50 Years of Growth

The George Alexander Foundation

50 Years of Growth

The George Alexander Foundation 50 Years of Growth

The George Alexander Foundation

50 Years of Growth

The George Alexander Foundation 50 Years of Growth

George Alexander AM, Founder. Aged 21.

Governors and Staff

Board

FRONT: Prof Emma Johnston AO, Lady Potter AC, CMRI, Mr Charles Goode AC, Prof Karen Day AM, The Hon. Susan Crennan AC, KC. REAR: Mr Allan J Myers AC, KC, Prof Sir Edward Byrne AC Kt, Mr Craig Drummond, Prof Richard Larkins AC, Mr Anthony Burgess, The Hon. Alex Chernov AC, KC. ABSENT: Prof Fiona Stanley AC, Prof Brian Schmidt AC, Mr Leon Davis AO.

Commemorating 50 Years of The George Alexander Foundation Chairman’s Foreword

• to contribute to a sustainable Australia by supporting environmental education and encouraging young people’s commitment to the environment, and

• to honour the legacy of George Alexander and his desire to give back to the community.

This mission directly responds to George’s own early life experiences of adversity and a lack of education.

Charles Goode AC Chairman, The George Alexander Foundation

It was from a small yet generous gift of $30,000 from George Alexander in 1972, that The George Alexander Foundation has grown to have a corpus valued at approximately $44 million (June 2022).

It is remarkable to see this growth and with it the progression and strategic development of the Foundation’s mission.

Thank you to the partners of The George Alexander Foundation – it is through your institutions that the Foundation impacts the lives of so many talented young Australians, helping them to fulfill their potential.

George Alexander was a man of vision and generosity. His life story is a tale of achievement in the face of great odds, and it exemplifies the ethos that has helped build modern Australia. It is truly inspiring that a man from humble beginnings who came to Australia as a child migrant under the Big Brother scheme could create such a legacy.

Since it was established, the Foundation has donated over $29 million to the Australian community. Although initially giving broadly, the Foundation has gradually clarified its purpose:

• to support talented individuals across Australia to achieve their educational goals and fulfill their potential

Similarly, the funding principles which guide the Foundation – sustainability, community, access, leadership, and excellence – reflect the values demonstrated by George himself during his lifetime as he strove to acquire an education, prospered in his business interests, and looked to give back to others in the community through philanthropy.

Today, The George Alexander Foundation provides one of Australia’s most significant private scholarship and fellowship schemes offering close to 100 scholarships and fellowships a year valued at nearly $2 million per annum.

In total, the Foundation has supported over 1,000 scholars and 400 fellows, recognising their talent, leadership potential, and commitment to the wider community.

In the Foundation’s early years, George was asked how he wished to be remembered. His modest reply was, ‘I don’t want to be remembered for anything; I’m just a pom who came out to a great country and got lucky.’

Despite this sentiment, George’s remarkable values and spirit are embodied within his foundation having a lasting impact on the scholars, and fellows his philanthropy has touched.

George would certainly be proud to see what has grown from the seed he planted 50 years ago.

Charles Goode AC

The George Alexander Foundation 50 Years of Growth

‘I don’t want to be remembered for anything; I’m just a pom who came out to a great country and got lucky.’

George Alexander

History of the Foundation

Throughout the 1960s George Alexander had been making donations to universities where he had taught. A meeting with Roger Darvall, one of the Governors of The Ian Potter Foundation, introduced George to the idea of using his money to build a capital base for a charitable foundation, which would ensure that the funds could keep working in perpetuity. George was inspired by this constructive idea and an arrangement was put in place for the Governors of The Ian Potter Foundation to become trustees and administrators of The George Alexander Foundation. George was pleased that his funds would be wisely managed and distributed and the Foundation was set up with broad philanthropic aims that would allow trustees to respond to changing circumstances.

The initial gift to establish the Foundation in 1972 was $30,000. Regular gifts saw it grow to $250,000 in 1975, before reaching $1 million in 1987. His subsequent gifts, together with investment growth, saw capital rise to around $15 million during George’s lifetime. It is now worth approximately $44 million.

