The Australian Ireland Fund featured in 'Connect' magazine

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Getting off to an auspicious start The Australian Ireland Fund held its inaugural black-tie fundraising event on December 1st, 1987 under the chairmanship of Anthony McGrath, with Sir Anthony O'Reilly as keynote speaker. Paul Keating, Federal Treasurer and later Prime Minister of Australia was presented with the first Australian Irishman of the Year Award.

Under the current Chairmanship of Charles Curran and Executive Director Teresa Keating, the Fund now holds three annual events: the Sydney Garden Party at the home of Lady Mary Fairfax, luncheons in Melbourne under the direction of Kevin Luscombe and Ted Johnson and luncheons in Brisbane under the guidance of Sallyanne Atkinson and Lex Heinemann.

Governor and Benefactor Programs are wonderful examples of the dedication of Australian Ireland Fund supporters and their commitment to aiding and maintaining projects of peace and reconciliation, community development and integrated education in Northern Ireland. Governors who complete a 5-year program become Life Governors of the Fund and their contribution is recognized with a presentation of specially commissioned Waterford Crystal ‘Governor Suite’ glass collection.

Lady Mary Fairfax
A leading supporter from the inception of the Australian Ireland Fund, Lady Mary Fairfax of the publishing empire of the Fairfax Group was introduced by founder Sir Anthony O’Reilly. She has graciously hosted fourteen garden party events at “Fairwater” her beautiful harborside home.

Attendees at the Sydney Garden Party held last November were delighted to hear Lady Fairfax make a gift of $1million to The Australian Ireland Fund for Integrated Education in Northern Ireland, a cause dear to her. Since then, working with Lady Fairfax, the Donor Center in Dublin and the Integrated Education Fund has produced the Sir Warwick Fairfax Trust for Integrated Education at primary school level in Northern Ireland. This gift is of strategic importance and will pioneer new developments, which can act as a catalyst for education.

The Australian Ireland Fund 2004
Continuous promotion of the work of The Australian Ireland Fund is important. The Prime Minister of Ireland, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern delivered a Peace Oration at the University of New South Wales recently and former Taoiseach Dr. Garret Fitzgerald will deliver a Peace Oration at the University in September 2004. These activities form part of the support for the Chair of Modern Irish Studies at the University of New South Wales.

Australian Ireland Fund-supported projects in are diverse and widespread throughout Ireland, North and South. To date over aus$4 million for projects of peace and reconciliation, community development and integrated education, mainly in Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Children’s Enterprise
NICE assists young people, parents and families in Belfast from the two traditions by providing a place where those young people can meet to reconcile their own situations in an integrated environment. Recent statistics showed that 80% of the young people with whom NICE works had never met a Catholic or Protestant before doing it through NICE. In recognition of our support, NICE has named its facility in Belfast “Australia House.”

174 Trust
Established in Belfast, 1982 by a group of concerned Christians including members of two local churches, Duncairn Presbyterian and Antrim Road Baptist. Premises at 174 Antrim Road were purchased and became the focus of a work dedicated to addressing the real needs of those living in a materially and socially disadvantaged community. This grantee and its community members have a great challenge as the New Lodge district is considered the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.

The Speedwell Trust
Since 1991, Speedwell has been bringing together Catholic and Protestant children, schools and their communities to develop mutual respect and understanding. 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 the Murder Triangle and cares for children from communities that are bitterly divided by sectarian violence and distrust.

Springboard Millennium Ventures
Fifty people have completed this three-year venture program, the objective of which was to increase the capacity of individuals to contribute to the well-being of communities, and: to promote understanding and exchange between Catholics and Protestants in Belfast.

Other Australian Ireland Fund supported projects are Habitat for Humanity, Kabosh, REACT and All Children’s Integrated Primary School, SoundHouse, Rock Challenge, The Reach Organization, The Chair of Modern Irish Studies at the University of New South Wales: and the Australian Special Olympics Team which participated in the World Games in Ireland in June 2003.