecting the power PhD scholarships to support for infrastructure and research, of the act of giving, the diversity of impacts giving can have and philanthropy continues to shape young leaders and strengthen the potential it can unleash. programs recognised around the world. I hope you enjoy the report, and that these stories inspire you In my first few months here it’s been wonderful to have the to think about your own experience of philanthropy, and the opportunity to hear some of your stories about why you are so transformations you would like to continue to make through passionate about this University. As you know giving is a hugely giving. joyful experience for donors.

The day you choose to give to a scholarship, decide to leave a gift in your will or support research is often a significant moment, and sometimes the realisation of a long-held vision. Leonie Boxtel Director, Alumni and Philanthropy 05

RMIT EXISTS TO CREATE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCES FOR OUR STUDENTS, GETTING THEM READY FOR LIFE AND WORK, AND TO HELP SHAPE THE WORLD WITH RESEARCH, TEACHING AND ENGAGEMENT.

READY FOR LIFE AND WORK, RMIT’S FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN TO 2020 06 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015 One bequest, 600 scholarships and counting…

“I am proud to be a recipient of the John Storey Junior Memorial Scholarship. It allowed me to experience an entirely new environment, pushing my learning beyond the classroom.”

Jess Junor (pictured at , City Campus) studied in France with the support of a scholarship. 07

Sixty years since the establishment of John Storey’s bequest in memory of his son, the RMIT community gathered together to celebrate the incredible impact of his gift.

John Storey Junior was a mechanical engineers, scientists, designers and engineering student at RMIT in the entrepreneurs – all thanks to one of 1940s, then known as the Melbourne the most significant bequests in the Technical College. He helped found the University’s history. Student Representative Council, acted In July last year more than 150 donors, as its first President and lobbied for the staff, alumni and scholarship recipients establishment of a central library. came together for the special event – He developed leukaemia and died in 1947, Celebrating the impact of philanthropy: 60 aged 22. years of John Storey Junior scholarships.

His father Sir John Storey left a sizable gift Vice-Chancellor and President, Martin to RMIT in his will to commemorate the life Bean CBE hosted the event in Storey of his son and establish the John Storey Hall, named in honour of the Storey family Junior Memorial Scholarships program. and their contribution to the University. That bequest is still transforming lives today. He announced the new RMIT Bequest Program, officially recognising the Over the past 60 years more than 600 commitments of all those who wish to John Storey Junior Memorial Scholarships leave a gift in their will to the University, have been awarded to students who and encouraging others to consider have gone on to become noted artists, creating a legacy for the future. ¢

“These scholarships give students the opportunity for educational and personal development, as they explore new places and make lifelong friendships.”

Judy Cope-Williams, sister of John Storey Junior, and scholarship committee member Ian George, at the 60 year celebration of the John Storey Junior Memorial Scholarships. 08 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015 09 Family ties In the 1950s Gerald and Nell McCraith built an iconic house on the Mornington Peninsula. Their daughter Lois Dixon-Ward, and granddaughters Bin and Kerryn, donated the house along with a scholarship to RMIT. Here they share their family’s inspiring story.

