On the legacy of libraries and protecting what matters

My father was a huge influence in my life. A widely read and intelligent man, he also had a strong love for nature and always knew he wanted to live on the land. We grew up in north west Victoria on a farm until I was 15. My father never did look  like a self-made man because he was very modest and unassuming. I recall as a child, my siblings getting quite annoyed around Christmas time because he would take himself off to the closest store and come back with games and toys in the boot of his car which we assumed were for us, but were actually for the children of neighbouring families.

There were several families who didn’t have very much, so my father would provide their kids with Christmas presents. He told us that happiness is crucial for children and that if he could help provide that he would. We never wanted for anything growing up, so I suppose we weren’t aware of the injustice around us, but he was.

I didn’t appreciate what a special man he was until I was older. He was my greatest influence right up until he passed away last year, just shy of his hundredth birthday. He taught me not to judge people until you know what they have been through., and that sometimes people end up in situations because of mishaps or misfortune. He believed that generosity nourishes the soul. He instilled in me a strong desire to fight for the underdog and the idea that you should never walk past someone if you can help them.

I have come to the view that if you are in a position to make the world a better place you should.

Education is especially important, and arts and literature are vital for me. The arts are what nourishes the soul. Without our writers and artists we would be living in a utilitarian society. It's no accident that my initial giving was through the State Library Victoria. I can talk endlessly about how public libraries are the cultural centre and heart of communities and I feel privileged to have played a lasting role in  this venerable institution.

I'm very strategic about what I give. A lot of philanthropic actions, despite being well-intended, don't always have a lasting impact. I want to support things that make a real difference so I tend to focus on areas where there's a social need, or that will result in a cultural shift or the perpetuation of something important.

I was the founding donor of StartSpace in the State Library of Victoria, a centre for young entrepreneurs to realise their dreams. I realised that in the most part, millennials were thinking about their careers in a very different way. Many don’t want to work for big faceless corporations, their role models are Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Jeff Bezos – not only do they want to succeed but they want to do so on their terms. However, there was no facility or platform, so I helped fund a space to help young millennials fulfill their dreams, whether it be through mentorship or other free programs.

When I made my first significant donation I didn’t want to be profiled. I suppose it was because of the way my father operated, I didn’t want to show-off. Initially I thought that being public with my giving was crass, but over time I've discovered that it’s about creating legitimacy around giving. Generally Australians are not very good at self-promotion due to the Tall Poppy syndrome which is alive and well, but it's ensuring that any publicity is meaningful and considered.

I will always be committed to supporting the next generation - whether they are entrepreneurs, emerging writers or our creative community - to support and treasure the arts. However, I’m also increasingly aware of the impact of not looking after our planet. Everything has become so disposable and we must turn our attention to the natural world.  There are so many parts of this planet that have been destroyed; we need to support the individuals who have the foresight and the commitment to protect it.