Gift from a true champion of Western civilisation

Paul Ramsay was a remarkable Australian in so many ways. ­Always optimistic, unfailingly generous, he was a hugely successful and farsighted businessman.

Building Ramsay Health Care into the largest private hospital entity in Australia, with operations in other parts of the world, was his great commercial legacy.

He was also extensively involved in ­regional television through his major shareholding in the Prime Network.

Sustained through life by his strong Catholic faith, Ramsay was deeply grateful for the opportuni­ties his country had given him. He often reflected on the influences that had shaped Australia.

He saw our nation as one of many that had benefited from being part of the long continuum of Western civilisation.

He never pretended that Australia did not need to change to meet different circumstances, but he held strongly to the view that we should preserve those parts of our heritage that had made Australia such a special country.

Like many he became concerned that as a people we had begun to lose sight of the collective impact of culture, history, religion, literature and music, comprising Western civilisation, which had been so important in conditioning the modern Australia. Not least of these was the great Western tradition of liberal democracy.

So he resolved to establish a centre for the promotion of Western civilisation.

Before his death he asked that I become chairman of the board of the centre.

As is known, a major bequest in Ramsay’s will underpins the Ramsay Foundation, whose prime remit is the funding of many charitable pursuits.

The foundation will be the principal funding source for the Centre for Western Civilisation.

Like many in the community, I believe we are losing sight of what is owed to the influence of Western civilisation.

When we think of our civilisation, we lack an integrated understanding of the contribution of the early Romans and Greeks, the framework of what is frequently called the Judaeo-Christian ethic, the growth of the democratic tradition, particularly its British parliamentary iteration, the rule of law, the Enlightenment, and the spread of free and open intellectual inquiry.

The Western tradition has further aspects, not least in the fields of literature, music and other art forms.

Appreciating it is not an exercise in cultural triumphalism, rather recognition of a complex and enduring historical reality. Durability has been a key feature of that reality.

This year marks the centenary of the Russian Revolution. The ­hegemony of the Soviets once seemed all powerful and threatening, yet it crumbled in a little over 70 years. The Russian people may have remained imbued with many aspects of Western culture, but the absence of freedom of political thought and action, and the suppression of religious observance, all so integral to the Western tradition, were, among other things, crucial to the collapse of Soviet power.

Australians frequently debate immigration.

It is a truism that we are a nation of immigrants. There is broad agreement that our country is a magnet to millions from around the world.

How often, however, do we real­ly ask ourselves why this is so? If we did so more frequently, we would discover that, in essence, the great appeal of Australia is that it brings together so many of the constituent elements of Western civilisation.

There is political, religious and economic freedom. There is deep-seated tolerance towards people of different backgrounds. There is respect for the individual built on character and what is contributed to society. Some could be forgiven for thinking that we spend more time debating how we might change to accommodate those who come to our country, rather than quietly celebrating the fact it is so attractive to become an ­Australian.

The Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation will promote a better understanding of the different ways in which Western civilisation has shaped modern Australia.

To achieve this, we need a proper narrative of the history not only of our own country but of the countries and cultures whose histories, languages, institutions, ideas and arts have contributed to our own ­society.

For example, we cannot understand Australia’s history without an adequate understanding of British history, as so many British institutions such as parliamentary democracy, a free and sceptical media and the rule of law, as well as, of course, the great treasure of the English language, are part of the fabric of our nation.

Along the way, also, we will be reminded that part of the Australian genius has been to retain and develop the finer elements of our British heritage while shunning the less desirable, such as notions built on distinctions of class.

Christianity has left a deep imprint on Western civilisation.

For example, a key tenet of a modern liberal democracy is the separation of church and state. We take it for granted.

Those who are zealous in their attempts to drive religious influ­ences from the public square loudly proclaim the importance of that separation. Yet how many acknowledge that its origin is to be found in Matthew’s gospel when Jesus exhorted his followers to “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”?

The key goal of the centre will be to facilitate the teaching of Western civilisation as a coherent field of study.

It is true that this huge field impinges on many distinct academic disciplines, but the aggregate value of our civilisation cannot be properly appreciated without some attempt at a holistic perspective.

To help achieve this goal, the centre will collaborate with universities.

It is envisaged that new degrees will be established, which will be designated along the lines of BA (Western civilisation).

Naturally the universities will manage their own teaching programs. It is hoped that a raft of about 100 undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships will be established over time.

Another important component will be a program of distinguished visiting lectures, summer schools and related activities to promote a wider appreciation of Western civilisation.

The centre has already appointed a chief executive, Simon Haines, who is professor of English at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He will take up full-time duties on May 1.

The Australian’s higher education editor, Julie Hare, wrote in last Wednesday’s paper that the centre “will change the shape of arts and humanities teaching in this country”.

I can assure this newspaper’s readers that the board and all others associated with the centre will strive to achieve such an outcome.