RECENT GRANTS AWARDED

Board of Governors Meeting
15 May 2008

Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne
$48,775 for the Rare and Threatened Species Collection.

Board of Governors Meeting
13 March 2008

National Trust of South Australia, SA
$30,950 for Wilabalangaloo, You and our Riverland Environment

La Trobe University:
Science, Technology and Engineering,
$100,000 for In2science - University to school Peer Mentoring Program in Science and Mathematics

GEORGE ALEXANDER awarded the
Gordon Institute of TAFE 2007 Outstanding Alumni

GRANT DISTRIBUTION REPORTS
A listing of grants made by the Foundation in each financial year (1 July - 30 June).

The George Alexander Foundation Distribution Report 2006/2007 (1.32MB PDF Document)

The George Alexander Foundation Distribution Report 2005/2006 (975kb PDF Document)

The George Alexander Foundation Distribution Report 2004/2005 (382 kb PDF Document)

Joel Drew, silver medalist at the 39th WorldSkills International Competition, Japan 2007

With more than 900 competitors from 50 countries competing in a range of categories the Skillaroos 5th place overall was a fantastic result.

WorldSkills Australia conducts trade and skill competitions to challenge young people to achieve work skill excellence. Every two years a Skillaroos team is selected to represent Australia at the International Championships.

The Foundation's grant was allocated to team member Joel Drew for pre-training and participation in the Jewellery Category at the 39th WorldSkills International Competition in Japan in 2007.

“Competing is a great way to develop skills and confidence. The WorldSkills Australia competitions are well recognised amongst the industry and will help boost any career. The trade that I do allows so much creativity and provides a great sense of satisfaction. I think most trades are like that – when you get to build or create something with your hands, it’s truly your own work.”
Joel Drew

Australian Catholic University (ACU) Scholarship Winners 2007. L to R Amelia Rasmussen, Amy McCann, Lauren da Graca Costa, and Christie Hoy.

The George Alexander Foundation Scholarships at the Australian Catholic university's Ballarat Campus were established in 2006 and the first scholarships were awarded in early 2007.

The program provides for five scholarships in each of 2007, 2008 and 2009. Each scholarship is valued at $10,000 and is provided to the scholar over the three years of their undergraduate degree. The funding is to be used towards the costs of living and study expenses. Each scholar will have demonstrated strong academic achievement coupled with a demonstrated commitment to their community and their chosen field of study.

Spotted Marsh Frog by a farm dam near Birchip.

Frogs are an important natural measurement as to the impact of land management practices on properties. With that in mind, Birchip Cropping Group has developed Frogs on Farms, a two year project which examines opportunities for conserving and protecting frog populations in the Wimmera and Mallee region once the channel system is de-commissioned.

The grant will help test an innovative approach to maintaining frog populations within the regional landscape. The project will help determine frog use of wildlife ponds and their ability to disperse from current water sources into wildlife ponds. This research will help the group examine opportunities for re-establishing frogs within their former regions and numbers.

“Students benefit from encouraging their further education, renewed motivation and increased self-esteem.”
Graham Holloway, Programme Coordinator, Anglican Community Care.

A grant from The George Alexander Foundation is helping to deliver an ‘Out Door Classroom’ project that recognises traditional methods of education do not suit all young people.

The project, delivered by Anglican Community Care, is providing nine young people from Tenison Woods High School in Mount Gambier with an opportunity to engage in local environment and conservation work.

The hands-on learning opportunities provide the participants with the opportunity to achieve units of their South Australian Certificate in Education. Participants include students who may not be getting the most out of the traditional education system, are disenfranchised and those who would benefit from skills based learning.

Pictured: Tenison Woods High School's Out Door Classroom participants.

A WIRES volunteer hard at work feeding a joey.

Comprising 2000 volunteers and 29 branches, WIRES aims to rescue and rehabilitate sick, injured or orphaned native wildlife for release back into the environment.

Funding from The George Alexander Foundation is helping the organisation to extend training materials and develop specialised training teams in wildlife care. WIRES specialised training teams will assist in the creation of manuals, courses and information for WIRES carers and other wildlife organisations.