Tim Fairfax AC receives Honorary Doctorate: read his inspiring words to graduates

Tim Fairfax AC was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Queensland on 12 July for his outstanding contribution to philanthropy. Tim is a highly respected grazier, community leader and philanthropist who has given generously to the arts, education and rural communities. He founded the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation in 2008 and has served as Chair since then. He holds a number of other executive advisory roles and was a former Chancellor of the Queensland University of Technology. Here, we publish the inspiring words he shared with graduates at the conferral, with thanks to Tim and the university.

As chancellor of QUT, I attended many graduations, and shook many hands over a seven-year period. In my address to graduates, I always reminded them that life is not always about ‘me’. That we each have the ability to give back to society.

I’ve spent a great deal of my life involved in philanthropy. The word itself sits uncomfortably with me, because not only is it hard to pronounce, but it’s also hard to spell, and children don’t understand the meaning. But I’ve been unable to find a substitute word, even though I have been championing ‘Giving Australia’ for many years.

I sometimes think that individuals think philanthropy is solely about giving money. It’s not. It’s about generosity in all forms, defined as giving gifts of time, talent and treasure to help make life better for others. Volunteering is a form of philanthropy, and there is too much emphasis on the monetary side of philanthropy and not enough recognition for the volunteers of our nation. If you were to put a dollar value on volunteering, it would be in the billions per annum compared to the dollars that individuals give away.

You, graduates, have had the benefit of having a first-class education here at UQ. You now have expertise in what you have studied. You should feel free to pass on that knowledge to others. One particular avenue you can explore is mentoring others. This could be your gift in giving.

In 2008, we created a family foundation. And of course, I’m delighted that my wife and our four daughters are here today as they play an important role in that organisation. The foundation focuses on rural, remote and regional communities in Queensland and the Northern Territory with the values of connectedness, resilience, future-proofing and leadership. We also work with many First Nations organisations and people.

Now, giving money away is not easy. In fact, it’s very hard work, especially if you want to have a catalytic effect. In our case, a lot of due diligence is carried out to ensure there are measured outcomes. It is, of course, easy to make a grant and walk away. For our Foundation, one of the most rewarding aspects is engaging with recipients of our grants and learning first-hand what is working and what is not, and the difference they are making. However, never wanting to interfere, we tend to fund organisations for at least three years, if not longer, with a strong emphasis on capacity building.

Remember as you travel through life to give something back, whatever it may be. I can promise you it is very rewarding.

Thank you.