History of the Evatt Foundation
The Evatt Foundation was established in 1979 as a memorial to Dr Herbert Vere Evatt with the aim of advancing the highest ideals of the labour movement, such as equality, participation, social justice and human rights. For over 30 years, the Foundation has been helping to promote these ideals through research, publications, public discussion and debate.
The Evatt Foundation was launched in the Great Hall of Sydney University before a very large audience of loyal supporters. Inspirational speeches were made by the former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, the ACTU Secretary, Bob Hawke, the Leader of the Opposition, Bill Hayden, the NSW Premier, Neville Wran, Professor Manning Clark, and the leader of the 1967 referendum on Aboriginal Australians, Faith Bandler.
To encourage the Foundation to pursue its objectives, major grants were awarded by the NSW government, the Tasmanian government and other public and private organisations, including trade unions and business enterprises. From 1984 to 1999 the Foundation received an annual grant from the Commonwealth government.
During the past 32 years, the Evatt Foundation has established a prominent public profile through its public education program of seminars, conferences and publications. A major reason for the success of the Foundation over the years has been the support of its very loyal membership base.
The guiding hand of the Foundation's policy, direction and management is the executive committee.
The First Evatt Foundation Executive Committee (1979-1981)
President
Sir Richard Kirby
Vice-President
Executive Committee Members
Terry Higgins (Public Officer), Charles Wright, Rosalind Carrodus, Franka Arena, Lee Patterson and Jim Bayutti.
Subsequent Evatt Foundation Committee Members
Presidents (1982-2011)
Cliff Dolan, the Hon Tom Uren, Bruce Childs and Christopher Sheil.
Vice-Presidents (1982-2011)
The Hon Neville Wran, Elizabeth Evatt, Michael Easson, Terry Higgins, Professor Ted Wheelwright, Professor Jim Hagan, Professor Sol Encel, the Hon Joan Kirner, Peter Robson, the Hon Brian Howe, Sandra Moait, Tom McDonald, Ann Catling, the Hon Ron Dyer, Adam Kerslake, the Hon Jeannette McHugh (Hon Secretary), Rae Cooper and the Hon Penny Sharpe.
Excutive Committee Members (1982-2011)
Penelope Siedler, Justice Brennan, Justice Phil Evatt, Senator Doug McClelland, Alan Renouf, Jack Dusseldorp, Kim Williams, Jim Falk, Robin Gurr, the Hon Andrew Refshauge, Bill Leslie, Tom Kelly, Charles Wright (Public Officer), Kerry Schott, Race Matthews, Leslie Fallick, Anna Booth, Chris Christodoulou, the Hon Bob Debus, David Haynes, Stephen Mills, Senator Graham Maguire, Suzanne Jamieson, Tom McDonald, Victoria Rubensohn, John Langmore (Public Officer), Peter Robson, Wendy Caird, Senator George Campbell, Jenny Macklin MP, Pat Staunton, the Hon Jeannette McHugh, the Hon Brian Howe, Sandra Moait, Sharan Burrow, Doug Cameron, Professor Roy Green, Professor Stuart Macintyre, the Hon Carmel Tebbutt, Julie Crane, Chris Gambian, Joanne Smith, Sue Tracy, Roberta Ryan, Richard Gartrell, Rae Cooper, Tony Moore, Professor Frank Stilwell, Rowanne Couch, Christopher Sheil, Tom Morton, Warwick McDonald, Mark McGrath, Fay Gervasoni, the Hon Penny Sharpe, Mel Gatfield, Sian Ryan, Baden Kirgan,Geoff Derrick and Joanne Morris.
Evatt Foundation Life Members
The late Sir Richard Kirby, the late Cliff Dolan, Faith Bandler, Elizabeth Evatt, Rosalind Carrodus, the late John Burton, the late Professor Ted Wheelwright and the Hon Tom Uren.
Support the ideals of the labour movement by becoming a member of the Evatt Foundation. Stay in touch with the Foundation through a free subscription to our online Evatt Journal.