Lois (daughter): “The story of how we Bin (granddaughter): “During the war, Kerryn (granddaughter): “We decided came to donate my parents’ holiday house Pa was transferred out of his unit to the to donate the house to RMIT, as well to RMIT begins during WWII. Signals group stationed at Larrakeyah near as scholarships to support art and Darwin. He missed out on being sent to architecture students. Towards the end of the war, there was a Singapore – all the men in his unit were We are very excited to see the writers shortage of food in Europe and across the captured and ended up as prisoners of war who have stayed in the house as part of world – and a rabbit plague in Australia. in Changi. RMIT’s Writers in Residence program – My father, Gerald McCraith, was given So when the war ended, for those war Hannie Rayson, Carrie Tiffany, as well as permission to leave the army to start a veterans that survived, Pa made sure they international writers like Dai Fan rabbit trapping business with his brother. had work in his business. He kept in mind from China. their sacrifice and he wanted to help them. They established a network of rabbit We chose a scholarship to support art and trappers across the country – I remember In 1954 my grandparents built a holiday architecture students because of the way my father describing the trappers as ‘men house in Dromana and called it Larrakeyah, the house has had an impact on us. that didn’t want to necessarily be found’ the name of the Indigenous people of Design can seem frivolous in people’s lives, – but he was helping people who Darwin and the place where Pa was but it’s actually fundamental. Creating a needed work. stationed in WWII. It was designed by great space can have an impact – how you David Chancellor of Chancellor and Patrick Dad and his brother were very build a space that’s not only beautiful, but Architects and is now heritage listed. entrepreneurial. They set up other beautiful to use. businesses to freight the rabbits back to When Mum inherited the house, we You can see that in the house at Dromana Melbourne in freezers and then ship them decided to donate it to an institution – it makes you think about the expansive to the UK and Europe. The business was interested in architecture and design. successful. One year, they exported a view of the bay – not of sweeping the floors million rabbits. Our family had many connections to RMIT. or what’s for dinner. It makes you think, Pa did some business courses here when ‘Oh, wow!’ My parents Gerald and Nell came through it was the Working Men’s College. One of Both our grandparents had to leave school the Depression and the World Wars – that the architects of the house had studied at 14 to help support their families. They affected them. Helping others was always here. I did my undergraduate study here wanted to help us, and other people to a thread that ran through our family. and now I am doing my PhD here. So it be educated, because they never got just felt like all of these things were leading That thread of generosity was something that chance. that influenced our decision to donate the us to RMIT. We recognise that through everything, house to RMIT.” What I like about RMIT is that it’s not the our family has been so lucky. We’ve given hallowed halls and the ivory tower. It’s these gifts because we want others to very grounded in the city, it’s grounded in have that same opportunity that we’ve people’s working lives at lots of different had.” ¢ levels – there’s no pretention.”

Image left: Philanthropy and helping others have been integral to the McCraith family since WWII and has been continued by Bin, Lois and Kerryn Dixon-Ward. Photo by Tatjana Plitt (Bachelor of Arts, Media Arts, 2007). Insert: The heritage-listed house. Photo by Mark Harper. 10 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015 A life transformed

“My family is grateful and proud. They always admire my hard work.”

Masar Yalad 11

A life Masar Yalad escaped the Iraq war and Syria before he came to Australia – then a scholarship gave him the transformed chance to realise his dreams. “I didn’t believe it when we arrived in I was very excited to receive a scholarship Australia – I was afraid something might – such an honour and a great comfort go wrong and we would have to go back to me. to Iraq, where we are originally from, or My family is grateful and proud. They Syria, where we lived as refugees. I worried always admire my hard work. about where I was going to. My scholarship motivates me to work When I was accepted into the Bachelor of towards my goal, while the generosity of Science at RMIT, I was worried about not the donors inspires me to do my best. In a getting a high distinction – that I would just way, getting good marks is like me giving get a pass. I said I would do my best and if back, showing my donor I’m very grateful. I ended up failing, at least I tried. The scholarship also encourages me to When I saw my results for the first get involved and give something back to semester, I didn’t believe it – I achieved the University. I am involved in voluntary more than what I expected. programs that allow me to engage in Open After that semester, I was told that Day, orientation, assisting new students biomedical science is a pathway to and the Student Staff Consultative medicine. Committee. This is the social aspect of my studies. I sought to transfer to a biomedical course at RMIT. Then I was accepted to transfer Everything is perfect now. When we came to the second year of a double degree here, the main goal was just to stay alive. I program. And the scholarship office agreed didn’t want to be a student, I just wanted to transfer my scholarship to the new to live my life. Now I am excited about program. all the things I am doing at RMIT, some I never thought possible.” ¢

Why scholarships matter

Manager of RMIT’s Coursework Scholarships Office, Kath Davies, sees how scholarships transforms students’ lives every day.

“Every year here at the Scholarships Office we have more eligible applicants than available scholarships, which means that many students miss out on receiving that support for their education.

Scholarships can absolutely transform a student’s university experience – removing financial barriers and acting as a signal of RMIT’s belief in their ability to succeed. That’s why I donate to the Annual Appeal – every new scholarship is an opportunity for another student to be inspired that the University has confidence in them.”

Image left: Masar (pictured at RMIT Gallery, City campus) says, “People who donate to scholarships give their money to help students. To me, it’s the same - I will work as a doctor to help people.” Photo by Emma Phillips (Diploma of Arts, Applied Photography, 2005). 12 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015

The power of organic living

A gold medal performance at the Sydney Olympics sparked Lauren Burns’ interest in complementary medicine; but it was a gift from the Jacka Foundation that transformed her questions about organic living into world-first research.

