Annual Report 2016–17 03 About Us Contents General Sir John Monash Foundation Our mission is to invest in ensured that Jewish boys such as Monash were Ground Floor, Bennelong House, 9 Queens Street outstanding Australians from welcomed and invited to embrace their faith 03. About Us Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia all fields of endeavour who through the learning of Hebrew. Telephone: +61 3 9620 2428 demonstrate remarkable qualities Counterfactual speculation is fraught. 04. Message from the Chairman Email: [email protected] of leadership and have the ability Nonetheless, it’s worth considering how 05. The Year in Review Web: www.johnmonash.com to deliver outcomes and inspire different Australian and world history could others for the benefit of Australia. have been, had an outsider in so many ways 06. 147 John Monash Scholars – a scholarship boy from Jerilderie, born to johnmonashfoundation The General Sir John Monash German parents and of a minority faith – not 07. 2017 Scholarship Selection @MonashScholars benefited from the enlightened educational Foundation was established in leadership of a good man, who ensured that general-sir-john-monash-foundation 08. 2017 John Monash Scholars 2001 with an initial contribution Monash could access the opportunities which https://www.youtube.com/c/ from the Australian Federal allowed him to realise his immense talents 09. Where Are They Now GeneralSirJohnMonashFoundationMelbourne Government together with further and abilities leading the Australian Corps 12. Impact ABN 78 099 065 184 contributions from corporate in 1918. and private supporters and 15. Events and Activities One hundred years on, the task of Australians donors. Its purpose is to raise is to sustain the memory of those in that 18. Governance About this publication funds for, and to administer, Corps who fought and died in our name. Our modest obligation is to remember. General Sir John Monash Foundation Australia’s own postgraduate 20. Members GENERAL SIR JOHN MONASH Annual Report 2016-2017 I venture further though – we also need to scholarships—the John Monash GCMG, KCB, VD 21. Foundation Volunteers ISSN: 2205-5711 (Print) 2205-572X (Online) Scholarships—to foster leadership, learn, from the remarkable leadership of This publication is available on the expertise and international Monash and from its foundations in the 22.. Financial Highlights General Sir John Monash Foundation’s website: educational opportunities he was fortunate networks, as well as build Australia’s From the commemorative speech by 2012 www.johnmonash.com.au John Monash Scholar, Iwan Walters at the to receive. 24. Thank you capabilities for the future. The Annual Spirit of Australia General Sir John For an emailed or printed copy John Monash Scholarships are Australia should consider itself immensely 26. Partners and Supporters please contact the Foundation: Monash Service, Friday August 5, 2016, in lucky that a man with the redoubtable amongst the most important Telephone: +61 3 9620 2428 Parliament House, Melbourne. ability of Monash was equipped through postgraduate scholarships Email: [email protected] education to embrace leadership, and to currently available in Australia. apply his talents to such an extent that we Designed by: 5678 Design For his leadership in 1918, and for his immense now remember him as both our greatest Photography: General Sir John Monash Foundation contribution to Australian civil society as an commander, and greatest citizen. Photo Library engineer, administrator and visionary nation- The John Monash Scholars builder, we rightly remember Sir John Monash. One hundred years later, however, we should To date, the General Sir John Monash What we must also ask ourselves, if we are not need to rely on fate to equip our young Foundation has awarded 147 Scholarships. to properly understand the character of people with the skills and experiences enjoyed These John Monash Scholars come from a leadership that motivated such courage and by Monash, or for chance encounters with diverse range of disciplines, possess a distinct sacrifice in 1918, is how Monash’s indisputably passionate teachers in rural towns like capacity for leadership and are aiming powerful intellect was unlocked and applied in Jerilderie to unlock their talents. to make an impact in vital ways for the such a profoundly productive way – as his own Instead, we must redouble our commitment, benefit of Australian society. John Monash aphorism puts it, not only for himself, but for as a proudly egalitarian and meritocratic Scholars are outstanding in their chosen the whole community. society, to give all children the opportunities fields and are already demonstrating their The answer, I suggest, lies in his school enjoyed by Monash. value by contributing to Australia’s future education. In his formative years, Monash as scientists, academics, business people, The scale of Sir John’s achievements in attended the local state school in the rural entrepreneurs, lawyers and in vital areas both