SMSA (Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts)
The following were awarded in 2014 by the Board on the recommendation of the Grants Committee.
Right & Middle: Grahame Marks, Secretary of the SMSA, presenting grants to: Nola Barkl of National Council of Women (NSW) ; David Ballhausen CEO, Life Education Australia. Left: Melanie Ryan accepts a painting on behalf of SMSA from a past Julian Ashton Art School Scholarship winner.
Grants and Donations
The SMSA has made the following grants to organisations that were both deserving and met the criteria that satisfied the SMSA’s values and objectives:
The Julian Ashton Art School — $6,000
Established in 1890, the Julian Ashton Art School is Australia’s oldest continuous fine art school. Based in the Rocks, their former students include Sir William Dobell, John Olsen, Brett Whiteley and Thea Proctor and many other prominent Australian artists. http://julianashtonartschool.com.au
The Scholars for 2015 (awarded in November 2014) were:
Full-time Scholarship
Hyun Sook Cho
Part-time Scholarship
Pia Courtley
The National Council of Women (NSW) — $3,180
The National Council of Women (NSW) is a non-government umbrella organisation with broadly humanitarian and educational objectives. The grant has been used to fund National Council of Women (NSW) Australia Day Award scholarships for young women who are excelling in the field of Science.
The 2014 recipients are:
Sinead Keaveney (University of NSW)
First Class Honours in Chemistry, PhD student
Alexandra Keith (University of Sydney)
First Class Honours in Agricultural Science, PhD student
Bridget Mottram (University of Western Sydney)
Double Major Criminology/Criminal Justice and Sociology with First class Honours, PhD student.
Life Education Australia — $1,500
Life Education Australia is a community-based, independent organisation at the front line of positive and preventative drug and health education with programs reaching school children aged 5-13 years.
Positive Life — $100
Prizes
In years past, the Board of the Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts gave sums of money to the University of Sydney, the University of Technology, Sydney and the University of Western Sydney, providing an endowment for prizes to be awarded annually at these Universities. The following prizes were awarded for work in the 2013 academic year and presented in 2014:
University of Sydney
Maxwell E Arthur Prize in Australian Literature
Cassidy O’Sullivan
University of Technology, Sydney
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Adult Education
Liza Crew
Sue Peterson
University of Western Sydney
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Professional Writing
Todd Matthew Barrett
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Theoretical Studies
Christopher Fulham
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Humanities
Grace Whiting
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Social Science
Ingrid Haralovic
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Health
Sarah Todd
Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts Award in Nursing
Michael Bluett
Other Activities
The SMSA continues to provide discounted rates for venue hire for qualifying not-for-profit and volunteer organisations. In 2014, the discounts to qualifying organisations were in excess of $170,000 inc. GST. This has been a long-standing tradition which benefits both the SMSA and the organisations involved.
There are also a number of grant applications currently before the board totalling approximately $25,000. All are potential worthy recipients of our support.
In view of some large and unplanned expenses incurred by the SMSA during 2014 and other major costs expected in 2015, it was agreed to defer making further grants as had been allowed for in the budget, pending clarification of the amount and timing of those expenses.
The recipients of grants in 2014 were all much appreciative of the support received. The Julian Ashton Art School again opened its art exhibition to member at the SMSA.
Those receiving grants from the National Council of Women were extremely deserving and highly qualified.
It is anticipated that the SMSA will again be able to provide assistance in 2015 to more outstanding applicants.