Churchill Fellowships Announced

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust has announced 109 recipients of 2013 Churchill Fellowships who are poised to boost their expertise by undertaking research projects throughout the world.

The 109 Australians who have been awarded 2013 Churchill Fellowships will be embarking on a diverse range of international research.

“Each of the recipients has demonstrated a desire to further develop their expertise so they can use the resulting skills and knowledge in a way that will benefit the wider Australian community,”Paul Tys, Chief Executive Officer of The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust said.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which was established after the death of Sir Winston Churchill in accordance with his final wishes, has now funded more than 3,800 Fellowships for Australians.

With an average value of about $20,000 per Fellowship, recipients have the opportunity to travel overseas to further their passion and return to Australia to implement their findings and share them with others.

The 2013 Fellowships are valued at close to $2.2 million and cover the broadest range of topics as applicants design their own Fellowships in their field of expertise.

The Adelaide Youth Orchestras’ General Manager, Christopher Wainwright is one Churchill Fellowship winner who will carry out an international project focussing on world’s best practice in orchestral education and youth orchestral programs.

The project, developed by Wainwright (of Prospect, SA) will involve visiting and studying world-leading orchestral education and youth orchestral programs currently underway in the UK, Germany and the USA – with the intention of further strengthening the sector in South Australia.

Wainwright has been awarded the Mr and Mrs Gerald Frank New Churchill Fellowship. This Fellowship was sponsored by Mrs Patricia New, who has sponsored many Fellowships for music, dementia and general health issues, as a legacy to her husband who suffered from Alzheimer’s Disease and derived great comfort from his love of music.

“The opportunity to partake in a Churchill Fellowship is a huge honour,” Wainwright said.

Key Statistics for 2013 Churchill Fellowships:

NSW (and Norfolk Island) – 28 Fellowships including:

• Twins who have both been awarded Fellowships to study two related aspects of cancer research;
• Dam operating procedures during floods;
• Use of social media for communication and intelligence gathering during fire emergencies;
• Policing methods to counter violent extremism;
• Engaging primary and middle school students in MES – maths, engineering and science.

Victoria – 23 Fellowships including:

• Integrity testing in policing;
• Community based projects to combat gender violence;
• Improving motorcycle rider safety;
• Court security.

Queensland – 19 Fellowships including:

• Development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for use by Police;
• Improving economic participation for refugee women;
• Innovative alternatives to imprisonment.

Western Australia – 11 Fellowships including:

• How social media is transforming the way patients receive health information and care;
• Enabling indigenous communities to manage natural resources and increase social capital.

South Australia – 9 Fellowships including:

• Environmental sustainability in international wine regions;
• Cultural and religious barriers facing Middle-Eastern women when reporting domestic violence.

Tasmania – 5 Fellowships including:

• Improving long range forecasting of extreme weather events;
• Exploring ways in which museums are engaging with indigenous communities and showcasing these cultures to a broader audience.

ACT – 8 Fellowships including:

• Gaining practical knowledge and expertise in sustainable green construction from world leading countries;
• Investigate best practice in sport and physical activity programs for people with a disability.

Northern Territory – 6 Fellowships including:

• Investigate successful birthing services for women in remote communities;
• Identify successful alternatives to incarcerating intoxicated people in police watch houses.

THE FULL LIST OF 2013 FELLOWS CAN BE FOUND AT www.churchilltrust.com.au

Applications for 2014 Fellowships open on 1 November 2013