Philanthropy
Dick Smith, the former electronics giant, is a household name, an Australian icon. A former Australian of the Year, he was awarded an Order of Australia in 1999 “as a benefactor to charitable organisations”.
By any measure, he has earned the right to vent his opinion in public. His recent argument in favour of naming and shaming Australia’s mega-rich who do not give philanthropy garnered headlines nationwide and would have raised eyebrows – and probably voices – at the top end of town.
But we should be grateful for his candour. Few people have such courage, fortitude and leadership. And whether you loved or loathed his comments, he has done an important service in kick-starting a critically important conversation.
Continue reading "Dick Smith’s guilt trip for the mega rich" »
I am about to go on holiday… scrub that. Start again. Myself and a group of my well-remunerated stockbroker buddies are about to undertake a gruelling 800km ride from Adelaide to Melbourne.
20 years ago we would have gone on a golf trip, sucked piss for five days and told off-colour jokes. The times they are a-changing hey?
What’s also new… well not so new now, is that my holiday is now an opportunity for you to lighten your wallet.
Continue reading "Cough up, ‘cos we’re all going on a fundraising holiday" »
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trentyn says:
Mahhrat, a simple check of my link would have shown you that my real name was associated with my face. (site may have been changed since event is over) It is a shame that creating awareness often means someone need to be recognised speaking onits behalf. my anonymously donating to… Read more »
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bikinis on top says:
Your comment :if you cough up, you know you have a cold or influenza. remember, Liberal voters never go on holidays as they are so dedicated to business, work, the right thing, god, and the big end of town. Read more »
I have just returned from three days in Hobart, attending the opening of MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art. It is a $200 million, quixotic project of Tasmanian businessman David Walsh. Walsh commissioned the museum from architect Nonda Katsalidis, filled it with his own art and made admission free.
Walsh has a scientific mind but an artistic temperament. In his interview with Andrew Frost he says that if he could make art, he would. He has an intellectual fascination with Darwinian evolution, time, ancient cultures and the dark areas of our humanity.
The inaugural exhibition is called Monanism, a play on the word onanism (masturbation). MONA and Monanism were exciting and I want to put down a few thoughts now, while the experience is fresh in my mind.
Continue reading "Visionary millionaire puts the “art” into Hobart" »
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Mario says:
Ive never been to Tassie and Im hitting fifty. David Walsh is on everybodys lips here in Melbs and so is Tassie. Food forests friendly people and positive feed back. Relax Tasmania,everybody loves your work Read more »
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mike a says:
Tthank you David Walsh for this mindblowing gift to Tasmania I am looking forward to my next vist dont worry about those sad individuals. mike Read more »
It warms my heart to think of all the Australians donating cash to Queensland flood victims.
What frightens the crap out of me is all those who’d rather give Aunt Beryl’s chest of drawers, the toaster with only one grill functioning, the shorts that Jayden grew out of and the packet of Sao biscuits that lay dormant at the back of the pantry.
As amazing as Anna Bligh has been this week, I’m sure there’s probably one thing she desperately wishes she could say but can’t.
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Paranoia says:
What irritates me is that giving people cash to buy new things is basically teaching them that it’s all right for you to not be prepared, or to think anything through, or to have any foresight whatsoever… it’s okay, it’s not your fault, here’s a lot of cash and you… Read more »
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Dana says:
I donated about $1,000 dollars worth of maternity clothes, brand new all with tags on and children’s books and DVDs. There is no way I could afford to give even a quarter of that in cash. I found out that flight centre in our area had chartered a plane for… Read more »
Legendary philanthropists are often also legendary tight-arses.
Oil man John Paul Getty, whose now multi-billion dollar trust and art collection underpin the J. Paul Getty Museums in California, had a payphone installed in his London mansion Sutton Place.
“The guests won’t mind paying for their calls,” he said, “and as for the deadbeats, I couldn’t care less.”
Continue reading "Research finds super rich also super tight" »
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mind your own business says:
Another whacky publicity seeking stunt form Dick Smith. Comparing Ralph Norris with billionaires Buffet and Gates is unfair. What’s worse, it ignores their contributions to UN programmes for which they make certain demands - that isn’t philanthropy that is imperialism with money. And what is so magical about 20%. In… Read more »
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BURCHFIELD says:
nothing really., corel draw x4 serial number, corel draw x4 serial number, http://www.buzzfeed.com/coreldrawserial corel draw x4 serial number, 26944, nero 9 serial no, nero 9 serial no, http://neroserial.blogspot.com nero 9 serial no, %)), nero 9 serials, nero 9 serials, http://neroserial.blogspot.com nero 9 serials, ifxqdj, Read more »
Tonight I’m going to pour myself a generous glass of red made from biodynamically grown grapes, turn the ABC up loud, and take down the Christmas tree.
