Packer family supports Hawke Centre
by Michèle Nardelli
The
work of UniSA’s Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre will be given a
major boost from a personal donation of $2 million from the Packer
family, in memory of the late Kerry Packer.
The funds will be used to support the development of the Hawke Centre’s Civic Gallery, which will open later this year in the University’s new Hawke Building on North Terrace.
Last month UniSA officially announced that the iconic building would be named in honour of the only Australian Prime Minister to be born in South Australia, Robert James Lee Hawke (pictured).
Designed by national award winning architect John Wardle, the $35
million Hawke Building will be a new cultural venue for the state
and a landmark feature of the City West precinct.
It will house a 400 seat auditorium, civic gallery, a forum space and a high-tech theatrette with international communications capacity.
It also includes the second largest public art gallery in the state, the Anne and Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, the Hawke Library and the University’s Chancellery.
Vice Chancellor Professor Denise Bradley says that as home to free public lectures, expert local and international conferences and a full calendar of Hawke Centre events, the Hawke Building will become one of the most visited in the University.
"It is more than appropriate that this new and dynamic building will carry Bob Hawke’s name," Professor Bradley said.
Director of the Hawke Centre Elizabeth Ho says the Civic Gallery will be an "ideas into action" viewing and gathering space.
"The gallery is an important aspect of the Hawke Centre’s outreach program which aims to strengthen democracy, value diversity and build the future," Ho said.
"We envisage the civic gallery as a place of vibrant engagement for young people – where they feel encouraged and empowered to become active as citizens, volunteers and leaders both locally and internationally.
"The Packer family donation will support the development of that physical space and will also be invested in programs to support young people to become greater participants in their communities."
Professor Denise Bradley says the Civic Gallery will reinforce the University’s strategic commitment to engagement with the community by showcasing applied research projects that contribute to social and environmental benefits.
"When we established the Hawke Centre in 1997, we were hopeful that it would be a symbol of this University’s strong commitment to public learning in the wider community," she said.
"The gallery will display social, cultural and political history,
journeying from local Kaurna history through to the inspiring
leadership of the Hawke Centre’s international patron and honorary
doctor of the University, South Africa’s
Dr Nelson Mandela.
"This enormously generous gift from the Packer family pays tribute to Bob Hawke’s national leadership legacy. More importantly, it is an investment in new generations and we are sincerely grateful to them for their vote of confidence in the Hawke Centre program and UniSA."
Further support for the Hawke Centre has also come from a generous donation from Allan Scott AO, OAM, chairman and CEO of the Scott Group of Companies. UniSA will acknowledge his support through the naming of the Allan Scott Auditorium in the Hawke Building.