Published on Thursday, 6 June 2019 at 4:04:00 PM
Media Release
THE HONOURABLE KIM BEAZLEY AC GOVERNOR OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA ANNOUNCED AS PATRON OF THE LITERATURE CENTRE
October 2019
The Literature Centre is excited and delighted to announce that Western Australia’s governor, The Honourable Kim Beazley AC has proudly accepted the role of Patron of the centre. For The Literature Centre – having recently celebrated 25 years since its opening in World Heritage-listed Old Fremantle Prison – the appointment of Mr Beazley is especially meaningful. “In the early days of the centre, Mr Beazley was very supportive of my initiative and vision for setting up the centre as a place where Australian children’s and young adult’s literature could be nurtured, and students could be inspired with a love of reading and writing,” The Literature Centre’s founder and director Lesley Reece AM. “As Federal Minister for Education, Mr Beazley was instrumental in securing the seed funding of $300,000 for the centre when I opened it in 1993, deeming it a project of national significance which could serve as a model for the rest of Australia.”
Ms Reece said it was wonderful to welcome The Honourable Kim Beazley AC as the centre’s Patron as it brought his involvement full-circle: “Given the Governor’s pivotal role in ensuring that the centre was established, it is fitting that he become our first Patron.”
At the time of The Literature Centre’s opening in 1993, Mr Beazley said the then government in which he was a leading Minister had a strong commitment to the promotion of children’s literature: “At a time when computers and video games are so accessible to young people, it is essential that they also have the opportunity to appreciate the importance and beauty of books,” Mr Beazley said.
About The Honourable Kim Beazley AC
Governor Beazley, well known to many Western Australians after his almost three decades in Federal Parliament as the Member for Swan and later Brand, also served as Deputy Prime Minister, Special Minister of State and Minister for Defence. After retiring from politics, Mr Beazley was appointed Winthrop Professor at The University of Western Australia and held several prestigious academic and diplomat roles including as Chancellor of the Australian National University and Australian Ambassador to the United States of America. He was also awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for his services to the Australian Parliament, to the community and as an advocate for indigenous people. Born in Perth, Governor Beazley has a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from The University of Western Australia. He has completed a Masters of Philosophy at Oxford University and was awarded an honorary doctorate from The University of Notre Dame WA and Murdoch University.
2019 LESLIE REES FREMANTLE LECTURE - 20 November 2019
The Honourable Kim Beazley AC was formally announced and welcomed as The Literature Centre's first Patron at an invitation only event back on 20 November, 2019 called the Leslie Rees Fremantle Lecture. Along with other guest speakers on Australian children's literature, Mr Beazley spoke passionately about his love of literature and preserving our culture.
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