I’ll lovingly pack away the angels made from old tin cans by poor kids in South Africa.
Then the hand-painted Christmas balls, lovingly painted by Hazara women, will go back in the box.
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ttnfsynsosp says:
H4UgUt lobwlulzaccw, mconoxmqkihm, [link=http://yrjnfuiyxkxo.com/]yrjnfuiyxkxo[/link], http://klqtqmryczgx.com/ Read more »
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david says:
am i that obvious? Read more »
Quick someone hold the babies, Angelina Jolie may about to be trumped in the unabashed pursuit of profile building philanthropy. Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria, singer LeeAnn Rimes and actor Tim Robbins are just three of the big names giving support to the latest social media craze: TwitChange.
The brainchild of an Atlanta minister seeking new ways to raise money for children of the Haitian community, TwitChange is also the latest way for celebrities to show how much they care, in 140 words of less, just as long as you’re willing to pay for it.
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online job news brain says:
How Internal,voice description troop imagine action reduce store insurance claim terrible library seat here sing entirely everyone point different ship beginning talk objective relation learn hair settlement should democratic plenty modern attention plate ground especially motion while cost card of shout whole suggest call way bridge reduction football train display… Read more »
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jenni says:
I’ve been following the leadup to TwitChange with interest for weeks, curious as to how insane it would get. My conclusion? WOWSERS. Last time I checked (and I can’t access eBay at work, so this might be outdated) Ian Somerhalder (Damon from Vampire Diaries) was running at over $6000; Nathan… Read more »
You can’t go anywhere without hearing about climate change. There’s no denying that it’s a critical issue for many of us when thinking about the future. Today as I walked to work I noticed a young man wearing a T-shirt with an image of Earth and text that said ‘Defend Tomorrow’ and it was clear what his views were.
It’s great to see this sort of passion, but it made me think about the thousands of volunteers who contribute to The Smith Family’s work, because their social conscience is undoubtedly just as strong as this man’s, just perhaps less overt.
Although many Australians are continuing to feel the effects of the global financial crisis, The Smith Family has been inundated with requests from members of the public to offer their services as volunteers over the Christmas period.
Continue reading "Why giving your time is the best Chrissy gift of all" »
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Liz says:
Well be thankful we live in a nation with the largest number of volunteers in the world still. Read more »
This is a sad week for Australia.
For more than 30 years the not-for-profit organisation Young Achievement Australia brought business skills to some 190,000 students. It was a beacon of inspiration, a source of knowledge, and a cultivator of leadership for thousands of young Aussies.
This week YAA will shut down, because its funding has dried up. It is a tragedy for all of those who have experienced its excellence, and for all of those who never will.
Continue reading "Light flickering out for a beacon of our prosperity" »
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Lisa says:
The Australian government and the Australian people are generally disinterested, even outright angrily suspicious of entrepreneurial behaviour. They don’t understand it, but they know they don’t like it. They think it has something to do with America. We are a convict country, we like big government and handouts. That’s the… Read more »
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Lyndal says:
The YAA Business Skills Program offers more than a crash course in entrepreneurship. Participants complete the program with skills that enable them to make a seamless transtion from student to employee. What they learn from hands on practical work and experience can’t be simulated in the classroom. This program is… Read more »
The Kimberley is spectacular and spiritual. However, it’s not a place to get a flat tyre or have any other mechanical failure. I know, I had a flat there in July. Believe me, finding a working jack, an inflated spare and the manual can take on real meaning.
In the course of the next hour, four cars came down this rutted and dusty road. Despite being covered in red dust, oil, blackened by the tyre remains and wielding a large tyre lever, not one of those drivers assumed I was Ivan Milat or Bradley Murdoch. Each pulled up to offer assistance. All courageously took the risk to make sure I was safe. I wondered if we would do this closer to home?
A good friend once told me the story of running out of petrol and being given a full can of petrol by a stranger, whose only request was “refill the can, keep it in your boot and pass it on to someone else.”
Continue reading "Charter For Compassion – let’s pass the can around" »
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Duncan Fine says:
Roberto - a Demons supporter needs all the compassion he can get Read more »
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IMHO says:
Sorry, can’t let this go. Compassion has nothing to with “religion”. Compassion is a trait we can all cultivate without subscribing to supernatural beliefs. Karen Armstrong apparently has said “that religion isn’t about believing things. It’s ethical alchemy. It’s about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you… Read more »
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