“I was Australia’s first Olympic gold medal A few years ago, I started investigating of pesticides on the body and very little winner in taekwondo, a sport with roots in doing my PhD at RMIT. A scholarship from research has been done in this area. ancient Korean martial arts. the Jacka Foundation enabled me to move Hopefully this will also provide more forward – it simply wouldn’t be possible information for consumers – people have a My experiences as an elite athlete without the scholarship. leading up to the 2000 Sydney Olympics right to know what goes into our food and reinforced my lifelong passion for I am researching the lifestyles of elite what effect it may have. alternative medicine. athletes, conducting a double blind trial This research will absolutely be looking at how eating organic food and transformative if we can inspire more of I was an athlete bucking the mainstream reducing pesticides in the diet could affect our peers to research this area – and I approach of the time – I was using a elite athletic performance. nutritionist and a naturopath, I was a hope we do.” ¢ vegetarian – they told me I couldn’t be It’s just at the embryonic stages at the a vegetarian and an elite athlete, but I moment but I’m really excited about the saw powerful benefits from plant-based possibilities. There is so much potential nutrition. to learn more about what are the effects

Supporting world-first research

The Jacka Foundation, established in memory and honour of Alf Jacka and recognising the commitment of Judy Jacka, supports research into natural therapies and is currently funding three scholarships at RMIT. Dr Pauline McCabe, board member of the Foundation, describes the impact of their work.

“As a recipient of a scholarship myself, which allowed me to do a PhD, I can say without doubt that there are many positive effects – both during the scholarship period and later as a result of gaining a postgraduate qualification. Without that income support, many cannot contemplate postgraduate study.

Being awarded a masters degree or PhD opens many doors in the areas of research and education. There can also be recognition as an expert if your research breaks new ground and you publish regularly. It is definitely life-transforming!

Philanthropy is particularly important for the field of complementary medicine. Our growing and passionate community of academics and researchers is transforming the profession.” 13

“There’s not a lot The power of funding for complementary medicine studies and of organic living this research is only possible because of the philanthropic support of the Jacka Foundation.”

Lauren Burns 14 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015

Professor Sylvester Abanteriba Professor Daine Alcorn Austin Asche Mrs Anne Asche Ms Kathryn Austin Professor Michael W Austin THANK YOU Ms Michele L Azzopardi Mr Xuefeng Bai Mr Henry Balfour Emeritus Professor David Beanland AO Thank you to Mrs Heather Beanland Mr William Beazley everyone who Dr Joan Bernadette Beckwith Hendrikus Berkers supported RMIT H. Billon Natalie Blenheim in 2015, and to Mrs Evelyn Boekemann those who have Mrs Molly Brownless Mrs Yvonne Bruns-Eban committed ongoing Ms Claire Buckis Professor Desmond P Cahill OAM support through Mr Lemuel Callaway Mr Ernest Capp endowments, Miss Frances M Chamberlin Mr Adrian Chambers pledges and Associate Professor Sebamalar Chandraraj bequests. Mrs Guosheng Y Chen Ms Nina Christina The Christopherson Family Dr John W Connell AM Mrs Judy Cope-Williams David Cotterill Keith Cowlishaw James D Creed Associate Professor Clifford Da Costa Mrs Eleanor Dailey Professor Tony Dalton Ms Katherine A Davies Ms Suzanne Davies Mr Kevin De Arbrew Mr Eric Dewar The Dixon-Ward Family Dr Florian Dorfbauer Ian S. Douglas Mr James Dyall and Mrs Valerie Dyall Professor Harriet Edquist Dr Steve Eichblatt RMIT has established a new philanthropy Mr Ronald Elms Mr Maurice Feitel and Mrs Edith Feitel vehicle, the RMIT Philanthropy Fund, to replace The Estate of Marion Douglas Fletcher the RMIT Foundation. This has the full support Ms Ruth Fluhr of the Trustees and will enable a broader Emeritus Professor Leo Foster range of entities to give to RMIT and claim tax Dr Terrence Francis and Mrs Robyn Francis, in memory of Kathleen Francis deductions, streamline our administration and Mr Philip S Francis maximise the effectiveness of donations to assist Mrs Robyn Francis RMIT University, our students and our staff. Mr Robbie Franco Mr Robert W A Fretwell The RMIT Philanthropy Fund is managed by a Professor Margaret Gardner AO committee, who oversee the administration of Ian George Professor R Dennis Gibson AO philanthropic funds received by the University Ms Helen Goedemoed and support fundraising activity. Comprised of Mr John Goonwing senior executive staff members, the committee Mr Ivan Grabovac reports to the Audit and Risk Management Peter & Janette Gribble Mr Paul Griffiths Committee and to the Council of RMIT University. 15

