QCF Philanthropy Week celebrates the spirit of giving

Generosity of spirit will be recognised this week with the Queensland Community Foundation rolling out the annual philanthropy awards.

GIVING SPIRIT

IT’S all about giving over the next five days with the Queensland Community Foundation (QCF) launching Philanthropy Week at a cocktail party at Parliament House on Monday night. Guests included Legislative Assembly speaker Curtis Pitt, QCF chair Margaret McMurdo, Tim Fairfax and Peter Coaldrake. Philanthropy Week celebrates people and organisations that make outstanding contributions to the community. The week culminates on Friday with the QCF Philanthropists of the Year being announced at City Hall. Nominations include art gallery owner Philip Bacon, builder Scott Hutchinson, and Act for Kids chief executive Neil Carrington. McMurdo, a former judge has been keeping herself busy as chair of QCF since stepping down from the bench a few years back.

QCF chair Margaret McMurdo. Picture: AAP Image/Claudia Baxter.

The QCF has given out millions of dollars since being established by former premier Mike Ahern in 1997 with seed money of $300,000. McMurdo says the QCF is now an $90 million fund overseen by the QCF board and managed by QIC.

ROYAL APPROVAL

BIG congratulations to Icon Group co-founder Cathie Reid who picked up a gong in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Reid was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to healthcare delivery and to philanthropy.

Followers of Reid’s Instagram account will know she wasn’t in the country when the big announcement was made, instead visiting Venice and attending the French Open with husband Stuart Giles.

Icon Group’s Cathie Reid gets a gong from the Queen Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Other Queensland business types to be honoured included Springfield City Group’s Maha Sinnathamby, former Attorney General and lawyer Paul Clauson, Sass and Bide founders Heidi Middleton and Sarah-Jane Clarke and Professor Maree Smith for pioneering research in the treatment of neuropathic pain and to gender equity.

PORT OF CALL

AN interesting arrival at the Port of Brisbane later this month. The Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force destroyer JS ISE will be docking at the port as part of the Australian Bilateral Exercise Talisman Sabre 19. A special reception onboard with Rear Admiral Tsutomu Shirane and Consul General of Japan in Brisbane Kazunari Tanaka will be held on June 21.

SLEEPING ROUGH

Karl Brown, chief executive of Brendale solar provider Instyle Solar, will join over 50 Brisbane CEOs braving a night in the cold to raise money for St Vincent de Paul and the 1 in 8 Queenslanders that live below the poverty line.

Chenoa Daley from Gallagher Bassett, at the St Vinnies CEO Sleepout last year. (AAP Image/Josh Woning)

With only a sleeping bag and sheet of cardboard in tow, Karl will rough it out for a night at the Brisbane Powerhouse on Thursday June 20 for the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout. The night is expected to be one of the coldest and longest of the year with all donations supporting much needed food, accommodation and essential services for people at risk of and experiencing homelessness.