For immediate release: Tuesday 30 May 2017 The Australian Ballet’s Benedicte Bemet. Photo by Justin Ridler. The Australian Ballet celebrates three new Honorary Life Members The Australian Ballet today announced three new Honorary ballet family.” Life Members at the company’s Annual General Meeting in Sydney. Mrs Barbara Duhig, Ms Marilyn Jones OBE and Since appointing its first Honorary Life Member, Peggy van Mr Christopher Knoblanche AM will join the esteemed Praagh DBE 37 years ago in 1980, The Australian Ballet ranks of The Australian Ballet’s Honorary Life Members. has recognised and honoured the exceptional contributions The Australian Ballet’s Honorary Life Memberships are to artistic, administrative, governance, management, awarded from time to time to people who have made an fundraising, philanthropy and voluntary services of 39 outstanding contribution to the long-term success of the outstanding supporters, including the most recent company and to ballet in Australia. announcements. Honoured for her generous and extensive philanthropic Current Honorary Life Members support for The Australian Ballet over many years, Mrs Lady June Porter Barbara Duhig has made a significant contribution to the Mr John Calvert-Jones AM wellbeing and careers of the dancers at Mr Colin Peasley OAM The Australian Ballet. Mrs Duhig currently supports the Lady Primrose Potter AC Principal Artist position held by Amber Scott. Dame Margaret Scott AC DBE Lady Marigold Southey AC Honoured for her extraordinary and invaluable artistic Ms Josephine Woodgate OAM contribution as the company’s first Ballerina and founding Elizabeth Albert Principal Artist, Ms Marilyn Jones OBE continued her Mr Robert O Albert AO RFD RD career with The Australian Ballet as The Australian Ballet’s Mr Timothy KF Cox AO Artistic Director and as a guest artist after a highly Ms Maina Gielgud AO successful career as a dancer. Mrs Lynnette Harvey Dr Valmai Pidgeon AO Honoured for invaluable service to governance of Mr Kenneth R Reed AM The Australian Ballet, Mr Christopher Knoblanche AM Mrs Roslyn Packer AC led the company as Director and then Chair during a period Mr Graeme Murphy AO which included the challenge of the Global Financial Crisis Ms Janet Vernon AM and the development of the company’s Altona based Mrs Diana Ramsay AO production centre. Mr Ian McRae AO Ms Marilyn Rowe OBE Executive Director Libby Christie said Mr Peter Clemenger AO “The Australian Ballet’s Honorary Life Membership Mrs Joan Clemenger AO acknowledges and celebrates the passion, contribution and Mr Peter Smedley legacy of outstanding individuals who have helped make Ms Julie da Costa OAM this company one of the leading national ballet companies Mr David Crawford AO in the world. The Australian Ballet is delighted to be Professor John Rose AO honouring these three important, inspiring members of our Mrs Barbara Duhig Ms Marilyn Jones OBE For all media enquiries, including interviews and images, Mr Christopher Knoblanche AM please contact: Kate Muir, Public Relations Manager, P: 03 9669 2778 M: 0405 141 958 For more information visit: australianballet.com.au E: [email protected] .