Tina Guglielmino Mr John H Pluck Annemarie & Arturo Gandioli Fumagalli Foundation Hugh Gundlach Dr Ranjit Prasad Australian Communities Foundation Dr Robert V Guthrie Mr Thomas Preuss Australian Decorative and Fine Arts Society Yarra Inc Mr Roy T A Hardcastle AO Mr George W Purvis Australian Institute of Refrigeration Mr Rod Harris Ms Lara Rafferty Air Conditioning and Heating Mr Rick S Harrison Mr Edward J Reilly Baystreet Pty Ltd Mr William R Hogarth Mr Ralph Renard BHP Billiton Ltd Mrs Jean Hogarth Ms Ann-Maree Richardson Blessed Sacrament Congregation Ms Margaret Holmes Ms Joan Ritchie Brimbank City Council Mrs Penelope Hope Mr Ralph Sangster Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty Ltd Mr Kum Hoi Hor Mrs Yvonne Sartori CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences Mr Bob Isherwood Mr Romeo Schiavon and Mrs May Schiavon CSL Biotherapies Emeritus Professor John Jackson Ian G Scott Currency Print Professor Sabu J John Associate Professor Geoffrey H Shacklock Eastern Health Hamish Jones Professor Robert and Ms Josephine Shanks Ego Pharmaceuticals Ms Lynn Jones Shantakumar Electrical Trades Union of Australia Ms Louise Joy, Mrs Norma Shattock Equity Trustees in honour of Dr Stewart Cameron Joy Dr Jose Silva Government Aircraft Factories Mr Jacob Kahane and Mrs Charlotte Kahane Dr Roy Simmons GS1 Australia Mr Prashan Kandasamy Mrs Ann Simmons Herb Thomas Memorial Trust Mr Dusan Kasicka Professor Supriya Singh and family Herbert and Inge Littauer Fund Ms Pretam Kaur Melissa Smith Hytechnico Proprietary Ltd Mrs Marion Kayler-Thomson Mr Sam Smorgon AO IBM International Foundation Ms Barbara Keith Dr Graeme Snook Infomedia (Australia) Pty Ltd Professor Wilfred N Kernot Professor Ian Snook Jacka Foundation of Natural Therapies Mr Thanapat Kijbumrung The Snook Family JAYCO Professor Joyce Kirk Mr Hean Hooi Soon Koda International Pty Ltd Mr Cheong Y Koo Ms Sophia J Spinelli Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd Dr Anand Kulkarni Sir John Storey Lee Foundation Mrs Janet Latchford Mrs Rose Stuyt and Mr Peter Stuyt Ma Kam Ming Foundation Mr Alfred C Lee Mr Stephen M W Tan McGraw-Hill Australia Mr Matthew Lee Ms Chew Buay Tan Medpace Australia Pty Ltd Mrs N. R. Lee, in memory of Mr Alfred C. Lee Mr Sean D S Tang Melbourne Co-operative Bookshop Group Ltd Mr Terrence J Leith Ms Eva G Tarjan Minitab Mr Sit Lam Leung Mr Gavin Teague Music Paradize Ms Ching Leung Ms Silvia G Tejedor Northcote Trust Ms Yuk Ping Leung Murli and Padma Thadani Novotech Mr Laurence M Lindsay Mr Karim G Thomas Orcadia Foundation Dr Peter Little Ms Barbara Thomas OAM Peoplebank Australia Ltd Mrs Ila Little Ms Leah Thomas Perpetual Trustee Company Limited Mr Jit C Low Lieutenant William Thompson Pharos Trading Mr David W Lugton Mr John N Tidey Quintiles Pty Limited Professor Carey Lyon Ms Jane A Tongs Radford Furnishings P/L Ms Heather Mallinson Mr Ernest E Truby Williams Richard Koh and Iris Tan Foundation Mr Sydney Manefield Ms Irana Turynska RMIT Vietnam Dr Robert Marin Dr. W W J Uhlenbruch, AO Rotary Club of Melbourne The late Les Mason and Gail Devine Sir George Verdon Sandhurst Trustees Mr Saumit J Mehta Mr John B Vernon St Vincent de Paul Society Ms Vicki Milliken Dr Leonardo Viola St Vincent’s Hospital Mr John Mitcham Professor Ronald Wakefield Surveyors Registration Board of Mr Abhijat Mohan Mr Thomas Wallace The Boeing Company Mr Malcolm Moore Ms Joyce V Wallace The Collie Print Trust Mrs Diana Morgan Mr Michael Wennrich The George Alexander Foundation Bruce L Mourant Mr Andrew A Wilson The Ian Potter Foundation Ms Anne Mulcahy Mr Dan Wollmering The Invergowrie Foundation Miss Sutji Muliadi Mr Hin C Wong The Moat Miss Victoria Napata Mrs Jan Woods The Myer Foundation Mr Jacques A Nasser AO Neville Wright The Narodowski Family Mr Ian Newman Dr Rodney Wulff The Piers K Fowler Trust Miss Yueng Y Ng Ms Ruiyuan Yang The SIDA Foundation Mr Graeme H O’Brien Mr David Yau Tolarno Hotel Mr Thomas Opie Mr Shun Wai Yim Vaughan Constructions The Honourable Francis T Ormond In honour of Peter Sanders Westpac Bicentennial Foundation ¢ Professor Gill Palmer Grathelms Miss Olga Papageorgiou Adeka Corporation Helmut Pekarek Airmaster Australia 16 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015