The first grant made by the Foundation was $700 to Mr J Bailey of Preston Institute of Technology to assist his travel to England to examine management development programs for small business owners.

Alexander always held the view that you do not really own the possessions that you have, “you’re just minding them”. He felt that this philosophy “freed up your thinking about how you deal with money” – and this was central to the development of his philanthropy.’

Peter Yule, biographer ‘the little brother’ the life of George Alexander.

Initially, the grants made by The George Alexander Foundation tended to supplement those made by The Ian Potter Foundation, although with a Queensland focus due to George’s involvement in the Queensland community.

When Dr Dorothy Scott was appointed Chief Executive Officer of The George Alexander Foundation (GAF) and The Ian Potter Foundation in 2001, she worked with George to reorient the guidelines of the Foundation to better reflect George’s own interests and ensure that it had focused objectives. They agreed that the Foundation should ‘focus solely on the environment and the education of talented young people’.

‘George

Murdoch University scholarship recipients, 2019.

LEFT: Secondary-school students gain hands-on environmental science and conservation experience while undertaking the Earthwatch Australia Student Challenge Program. Image courtesy of Earthwatch Australia.

RIGHT: Scholarship recipients at The George Alexander Foundation Future Leaders Seminar, 2020.

For many years the Foundation ran an active environmental grants program that focused on support for projects that promoted environmental education and understanding, volunteer programs, and sustainable land management practices.

While George would not have thought of himself as a ‘greenie’, during his years working on farmland he saw first-hand the damage done by unsustainable farming practices and poor water management, he also learned a great deal about water management through his ‘Neta’ hose fitting invention and business.

George was interested in supporting programs that incorporated practical, handson elements and the acquisition and sharing of knowledge that could inform change and improvement in environmental protection and management.

Grantees and projects included the Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre’s volunteer program to tackle the impact of an invasive introduced crab species and Bush Heritage Australia’s coordination of conservation organisations, tertiary researchers, community volunteers, and local farmers to protect high conservation value land in NSW.

Over the years, more than $1 million has been granted to environmental projects nationally, supporting a range of organisations and projects.

With the Foundation now focused on the benefits of providing support to individuals through scholarships and fellowships, this interest is directed through programs with organisations offering environmental education and research opportunities, such as Earthwatch Institute and The International Specialised Skills Institute.

George’s interest in supporting young people’s education reflects his own struggle to gain an education and his desire to focus on ‘rewarding bright young kids’. Clearly defining the areas of giving ensured that the Foundation could make more substantial grants, be creative in its giving, and really make a difference.

In 2002, the first major education initiative saw the introduction of The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Programs at RMIT University, Victoria, and Griffith University, Queensland, marking the start of the Scholarship Program which is now the cornerstone of the Foundation’s grant-making.

Today, The George Alexander Foundation works in partnership with fourteen organisations, primarily universities, and other educational institutions, offering 100 scholarships and fellowships per year.

George Alexander’s middle-of-the-night thoughts on the design of a certificate to be given to scholarship recipients, 2004.

George Alexander

Founder: George Alexander AM

1910 2008

TOP: George Alexander AM, Founder. Aged 21.

ABOVE LEFT: Esther Alexander, George Alexander’s mother.

ABOVE RIGHT: George passed the exam to become an “A” grade motor mechanic at The Gordon, and after qualifying was asked to teach motor mechanics in evening classes. The Gordon, Fenwick St campus aerial view, 1935. Image courtesy of The Gordon.

Early life

Born in London in 1910, George was raised by his grandparents in Hampshire. He was a bright student with an ambition to become a motor mechanic, but his family could not afford the cost of an apprenticeship. He left school at age 13 to work in a bicycle shop.

