Grants Disbursed 2004/2005 Financial Year

The Australian Ireland Fund Paid A Total Of $519,000 To The Following Projects:

Sir Warwick Fairfax Trust
Some two years ago Lady Mary Fairfax donated $1 million to the Australian Ireland Fund to establish the “Sir Warwick Fairfax Trust for Integrated Education in Northern Ireland”. It was Lady Mary’s hope that this $1 million would be a seed donation towards integrated education in Northern Ireland and that others might follow her lead. The Board of the Australian Ireland Fund agreed to support the Trust by donating $250,000 to the Trust for Integrated Education over a period of 3 years.
At the June Conference 2004 a family from the United States, having heard of Lady Mary’s generous donation, agreed to donate US$1 million to integrated education in Northern Ireland.
A further development since Lady Fairfax’s gift has been a US$1 million donation from Atlantic Philanthropy—Chuck Feeney. A Joint Communications and Lobby Strategy has been put together by IEF (Integrated Education Fund—Northern Ireland) and by NICIE (Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education) to lobby government for integrated education in Northern Ireland. Thus, good progress is being made on integrated education in Northern Ireland.

Hazelwood Integrated Primary School
Hazelwood Integrated Primary School is situated in one of the most troubled and deprived parts of Belfast, in an ‘interface’ area straddling the two communities. In recent times sectarian murders and rioting have occurred within close proximity to the school. $87,352 has been granted to Hazelwood to be used for a pupil enrichment room to support a growing number of young children who have been adversely affected by the situation in Northern Ireland.

7 New Schools
A grant of $86,122 has been made to be divided equally between the seven schools. All schools are using the grant to fund a teacher support and marketing programme. In addition to teaching, the principal has responsibility of overseeing capital developments of the school, managing the recruitment process and pupil enrolments, establishing the Board of Governors, managing the integrated ethos and establishing effective financial and management controls. Other tasks include caretaking and raising awareness of the new school.

174 Trust
174 Trust was established in 1982 by a group of concerned Christians including members of two local churches, Duncairn Presbyterian and Antrim Road Baptist. Premises at 174/176 Antrim Road, Belfast were purchased and became the focus of a work dedicated to tackling many of the problems confronting the local community and addressing the real needs of those living in a materially and socially disadvantaged area. $57,625 is to be used for the repair and refurbishment of the main hall, the hall has been renamed ‘Australia Hall’.

The Speedwell Trust
The Speedwell Trust since 1991 has been bringing together Catholic and Protestant children, schools and their communities to develop mutual respect and understanding. Under Jean Kelly they work through the medium of Environmental Education, learning to respect each other and the world we share. Speedwell is based in Mid-Ulster, in a region known as Murder Triangle and cares for children from communities which are bitterly divided by sectarian violence and distrust. At Speedwell, these children are given the opportunity to work together and develop friendships. $183,914 will be used to develop partnerships between Catholic and Protestant children, both able-bodied and those with physical and learning capabilities.

The Rock Challenge
The Rock Challenge is a drug and crime prevention vehicle in the form of a performing arts competition for secondary schools. The focus of this friendly and vibrant competition is on young people leading healthy life styles and being their best without the need for tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. The Rock Challenge is an effective means through which agencies having an interest in community safety and wellbeing can fulfill their responsibilities.

The event has been established in the UK since 1996 and at that time involved 11 schools with 800 participants at Portsmouth. It has grown to the extent that in 2002, 12,000 students from 144 schools took part in 21 events throughout England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Funds were sought to stage two events in Northern Ireland again this year. $26,968 is to be used to hire a waterfront hall in Belfast and encourage more schools to enter.

The Chair of Modern Irish Studies—University of NSW This was a donor-designated grant from Governor Mary Lee and a matching grant from the Fund in further support of the establishment of the Chair of Modern Irish Studies at the University of New South Wales. This will provide an opportunity to have Peace Orations and Lectures in Australia, to create more awareness of activities in Ireland and assist in the exchange of Irish research and knowledge.

Soundhouse
Soundhouse is an Australian initiative with two Soundhouse Outreach kits having been placed in The Nerve Centre in Derry in Northern Ireland and one in the 174 Trust in Belfast. The Outreach Kit is a Plug and Play Soundhouse in a box. Initially, it was created for those too geographically removed to visit a Soundhouse, or for whom travel can be difficult or expensive. The Kit allows people to compose, create and communicate using contemporary technology, however isolated they may be. $18,000 was committed February 2005 and was paid on 1 July 2005.