“Many recipients of scholarships have now donated their own scholarships and bequests to RMIT. That’s the impact of philanthropy: it not only empowers, it also inspires.”

Martin Bean CBE Vice-Chancellor and President 17

GIVE THE TRANSFORMATIVE GIFT OF EDUCATION

Your donation to RMIT can help us to offer more life-changing experiences to students, and to shape the world with the talent, knowledge and learning we share. No fees or administrative costs are deducted from your gift to RMIT. 100% of your gift goes directly to the stated purpose. Donations over $2 may be tax deductible in Australia. If you would like more information, visit us online: www.rmit.edu.au/giving

YES, PLEASE ACCEPT MY GIFT

Please complete this form and send it to: Alumni and Philanthropy RMIT University PO Box 2476 Melbourne VIC 3001 Yes, I would like to support RMIT University by making a donation of: £ $1000 £ $500 £ $250 or $

I would like more information on: £Giving a gift in my will (a bequest) £ Establishing a scholarship

Personal details Title Given name Family name Address (for receipt mailing)

State Postcode Tel. Email

Payment details £ Cheque (payable to ‘RMIT University’) £ Visa £ Mastercard Card number Expiry Name on card Cardholder’s signature

Other £ In publications and donor honour rolls, I wish my/our name to read as follows: £ I do not want my/our name to be listed in publications and donor honour rolls.

RMIT University is committed to protecting your privacy. Personal details are held and used strictly in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic). 18 RMIT UNIVERSITY | IMPACT REPORT 2015

CHANGING LIVES GLOBALLY

“RMIT Vietnam’s Opportunity Scholarships are awarded to students who have the potential to be future leaders of Vietnam’s social and economic development, yet many of them face barriers to accessing quality higher education. The students who receive Opportunity Scholarships are already making valuable contributions to student life at RMIT Vietnam – we know they will go on to make significant contributions to Vietnam as RMIT alumni. All these scholarships are only made possible by philanthropy.”

Steve Paris, Executive Director, Student Services at RMIT Vietnam on the impact of scholarships.

RMIT Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City 19

Talk to us about how you’d like to make an impact

Thank you. Your gifts have helped RMIT to provide up to 1500 students with scholarships in 2015. That’s lots of potential now being unleashed through your generosity.

If you would like to learn more about making a donation or to discuss how to make a bequest to support future scholarships please contact:

RMIT Alumni and Philanthropy [email protected] Phone +61 3 9925 5220 “Thank you to everyone who has donated to RMIT. The scholarship has absolutely transformed my life, allowing me to continue to grow and learn, experience new environments and make new connections.”

Jess Junor

Media and Communications honours student Jess Junor received a John Storey Junior Memorial Scholarship that enabled her to study in France for a semester. She also volunteers as the General Manager of RMITV.

www.rmit.edu.au/giving