Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE

My involvement with the Royal Children's Hospital began a long time ago in 1933. Lady Latham, the President, invited me to become involved in her committee.

Things were different in those days. The President selected people to be involved and it was a very great honour. This began what became a very long relationship.

One thing I remember about the hospital was how impressed I was by the care provided to children. The medical and nursing staff was always in command of the situation and I had the greatest admiration for them.

I was very busy at the hospital for 20 years when Keith was alive. Then soon after his death in 1952, I became President of the Royal Children's Hospital.

I was subsequently invited to be the first female trustee at the National Gallery of Victoria, and as Keith had been chairman, it was a great honour to carry on his work.

The success of the Good Friday Appeal can be traced back to Lady Latham being a very clever woman. I think she only invited me to become involved because I was the wife of Sir Keith Murdoch and she recognised the importance of having media support!

In 1942, Keith agreed that The Herald and radio station 3DB should broadcast an all day appeal on Good Friday. He would be very proud that the appeal now raises more than $10 million each year, a brilliant legacy.

The Good Friday Appeal now is quite extraordinary, and whilst its success is due to many years of hard work, it really has become part of our culture in Victoria and we all love to be associated with it.

I had been involved with the hospital for more than 50 years when I was approached in 1986 by Professor David Danks, an obviously brilliant man, to help establish the Murdoch Institute.

For one thing, I had always been tremendously interested in genetics because having cattle I knew how important genetics was! David was a magnificent director in his time. He was outstanding in his focus on developing an independent institute as a centre of excellence in genetics.

Professor Bob Williamson, who was quite a different character, was the next director from 1995 of what became the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, following a merger in 2000.

Bob was very enthusiastic and no doubt brilliant. In his 10 years as director, he truly did a tremendous lot to generate public interest and build the institute's profile.

I am delighted that Professor Terry Dwyer is now director and I have great confidence in him leading the institute through the next phase. It is quite remarkable that the institute now has close to 1,000 in research. I never did imagine that it would grow so big.

I was pleased to hear the recent wonderful news of a $10 million grant from the Federal government. It's quite remarkable, but obviously much needed, so that the institute continues to have research space beside the Royal Children's Hospital.

So many people have done so much for the Murdoch Childrens. We are very lucky to have had Laurie Cox as our chairman for the past 15 years. He is highly intelligent and dedicated, and despite being a very busy business man, Laurie always has time to support the institute.

Of course you must have people like Laurie at the top, and for them it is also a rewarding experience. I know that from my own experience, a deep involvement has been highly rewarding.

I am thrilled that my daughter Janet Calvert-Jones and granddaughter Judy Paterson have been closely involved with the Institute, through their positions on the board.

Of course our family has a long history with the Murdoch Childrens and I hope this connection will continue through the generations.

Choosing which charities I support is quite a responsibility. I like to apportion parts to arts, education, medicine and general welfare.

But I also like to help smaller groups that aren't well supported, by giving the seed funding. I recently supported a school in Lalor for severely handicapped children and I know that my support really did make a big difference to them.

I was the first chairman of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop, of which I am very proud. The McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park is also a big part of my life. I have been involved for 30 years. We struggled for many years, but now have a most wonderful collection of sculptures and so many visitors.

I really do encourage everyone to visit, because it is such a beautiful place. Knowing that the McClelland Gallery and Sculpture Park is now on the crest of a wave, I can die happy!

I am always delighted to share my garden with people, and I share it a lot. The recent family day for supporters of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute was wonderful. I was thrilled with the result, due in large part I think to the hard work of Susannah Calvert-Jones, who was just tremendous.

I am fit and healthy at 97, because I keep busy and I keep working. I have such a book that I have to make appointments almost six months in advance!

I now have 20 grand children and 44 great grand children, and yes I do know all of their names! We have a great family get together about twice a year, occasions which I dearly cherish.

I do believe that children these days are indulged too much. I am a great believer in loving discipline and that children should know what is expected of them and have clear boundaries set.

I also read a lot and I read very, very quickly. I prefer biographies and autobiographies. I often read them a second time. I have just finished a lovely biography The Life of Jane Austin and Rebecca West's The Birds Fall Down. I also read a lovely touching story called Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, which I just love.

When you live so long you get to meet many fascinating, stimulating and inspiring people. There are too many to single out, but I have been very fortunate.

It is my wish that on my 100th birthday I am still clear in the head and useful. That is my greatest wish, to go on being useful.

I am enormously proud of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and I know there are many generous supporters. But I believe there are still people who could do more.

I am saddened that people don't always understand the enormous pleasure of giving. They don't realise they are missing out on what must be one of life's greatest pleasures.