(Note from Rowland: I’ve known Gordon for about 32 years, since our Blackburn Baptist / his Cheltenham Church of Christ days in Melbourne. En route to Canada in 1981, Jan and I spent an interesting dinner/evening with Gordon and Beverley at their Sydney home. Rowland Croucher).

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Prime Minister to speak at Moyes farewell

The Superintendent of Wesley Mission the Rev. the Hon Dr Gordon Moyes AC, MLC will leave Wesley Mission on December 31, 2005 after 27 years of continuous ministry and service to the community.

To mark, acknowledge and thank Dr Moyes for his contribution to the church and community two major civic events are being held in Sydney.

On Tuesday, November 15, a sell-out dinner to be attended by more than 800 business, community and church leaders will be held at the Westin Hotel, beginning at 6.30 pm.

Keynote speaker at the event will be the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon John Howard. Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be Nick Farr-Jones AM, former Captain of the World Cup winning Australian Wallabies Rugby Union team and current Wesley Mission Board member.

Other speakers include business leader Dr David Greatorex, AO (Wesley Mission Board Member and Secretary) and Dr Jim Pendlebury OAM (Wesley Mission Board Member and Treasurer).

Special guest entertainer will be Australian Idol finalist and singer Paulini Curuenavuli.

On Sunday, December 4, the Sydney Town Hall is expected to be packed with 2,000 people joining together in Christian worship to farewell and thank Dr and Mrs Beverley Moyes AM for their leadership and ministry at Wesley Mission.

The event will begin at 2 pm. Churches and parishes will also be notified by mail.

The rally will feature the Wesley Institute International Ensemble, Wesley Institute Performance Choir, a Wesley Mission Congregational Choir and the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra.

Wesley Mission chief wins not-for-profit CEO award

Dr Moyes this week won a long-term achievement award for leading a Not-For-Profit organisation in the 2005 Equity Trustee’s CEO Awards.

Through his clear direction, determination and strength of character Dr Moyes has shaped Wesley Mission into one of Australia’s leading charities – helping more than 222,000 people annually.

The Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO Awards recognise outstanding achievements of chief executives working in the Not For Profit and charitable sector.

There were close to 90 nominations for the awards this year from across Australia. The awards recognise excellence in delivering services, enhancing the organisation’s image and for building strong and successful partnerships.

Wesley Mission is one of Australia’s oldest organisations, founded in 1812, last year it had a total revenue of more than $140 million. The Mission, based in Sydney but with services reaching from the Queensland to the Victorian borders, provides:

a.. Pastoral services in Australia and developing countries; b.. Community services, (includes emergency and long-term accommodation to the homeless, helping long-term unemployed, LifeForce suicide prevention program, family counselling services, and providing respite care places to children with disabilities); and c.. Care services (including residential aged care, senior adult education services, community aged care, gambling and financial counselling, eating disorders clinic, and 24-hour Lifeline crisis counselling).

Soon after arriving at the Wesley Mission in 1977, Dr Moyes set about redeveloping the Mission’s buildings and property. The Wesley Mission is now a 40-storey building, housing a theatre, restaurant and offices. At a cost of $320 million, the building was opened debt free and it is now the welcoming, impressive public face of the Wesley Mission, while generating a future revenue stream.

Under Dr Moyes’ direction, the Wesley Mission was one of the first not-for-profit organisations to implement a triple bottom line reporting structure and quality assurance system, helping to raise supporter confidence, reducing overheads and increasing care provision.

“CEOs of Not For Profit and charitable organisations receive precious little reward or recognition for their efforts, yet their jobs can be difficult, demanding and challenging,” said Equity Trustees Chief Executive Officer, Peter Williams.

“They routinely face funding shortfalls and difficulties maintaining services, but nevertheless they roll up their sleeves and get on with the job as they take their organisation forward and leave it stronger. Equity Trustees is proud to be honouring Not For Profit CEOs and recognising their commitment, passion, drive and sacrifice.”

The winners of the Equity Trustees’ 2005 Not For Profit CEO Awards, announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday October 11 as part of the 2nd International Philanthropy Conference, are:

Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO of the Year: Bella Irlicht, Principal of the Port Phillip Specialist School

Equity Trustees’ Significant Innovation Award: Alexandra Gartmann, CEO, Birchip Cropping Group Inc

Equity Trustees’ First Year Achiever Award: Dr Andrew Young, CEO, CanTeen Australia

Equity Trustees’ Long Term Achiever Award: Rev. Dr Gordon Moyes, Superintendent, Wesley Mission, Sydney

Equity Trustees’ Judges’ Award Joint winners: Michael Traill, CEO Social Ventures Australia and Maud Clark, CEO and Artistic Director, Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company Inc

The sponsors of the Equity Trustees’ 2005 NFP CEO Awards are: Deloitte and Citigroup (gold sponsors), AON Australia and Foster’s Group (silver sponsors), Bell Potter Securities, Grange Securities, Melbourne & Olympic Parks (bronze sponsors) and Equity Trustees.

The Awards recognise the true worth of those who lead not for profit and charitable organisations.