Britain–Australia Society

Britain–Australia Society
Formation	1971; 50 years ago
Founder	Peter Carington
Headquarters	Australia House, London, United Kingdom
President	William Hague
Chairman of the Board	Damian J. Walsh
Website	www.britain-australia.org.uk

The Britain–Australia Society was established in 1971 as a friendship society to promote historic links between the United Kingdom and Australia. It has headquarters in the Australia Centre within Australia House in London and branches throughout the United Kingdom.

History[]

In 1971 Sir Robert Menzies and Sir Alec Douglas-Home, former Prime Ministers of Australia and the United Kingdom, re-founded the pre-existing Australia Club to form two apolitical and non-commercial societies, based in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Aims[]

The aims of the Britain–Australia Society are to:

strengthen existing friendship between the United Kingdom and Australia
promote educational exchanges
arrange social events for members
provide a point of contact for Australians visiting the United Kingdom
maintain links with Australia
be a forum for personal and professional development of talented youth

Branches[]

Branches are maintained in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Leicestershire, Lincoln, Portsmouth, and the West Country. Regional functions are held by these branches in addition to centrally-organised activities.

Events[]

A primary activity is organising events including diplomatic dinners, seminars, and social gatherings. The West Country branch arranges an annual service of remembrance and lunch in Bath honouring the memory of Admiral Arthur Phillip.

Awards[]

The Society grants an occasional Britain-Australia Society Award to recognise a person who has demonstrated a long-term contribution to relations between the United Kingdom and Australia. Past recipients have been Barry Humphries, Lord Hague, Kylie Minogue, David Attenborough, and Lord Carrington.

Officers[]

The Patron of the Society is The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GCVO GBE ONZ QSO AK GCL CC CMM.

The President is The Rt Hon. Lord Hague of Richmond (the founding President was Lord Carrington)

The Chairman is Damian Walsh

The Vice-Chairman is Neil Redcliffe

Vice Presidents:

George Brandis QC, The High Commissioner for Australia – Ex Officio
Mr Peter Benson AM
Sir Christopher Benson DL OAM
The Earl of Buckinghamshire
Sir Roger Carrick KCMG LVO FRGS
Mr Rohan Courtney OBE
The Lord Goodlad KCMG, PC
Mr Brian Harris
Mr Michael Whalley OAM
Mr George Vestey DL

Honorary Vice-Presidents:

The Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke PC
Sylvia Countess of Limerick
June Mendoza AO OBE
Mr Barry Tuckwell AC OBE

Board of Management[]

Mr Damian Walsh – Chairman
Mr Neil Redcliffe – Deputy Chairman
Ms Julie Heckscher – Deputy High Commissioner (ex-officio)
Mr James Mraz - Deputy Agent-General for South Australia (ex-officio)
Mr Keith Newton – Chairman West Country Branch
Mr Mike Deeks CSC – Agent General for Western Australia (ex-officio)
Mr Peter Sargent
Ms Patricia Wadley
Mr Edwin Wong
Ms Elizabeth Ames

The Office Manager is Ms Marina Kinsman The National Director is Louise Mulley

The Honorary Chaplain of the Society is George Bush, Rector of St Mary-le-Bow church.

Sponsors[]

As a non-commercial society, administration and events are funded by membership subscriptions, management fees and corporate sponsors, including Australian Government agencies and businesses and organisations with an Australian interest in the United Kingdom or a British interest in Australia.

Affiliates[]

Four Charitable Trusts are maintained by the society:
- The Britain–Australia Society Educational Trust provides sponsorship for young people of both countries, particularly for skills exchange.
- The Northcote Trust funds postgraduate scholarships to Australia.
- The Royal Flying Doctor Service – Friends in the UK
The Cook Society was founded in 1969 on the initiative of Prime Ministers Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Sir Robert Menzies, with the aim of promoting British-Australian relations at a high level. It has counterparts in Australian States with which it is in constant touch. Membership of the Society in Britain is limited to 100, excluding Honorary members, and represents a wide range of national interests including senior business and professional people, politicians, civil servants and academics. Membership is by invitation only. The B-AS administers the Cook Society and shares some events.
Australia-Britain Society members have reciprocal rights when in Britain, and vice versa.

v t Australia–United Kingdom relations
Diplomatic posts	High Commission of Australia, London High Commissioners of Australia to the United Kingdom British High Commission, Canberra High Commissioners of the United Kingdom to Australia
Diplomacy	Australia–United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Nauru Island Agreement Commonwealth of Nations Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1981 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Royal visits to Australia Royal visits to Rockhampton, Queensland
Incidents	Sue v Hill
Military relations	AUSCANNZUKUS ANZUK AUKUS Five Eyes Five Power Defence Arrangements Southeast Asia Treaty Organization UKUSA Agreement British Army in Australia British Army regiments in Australia between 1810 and 1870 RAAF Overseas Headquarters British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Second Australian Imperial Force in the United Kingdom
Legislation	Australia Act 1986 Australian Constitution (Public Record Copy) Act 1990 Australian Constitutions Act 1850 New South Wales Act 1823 South Australia Act 1834 South Australia Act 1842 Statute of Westminster 1931 Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 Papua Act 1905
Treaties	Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property Treaty of Bern Berne Convention (1906) International Agreement for the suppression of the White Slave Traffic Agreement for the Suppression of the Circulation of Obscene Publications International Opium Convention Paris Convention of 1919 Declaration recognising the Right to a Flag of States having no Sea-coast International Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Women and Children Svalbard Treaty Geneva Convention on Prisoners of War (1929) Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armies in the Field (1929)
Nuclear tests	British nuclear tests at Maralinga Operation Blowdown Operation Hurricane Operation Totem McClelland Royal Commission
Related	1919 England to Australia flight Australian Astronomical Observatory Anglo-Australian Telescope Australian State Coach Australian War Memorial, London Big Brother Movement Britain–Australia Society Sports rivalries Monarchy of Australia Palace letters Ten Pound Poms A Bride from the Bush The Queen in Australia
Category:Australia–United Kingdom relations