In 1926 at the age of fifteen, George Alexander migrated alone to Australia under the Big Brother Movement, an organisation that brought young British men to Australia to work on the land. He spent 18 months working on a dairy farm at Willatook in Western Victoria and then went to try wheat farming near Marnoo, 50 km from St Arnaud. After the harvest, he was sent by the Big Brother Movement to work at Liparoo in the semi-desert Mallee country.

Times were tough during the Depression years and in 1930 he was out of work for several months in Melbourne. He returned to Willatook for a short time and then moved to nearby Koroit, near Geelong where he worked in a local garage and finally realised his dream of becoming an A-grade mechanic.

A love of learning

His education had only just begun, and he enrolled in evening classes in mechanics and management at The Gordon Institute, where he also became a part-time lecturer. During the Second World War he became a production engineer and then manager of a munitions factory and, being classified as an essential worker, was not allowed to enlist in the armed forces.

George studied Industrial Management and Executive Training at RMIT and was awarded the John Storey Award from the Department of Industrial Management. He was 32.

A teenage English immigrant, a farmworker, a mechanic, a lecturer, and a businessman, George was, in many ways, a lifelong student and teacher. In the words of his biographer Dr Peter Yule, George Alexander was ‘a self-made man whose life experiences inspired a wish to help others.’ His story provides inspiration for anyone who believes that determination and perseverance can overcome adversity.

Inventor

George Alexander combined his knowledge of mechanics and engineering with a creative mind and invented some highly successful products during his business career. After the war finished, he used his savings to set up a factory to manufacture one of his inventions, a system of brass hose fittings. He called his hose fittings business “Neta”. The Neta business flourished and became widely known in the 1960s thanks to its well-known Happy Pappy advertising campaign.

Philanthropist

George Alexander created the Foundation to use his wealth in a constructive way. Pragmatic and straightforward, he was a great believer in the importance of philanthropy and always hoped that his example of giving in his lifetime would inspire others to do the same, saying, “It’s not clever to hold onto it until the last minute, and I am sure you can’t take it with you when you leave.”

George was particularly aware of the obstacles he had faced as a child and his own lack of education, so he was inspired to help talented young people make the most of their potential.

The Australia Day honours of 2004 saw George appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the community through philanthropy, particularly in the areas of higher education, social welfare, and the environment.

George Alexander maintained his interest in the work of the Foundation until his death in February 2008. His wish was to leave the majority of his estate to the Foundation, George’s bequest more than doubled the corpus from $15.5 million at 30 June 2008 to $32.6 million at the end of July 2008.

Businessman

The business expanded through the acquisition of smaller companies and was highly successful. With the intention of retiring, George sold the business in 1976 and moved to Queensland.

Rather than retiring, George simply shifted gears and developed extensive interests in property development and continued to work on inventions.

The George Alexander Foundation 50 Years of Growth

The Neta hose nozzle designed by George Alexander.

In 2004, George Alexander received his Order of Australia (AM) from the then Governor of Queensland The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD, CVO.

‘It’s not clever to hold onto it until the last minute, and I am sure you can’t take it with you when you leave.’

George Alexander

Investing in Australia’s Future

The George Alexander Foundation scholarships and fellowships are an important investment in the individuals shaping Australia’s future.

The scholarships and fellowships recognise talent, leadership potential, and commitment to the community, supporting driven individuals to fulfill their potential and empower their ongoing contributions to the broader community.

Scholarship Programs

Scholarships awarded 1089 Value of distributions $17,356,055*

Fellowship Programs

Fellowships awarded 451 Value of distributions $2,334,000*

* As at end fiscal year 2022.

Scholarships that Support Ambition

Since the establishment of the Foundation’s first Scholarship Programs at RMIT University and Griffith University in 2002, the scholar network has grown to over 1000 individuals. In 2021, an evaluation of The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship and Fellowship Programs was conducted, through which the scholarship community reported on the intangible benefits they experienced upon receiving a scholarship.

Scholars and alumni consistently reported that the financial security provided by a scholarship allows them to focus on achieving better grades, undertake professional development opportunities, build networks with their peers, and contribute to their communities.

