Developing the future

The past year has seen the continuation of generous gifts and pledges of support to Monash University, writes MARY VISCOVICH

A commemorative plaque to honour a major gift to Monash was unveiled at a ceremony in September to mark the opening of the new Monash Centre in Prato, Italy.

The plaque recognises the ongoing support of Melburnians Mr Rino Grollo and Mrs Diana Grollo for Monash’s international projects, and in particular their recent significant support for the Prato initiative.

While the benefaction was a wonderful outcome for Monash, it was not a "bolt out of the blue", according to University Development manager Mr Serhat Abdurazak.

He says the gift was the culmination of months of liaison by his office and was one of a series of important fundraising activities undertaken by Monash.

And it was by no means the only significant breakthrough in development at Monash recently. A very generous contribution has also been made to the Australian Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation from The Benjamin Slome Charitable Foundation.

"We would not have been able to establish a Chair of Jewish Civilisation without the help of the Jewish community in the first place, and this most recent contribution will now allow the centre to enhance its program offerings," Mr Abdurazak said.

In fact, the work with the centre is a good example of how a development office can operate. Mr Abdurazak says University Development has worked closely with the centre over the past two years, evaluating and enhancing its profile both within the Jewish community and throughout the wider community.

"At the same time, we had been working to identify potential supporters for the campaign and engaged the active interest of a number of people," he says. "Someone then stepped forward with a further pledge of support."

According to Mr Abdurazak, much of the University Development’s work also involves community partnerships.

"The Vivian Bullwinkel Chair is a good case in point," he says. "We are teaming up with our School of Nursing and organisations such as the RSL to raise money for a Clinical Chair in Palliative Care Nursing in Sister Bullwinkel’s name."

Sister Vivian Bullwinkel, best known as a heroic POW, survived three years of captivity under the Japanese during World War II, caring for the sick and dying She was the sole survivor of 22 nurses who were gunned down in the shallows of Banka Island in 1942.

While business outcomes are still at the heart of University Development’s mission, it is also about building relationships with communities and alumni both in Australia and around the world.

"Essentially, development engenders support for the university by fostering collaborative activity involving both the wider community and our alumni," Mr Abdurazak says.

"At the moment, we are being considered for a $4 million gift from outside Australia – this indicates the high regard in which Monash University is held around the world."

ACTION: To find out how you can make a gift or bequest to the university, contact Mr Serhat Abdurazak on +61 3 9905 2340 or email serhat.abdurazak@adm.monash.edu.au

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