The Sir William Kilpatrick Churchill Fellowship
The Sir William Kilpatrick Churchill Fellowship honours the man who is considered to be the father of the Churchill Trust in Australia.
In the early 1960's Sir Robert Menzies discussed with Sir Winston Churchill the foundation of a memorial to him by the Australian public after his death. It was Sir Winston's wish that a memorial be set up for the ordinary person and the maxim would be "with opportunity comes responsibility". It was therefore decided to establish the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. Its purpose would be to award travelling fellowships to enable Australians from all walks of life to travel overseas and gain information not available in Australia which they would bring back to Australia for the enrichment of our society.
Sir William Kilpatrick was approached by Sir Robert Menzies to organise the formation of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust in Australia. He subsequently became the first National Chairman of the Trust, then National President and finally the Patron.
Sir William died on 25th May 1985, and at that time it was decided to ask all former Churchill Fellows in Australia to contribute to a fund which would enable The Churchill Trust to perpetuate his name. The Trust has now put in place The Sir William Kilpatrick Churchill Fellowship awarded each year to a person undertaking a project which fits within the special interests of Sir William. He was closely involved with the Heart Foundation, the Australian Cancer Society, the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Foundation, and the Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Foundation.
The inaugural award was made in 1986. Only one such award is given each year and Olivia was the 2007 recipient.