The George Alexander Foundation 50 Years of Growth

Partners Scholarship Program Partners

In partnership with higher education institutions across Australia, The George Alexander Foundation scholarships offer access to the opportunity of education, assisting promising students to fulfill their potential.

Since 2002, the Foundation has established Scholarship Programs with 16 institutions. Currently, there are 12 active scholarship programs operating in partnership with 11 universities and one TAFE institute.

Several scholarship programs focus on supporting young people from regional, rural, or remote areas, in recognition of the challenges faced by students relocating to pursue study.

RMIT University

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program

Partnership commenced 2002 Scholarships awarded 188

Total distributions $2,435,000*

Griffith University

The George Alexander Foundation Accommodation Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2002

Scholarships awarded 158

Total distributions $3,078,500*

Australian Catholic University

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program (Ballarat)

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program (North Sydney and Strathfield Campuses, NSW)

Partnership commenced 2006

Scholarships awarded 104

Total distributions $1,561,250*

Deakin University

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program

Partnership commenced 2006 Scholarships awarded 90

Total distributions $1,417,000*

The Gordon

The George Alexander Foundation Study Support Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2007 Scholarships awarded 74

Total distributions $530,000*

Swinburne University of Technology

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program

Partnership commenced 2007 Scholarships awarded 100

Total distributions $1,857,000*

“...this scholarship was vital in determining whether tertiary education was an option for me.”

Murdoch University

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2008 Scholarships awarded 97

Total distributions $1,763,000*

University of Tasmania

The George Alexander Foundation Relocation and Living Support Scholarship Program

Partnership commenced 2013 Scholarships awarded 61

Total distributions $1,274,500*

University of Wollongong

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2018 Scholarships awarded 21

Total distributions $432,000*

James Cook University

The George Alexander Foundation Undergraduate Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2018 Scholarships awarded 29

Total distributions $488,000*

Australian National University

The George Alexander Foundation Relocation Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2018 Scholarships awarded 31

Total distributions $544,000*

University of South Australia

The George Alexander Foundation Regional Scholarship Program Partnership commenced 2009 – 2012 2021 Scholarships awarded 10 Total distributions $94,000*

* As at end fiscal year 2022.

The George Alexander Foundation 50 Years of Growth

“I cannot emphasise enough that without GAF’s support, relocating to study would simply not have been possible for me.”

“The confidence and backing of The George Alexander Foundation ignited an increased sense of purpose and resolution in my academic endeavour.”

Partners Fellowship Program Partners

The George Alexander Foundation currently supports fellowships through The International Specialised Skills Institute and a secondary school-level environmental science and conservation program through Earthwatch Australia’s Student Challenge Program.

Fellowships provide the means for talented individuals to pursue specific extended study and learning opportunities that may not have been possible otherwise. Fellowship recipients are selected by their supporting institutions for having outstanding potential, drive, ideas, and the capacity to bring benefit to their industry or the wider community through their study and future career.

The International Specialised Skills Institute

The George Alexander Foundation Fellowship Program Partnership commenced 2005 Fellowships awarded 58 Total distributions $1,164,000*

Earthwatch Australia

The George Alexander Foundation Student Challenge Program Partnership commenced 2011 Fellowships awarded 352 Total distributions $960,000*

“One key benefit has been the opportunity to develop leadership skills through various activities that our GAF network has been involved in.”

* As at end fiscal year 2022.

Past Scholarship and Fellowship Program Partners

Charles Darwin University

Partners

2007–2008 Scholarships awarded 12 Total distributions $126,000

Queensland University of Technology Partners 2013–2018 Scholarships awarded 41 Total distributions $372,680

Victoria University Partners 2013–2020 Scholarships awarded 58 Total distributions $1,077,500

The University of Melbourne Partners 2014–2016 Scholarships awarded 15 Total distributions $305,625

Centre for Sustainability Leadership Partners 2009–2015 Fellowships awarded 41 Total distributions $210,000

In 2004, at the age of 94 George Alexander was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the community through philanthropy.