A member of the Walkley family has left $1 million to support Australian journalism.
Sir William Gaston Walkley, a founder of Ampol, set up the prize celebrating Australia’s best journalism in 1956.
He was known for enjoying journalists’ company, and often said they never misquoted him, nor betrayed a confidence. Sir
William died in 1976, leaving a bequest to maintain the awards.
Now the Walkley Foundation has received a $1 million bequest from Sir William’s sister-in-law, June Andrews, who died in 2017.
“June Andrews’ bequest is a powerful and enduring gift to the Foundation. Backing journalism with this kind of philanthropic support really can make a difference," says the Walkley Foundation's chief executive, Louisa Graham.
“It allows us to sustain the Foundation and continue our work investing in the industry through awards, grants, a digital archive of Walkley-winning stories, scholarships and mentorships."
Former Walkley Foundation chair Quentin Dempster has gone public about writing the Walkley
Foundation into his own will.
“We need the help and active support of all Australians to ensure a sustainable future for quality journalism," he says.
The Walkley Foundation is independently funded and listed on the Register of Cultural Organisations with the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR).
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