Patron
Our patron Dame Elisabeth Murdoch is a universally admired
philanthropist.
After a long association with The Royal Children's Hospital,
Dame Elisabeth, together with her family and others provided the
seed funding to establish the Murdoch Institute in 1986 - as an
independent medical research institute focussed on the problem of
genetic birth defects in children.
Dame Elisabeth recognised the potential of genetics, even when
the science was in its infancy, and she saw the value of having a
hospital and a research institute co-located. Today, this is
recognised worldwide as the best practice model.
Dame Elisabeth visits the Murdoch Childrens regularly to
celebrate advances in research and to open new facilities. She also
supports fundraising events, including hosting a family day at her
Cruden Farm property each year.
She was awarded Victorian of the Year in 2005, and the Great
Australian Philanthropy Award by Research Australia in 2003, for
her tireless contribution to health and research in Australia,
including her support for Murdoch Childrens.
A message from our patron
"It has been rewarding and remarkable to see what a difference
medical research has made to the lives of us all, but particularly
children. When I was young, conditions like polio and
smallpox were the big health issues, now you hardly hear of them
thanks to tremendous advances in medical research and health
care. Murdoch Childrens does so much for the betterment of
the health and happiness of our children."