Events

Oaktree Future Fund Gala 2010

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On Friday 22 October 2010, we held our annual Future Fund Gala in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria. Over 550 guests representing many of Australia’s leaders in the business, government and community sectors attended the Future Fund Gala.

Oaktree’s patron, the Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH gave the Welcome Address, where he acknowledged special guests including Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, the US Ambassador to Australia the Hon. Jeffrey Bleich and Mrs Bleich, NAB’s General Manager Community and Corporate Responsibility Mr Tim O’Leary, Mr Tony Jones, the Hon. Kevin Andrews MP, Senator Judith Troeth and Senator Cory Bernardi.

Guests heard from Oaktree CEO Tom O’Connor about the vision of Oaktree, and were treated to a special panel with ABC Q&A personality Tony Jones moderating a discussion between the Hon. Jeffrey Bleich (US Ambassador), Jane Tewson CBE (Pilotlight founder), Mr Tim O’Leary (nab General Manager), Viv Benjamin (past senior Oaktree leader) and Andrew Asten (Oaktree’s Chief Business Development Officer).

Our Gala guests were then treated to some entertainment by Idea of North and a speech by Carmenza Dossantos, a young East Timorese woman who has come from the brink of extreme poverty to her life, where she studies at ANU on an AusAID scholarship and is a passionate advocate for her home country.

The night was a great success, and over $250,000 was raised to be put into the Future Fund to sustain the organisation for generations to come and Oaktree was able to celebrate and share 2010’s journey with a strong community of new supporters.

2009 Future Fund Gala

In 2009, in light of the global financial crisis, a smaller cocktail party was held and featured an exclusive performance by the Zulu Connections Choir from South Africa. It was hosted by the Governor of Victoria David De Kretser, with a key note given by now Premier Ted Ballieu. A total of $115,000 was raised on the night.

2008 Future Fund Gala

A gala dinner was held in 2008 at the St Kilda Town Hall, at which then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd attended as Keynote Speaker. He spoke of Oaktree’s achievements, its exciting future, and the importance of its continued existence for young Australians. Over 500 luminaries from Melbourne and around Australia committed over $450,000 to the Future Fund.