Graduate House 2022

Next Article

Meeting Services Report 2022

Fundraising and Benefactions

Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittee

Culture of Giving

As we continued to emerge from the restrictions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic our fundraising and benefactions activities gained some momentum in 2022. It was also a year in which we began to revisit our goals and sought to focus more strategically on our core business as both a membership association for graduates and a provider of residential accommodation principally for students undertaking graduate university studies.

Our mid-year appeal in 2022 recognised Graduate House’s 60th Jubilee Anniversary of providing graduate accommodation and we sought donations for providing full or part residential scholarships. This continued with our Christmas Appeal in 2022 where, again, we appealed for funds to enable us to offer scholarships and bursaries to residents, “some of whom struggle financially”, or to contribute to the ‘tired’ accommodation in the terraces which are in need of refurbishment – or both.

We continue to appeal for donors to the 110th anniversary of Graduate Union – a milestone that we reached in 2021. We will be formally recognising contributors to this and the 60th Jubilee Anniversary Appeal.

There are obvious links with the Membership and Marketing Subcommittee and our committees worked more closely than in the past to explore ways of reaching out to members from the perspective of each subcommittee. This collaboration led to plans for a joint mid-year fundraising appeal in 2023.

During 2022 the Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittee began exploring new and innovative ways of fundraising; one of these is having a competition for the design of a Graduate Union Membership Pin, which we expect to launch in 2023. Equally, we are re-visiting how we can best seek benefactors and are aware that this needs to be approached sensitively and attentively. The committee determined to ascertain what our members – the raison d’etre of our organisation – would like of their membership with respect to fundraising and benefactions. Equally, with respect to Graduate House, we want to ascertain what we can do even better for the short and long-term residents to support a vibrant and ongoing community of Graduate House members more fully. Seeking direct feedback from members and residents will be a major focus in 2023. We will always welcome suggestions and support.

We have laid the basis in 2022 for a year of renewed optimism for the Fundraising and Benefactions Subcommittee. We are committed to ‘celebrating’ more than in the past our members who contribute to our fundraising and benefactions endeavours and, at the same time, inviting them to become more involved in the life and camaraderie of our Graduate Union and Graduate House community. Another special focus will be reaching out to our members overseas to seek ways in which they might like to be more involved in our community, albeit at a distance; they are highly valued and we want to acknowledge and involve them accordingly.

Finally, we acknowledge our indebtedness to the wonderfully supportive staff at the Graduate Union who continue to ‘walk the extra mile’ for the benefit of members and residents. It is they who, on a daily basis, ensure the success of what we do.

In closing I wish to acknowledge the contribution over several years of former subcommittee member Ms Nanette Gibson and welcome our newest members, Dr. Max Stephens and Ms Janette Hocking. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Co-Vice Chairs Ms Shelley Jones and Mr. Fausto Marasco, and committee members Mr. Wal Reid, Cr. Vincent Mirabelli and Mr. Rhys Watson, whose support in 2022 has been greatly appreciated.

Martin Comte OAM

Thank you for your support

Donations and bequests

In 2022, donations and bequests were received from the following generous supporters: (listed in alphabetical by surname order)

Miss Claudia Arce

Miss Marjorie Atkinson

Mr Leonard Bailey

Mr Alan Bell

Mrs Margaret Bland

Mr Clive Roger Brookes

Mrs Sheila Byard OAM

Dr Wendy Cahill

Mr Nicolas Castro

Dr Cecily Close

Mr Ewan Colson

Mr Stuart Colvin

Emeritus Professor Martin Comte

Mrs Grietje Croll

Mrs Emily Cross

The Reverend Helen Cullen

Mr Ming Hei, Cyrus Cheng

Mr Simon Eastwood

Mr Christopher Egan

Ms Patricia Elvins

Mr Nicolas Gonzalez

Mr Roy Hardcastle AO

Dr John Howes

Ms Shelley Jones

Dr Mahima Kalla

Ms Mary Kelleher

Mr Brian Krahnert

Mr John Lang

Mr Kenneth Lee

Mr Hong Lim

Mrs Helen Lloyd

Mr Douglas Marshall

Ms Pamela Matthews

Mr Edward Miller

Mr Vincent Mirabelli

Mr Vincent Morfuni

Mr Graham Ogilvy

Dr Lazaros Papadopoulos

Ms Eira Parry

Ms Judith Price

Dr Max (Walter) Stephens

Ms Margaret Toomey

Mr Rhys Watson

Professor Sumith Wickramasinghe

Dr Sumitra Wickramasinghe

Mr Jeffrey Woods

Mr Mark Worsnop

The William Berry and Barbara Funder Postgraduate College Trust

Thank you also to the 36 generous who nominated to remain anonymous, and to those who have donated to our donation box at Graduate House.