wartime and peace, shows how this NSW town of Jerilderie, where he was blessed of domestic and global policy. investment can repay Victoria, Australia with a teacher who noticed his intelligence and the world, so many times over. and cultivated his proficiency across a range of disciplines. As we know, innate intelligence can only get one so far. The key to allowing young people 2016 John Monash Scholar, Iwan Walters is the to fulfil their potential lies in the nurturing, Executive Officer at Laureate International support and extension of children and Universities. His Monash Scholarship took him to students. Oxford where he completed Master of Philosophy in Economic History and Master in Public Policy. Consequently, Australia owes a deep debt He is a teacher with an ongoing interest in policy. of gratitude to William Elliott, the young This is an edited version of the speech he made Jerilderie schoolmaster who first allowed at the Sprit of Australia Monash Service. Monash’s talents to flourish and who urged his parents to obtain an excellent education for their son. So it was that Monash finished his schooling at Scotch College. At a time when some clergymen assailed Jews from their pulpits, the ecumenical decency of Scotch’s headmaster, Alexander Morrison, 04 05 Message from the Chairman The Year in Review The potential impact and achievements Another major project will be growing our the process with compassion and care Scholars often organise informal events and of these Scholars is truly remarkable. bequest program, to ensure a viable and in ways that are integral to our ongoing the Oxford and Cambridge John Monash It illustrates the commitment of the impactful future for generations to come. engagement with John Monash Scholars. Scholars have successfully organised family Foundation to invest in a wide range of We continue to maintain diligent governance This makes our community unique and picnics in turn at delightful locations. The talent and ensures that the Scholarship of our investment processes. sets us apart. organisation for these occasions lies with will be relevant to Australia and valuable the Scholars but the Foundation provides into the future. Over the past year Deloitte Access Economics The following quote epitomises why we are support where possible – in this case has been conducting a study exploring the so committed to the work we do: covering the transport costs. We hope to The work of the Foundation is generously economic and social contributions of the The scholarship, in short, has been one of the see many more activities organised as the supported by so many people: individuals, Foundation. We will be able to share the best things that has happened to me. Doing a Alumni Community Committee becomes governments, corporates and philanthropic findings with you next year and although PhD is an incredibly difficult and occasionally active in the next year as explained below. foundations who provide the funds for not yet finalised for publication, we are very overwhelming task, and having the the scholarships and operations, as well as happy that their findings confirm our value [Foundation’s] support through some quite Plans for the year ahead in-kind support for functions and services. to both scholars and the community. difficult periods over the course of the past We are looking forward to completing We have over 100 volunteers, all of whom They note: few years has been the difference between the Alumni Community Strategy and are valued professionals from a wide range completing the PhD and not. implementing this in the year ahead. This of sectors who are crucial to the selection Scholarship programs for postgraduate study strategy is designed to build on a current have the potential to be transformational process, from first reviewers to State and The Team base of alumni activities which to date have to individual recipients’ careers and personal National Panelists. Selection panel supporters We have a relatively new team at the included informal and formal gatherings of lives, and—through the building of human at the universities and corporate offices also Foundation with Deborah Rechter joining us alumni in Australia and around the world. capital, personal and professional networks, provide and facilitate the hospitality and as Scholarships and Projects manager in May, The intention is to continue enhancing the and leadership of industry and social practical arrangements for the State and stepping into the role held for the past three connectivity of the John Monash Scholars With 147 Scholarships awarded, organisations—can have a significant The twenty 2017 John Monash National Panels. I would also like to thank years by Judith Landsberg and Alexandra while also driving an agenda of more formal the General Sir John Monash impact on the broader society. scholars are a brilliant the Board who are committed to all Coelli filling the Office Administration and events or forums and having an annual Foundation has become an aspects of the organisation.