A great year at the Whitlam Institute
Message from the Director
In this final edition of It's Time for 2009 we have a lot to update you on! In fact, we've still got a lot going on at the Whitlam Institute even in the final weeks of this year.
I'm proud to say that the Whitlam Institute Program has been full and varied in 2009. Just to give you an idea of what we've been up to this year, the A Question of Balance report on the contractual relationship between Government and Non-Government organisations was released; the Young People Imagining a New Democracy project was completed; we launched the Perspectives essay series with the second essay soon to go to print; our public information series Getting to Grips with the Economy attracted a lot of media coverage and an explosion of online viewings; we hosted the Mrs Prime Minister public image, private lives travelling exhibition from the Museum of Australian Democracy; and we had the most successful and popular What Matters? competition to date. Just this weekwe hosted the Governing the Economy Symposium with the University of Western Sydney School of Economics and Finance, featuring an absolutely stellar lline up of spears, including Dr Ken Jenry, Secretarty, Australian Treasury.
It seems like a long time ago now, but early in the year we also hosted the launch of Freda Whitlam's biography and co-hosted the Behind the Lines political cartoon exhibition at Riverside Theatres.
Next year is looking like it's going to be even bigger. We have several exciting projects in the pipeline for 2010, including a new three-year project with colleagues at the University of Melbourne on 'Federalism and Australian schooling', a public information series on Population, new research on young people and democracy, a lecture in February by The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, and a host of other activities on the drawing board. We are also looking at the possibility of bringing another travelling exhibition from the Museum of Australian Democracy to the Female Orphan School.
We will also be extending our work on the historical legacy of Gough's public life and Australian democratic history. The recent appointment of an archivist will also bring new value to the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection.
We've just launched our brand new website, so do check it out and make sure you keep an eye on www.whitlam.org for all the latest on what's happening in 2010.
We've had a terrific year here at the Whitlam Institute, and I'm conscious that we owe a great debt of gratitude to our many collaborators and supporters and to our University of Western Sydney colleagues. With your support and continuing interest in our work we have been able to achieve a great deal this year, and we look forward to working with you again next year.
Best wishes for a safe and relaxing festive break - we look forward to your support and interest in the work of the Whitlam Institute in 2010.
Eric Sidoti
Director
Symposium: Governing the Economy: the challenges & possibilities
On Monday 30 November the Whitlam Institute and the UWS School of Economics and Finance presented this high level Symposium at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney. We were thrilled with the calibre of speakers who gave up their valiable time to speak about the comtemporary challenges of econnmic governance in Australia.
We'd like to take this opportunity to express our sincere thanks to our speakers:
Dr Ken Henry, Secretary, Australian Treasury
Gary Banks AO, Chair, Productivity Commission
Professor Warwick McKibbib, Director, Centre for Applied Macroenconomic Analysis, ANU; Board Member, Reserve Bank of Australia
Brenie Fraser, Former Treasury Secretary and Former Governor, Reserve Bank of Australia
Our lunchtime session was a panel discussion on Reporting the Economy, Hosted by Sheryle
Bagwell, Business Editor, ABC Radio National, featuring Michael Stutchbury, Economics Editor, The Australian, and Stephen Long, Economics Correspondent from ABC News and Current Affairs.
Podcasts of all speakers are now available on our YouTube Channel
Whitlam Institute website relaunched!
Make sure you have a look at our brand new website at www.whitlam.org. We're so excited to now be able to show off what we're up to at the Whitlam Institute!
New Board Appointment: Dr Kerry Schott
We're very pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Kerry Schott, Managing Director of Sydney Water to the Whitlam Institute Board. Dr Schott is highly respected for her work in environment and infrastructure and her management expertise. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Board.
Whitlam Institute Board
Thank you Hawker Britton
We'd like to take this opportunity to gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support of Bruce Hawker and Hawker Britton. Their generous commitment of support over several years contributes directly to the projects and activities that drive the Whitlam Institute Program.
Contracts paper features in the Productivity Commission Draft Report
We have been very encouraged by the reception of A Question of Balance, the final report in our project on the contractual relationship between Government and Non-Government organisations. The report is the culmination of a very strong collaboration with the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the UWS Social Justice & Social Change Research Centre, supported by Jobs Australia.
The report and its findings feature in the Productivity Commission's current inquiry into the contribution of the not for profit sector.
Young People Imagining a New Democracy: still attracting attention
Strong interest continues in the Institute's work on young people and Australian democracy. Dr James Arvanitakis, co-author of the final discussion paper, is in demand for forums, panels and media interviews canvassing the issues and the project's findings.
The report is also picked up in the Australian Government's Electoral Reform Green Paper: Strengthening Australia's Democracy, which was released in September.
The project will be extended with new research and policy development in 2010 following news of initial funding support from the NSW Commission for Children and Young People.
New additions to the Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection
The Whitlam Prime Ministerial Collection continues to benefit not only from the ongoing generous donations from Gough Whitlam but increasingly from his closest family and associates. Most recently the Collection has received a new donation of an important portrait from Freda Whitlam and a number of primary documents from the Hon Bill Morrison AO. Bill was Minister for Defence in 1975 and prior to that Minister for External Territories and Science (1972-74).
Advance Notice: Second Perspectives paper to be released soon.
The second paper in the Perspectives series is almost ready to be released. The author is highly respected academic Professor Jack Keating from the University of Melbourne, and the paper promises to be a bold and visionary look at Australia's education system.
Advance Notice: Michael Kirby Lecture on what Gough Whitlam taught Australia about International Law
We're in the final stages of organising a Lecture by The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG for February 2010. Keep an eye on our website www.whitlam.org. for details.
Advance Notice: What Matters? Competition 2010
We're delighted to announce the details for our popular What Matters? writting competition in 2010. The annual competition asks young people in Years 5 to 12 acros NSW and the ACT to write 400 -600 words about what matters to them
The competition will open Monday 1 February 2010 and close Friday 26 March 2010. Entry forms will be available for download at www.whitlam.org in January 2010
Cash and other prizes will be awarded to the winner and runner up in each category, and every enrant will receive a certificate of participation
Avoid the crowds, and buy something special for someone this Christmas from the Whitlam Institute range of merchandise!
If you're anything like the Whitlam Institute staff then you've left your run a bit late to avoid the Christmas crowds at the shops! Our range of merchandise is increasingly popular, and you can feel good that every purchase you make contributes directly to the programs and activities that the Whitlam Institute runs.
If you're after something collectable, why not consider a beautiful Limited Edition Book and Scroll of the 1972 Australian Labor Party Policy Speech each is individually numbered, and signed by Gough Whitlam.
Our best value item at the moment is the Classic Supporter Pack, which contains an It's Time Classic T-Shirt, an It's Time Mug, and an It's Time Cap all for just $75.00 (incl. GST and postage for Australian orders only).
Click here to order online
