Annual Report 1998

Report from the Menzies Memorial Scholars Alumni Association

President's Report
M Darian-Smith, M Codd and Dr S Maddocks
President of the Menzies Memorial Scholars Alumni Association, Mr Mark Darian-Smith (left), Past President, Dr Simon Maddocks (right), and the Menzies Foundation's Deputy Chairman, Mr Mike Codd.

As indicated in the last Annual Report, there are now sufficient Alumni who have returned to Australia to enable the Alumni to play a significant role in the future of the Foundation.

With the restructuring of the existing Menzies Foundation Board at the end of 1998, five of the 13 Board members are Menzies Alumni. The former medical scholars are represented by Associate Professor David Morgan and Dr Simon Maddocks and former law scholars by Belinda Gibson, James McLachlan and Mark Darian-Smith. It is the fond hope of the Alumni Association that through a strong and vigorous representation on the Foundation Board, a real contribution can be made by the representatives of the beneficiaries of the Menzies scholarships to the future of the Foundation.

The Ninth Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association held at Clarendon Terrace on 3 December 1998 was attended by 17 Alumni. In addition to receiving a report from Professor Chris Silagy as to the first Alumni symposium (dealt with elsewhere in the Annual Report), Mark Darian-Smith led a wide-ranging discussion on the changes in the Foundation's structure over the preceding 12 months and the consequential changes to the relationship between the Alumni and the Board.

Specific Alumni projects including the guide for new scholars, the Dimboola prize and Menzies Brief were discussed, together with future plans for the Alumni symposia series. Also discussed were the current level of emoluments for the scholarships and specific recognition (formal medallion and certificate presentation) for present and future scholars. The Alumni extended a warm vote of thanks to Dr Eric Wigglesworth and Ms Sandra Mackenzie for their help in the previous 12 months and many prior years. They wished Eric well in his retirement and extended a warm welcome to the new Executive Director, Professor John Coghlan.

Mark Darian-Smith then welcomed the members of the Board who were in attendance for the Board dinner that evening. Sir Daryl Dawson and Professor John Coghlan were formally welcomed as Chairman of the Board and Executive Director respectively before the Board members were briefed as to the matters discussed by the Alumni. Discussion with Board members focussed on Alumni symposia, scholarship emoluments and future Foundation initiatives.

It was agreed that future Annual General Meetings of the Alumni Association should be held in December, on the afternoon preceding the December meeting of the Menzies Foundation Board, as the December meeting was the key forward strategy planning meeting for the Board. This arrangement would allow for appropriate and timely consultation between the Board and Alumni each year, in the Foundation's planning for the year ahead.
Sir Robert Menzies Centenary Prize

In 1994, as a mark of Sir Robert's contribution to education, the Foundation created an annual Sir Robert Menzies Centenary Prize at the Dimboola Memorial Secondary College, i.e. the college closest to Sir Robert's birthplace of Jeparit. The criteria for the award were developed jointly with the College Council and make special reference to academic excellence and community service. The award is for a senior student who is proceeding to tertiary study and is a contribution of $1,000 to the first year of study. This cost is met by the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Alumni Association.

This year the Prize was awarded to Ms Desiree Cross who achieved the College's highest awards (the Year 12 Scholastic Excellence Award (College Dux) and the Brian Frecker Outstanding Senior Student Award for 1997. She also won the College's 1997 Elizabeth Hall Art Award for outstanding achievement in art. Apart from competing in athletics and swimming at school level, Desiree has been involved in the annual college musical production for five years, working in set decoration and make up as well as performing the lead role. She has enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Multi Media) degree at Victoria University of Technology.