Britain–Australia Society

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

Britons and Australians share a rich heritage of family ties, history, culture, language, sport and business. 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 sister societies based in the United Kingdom and Australia in order to recognise the value of a continuing cultural exchange between the two countries. Despite being founded by two former politicians, the societies are apolitical and non-commercial.

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

The society provides a comfortable and welcoming forum in which talented youth of both nations are introduced to influential diplomatic and commercial circles to contribute to their personal and professional development.

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

Annual events usually include a Summer Reception, a Garden Party at the residence of His Excellency the High Commissioner and an after-hours visit to the Tower of London.

Other events have included tutored wine tastings, theatre evenings, cocktail parties, and presentations from noted diplomats and experts.

The West Country branch arranges a number of regional events, including a prestigious annual service of remembrance and lunch in Bath honouring the memory of Admiral Arthur Phillip.

A number of ticket ballots and auctions take place for, e.g., tickets to the Wimbledon Championships and flights to Australia.

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 and David Attenborough.

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 The Lord Carrington KG GCMG CH MC PC)

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
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
Mr George Vestey DL

Honorary Vice-Presidents:

Board of Management

Mr Damian Walsh – Chairman
Mr Neil Redcliffe – Deputy Chairman
Mr Hari Iyer - Company Secretary
Mr Matt Anderson PSM – Deputy High Commissioner (ex-officio)
Ms Julianne Davis
Mr James Mraz - Deputy Agent-General for South Australia (ex-officio)
Mr Keith Newton – Chairman West Country Branch
Mr Ken Ryan – Agent General for Victoria (ex-officio)
Mr Peter Sargent
Mr Edwin Wong

The Administrative, Membership & Events Executive is Ms Marina Kinsman

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

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 Friends of the University of Sydney UK Trust engages UK Alumni of the University.
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.

External links

v t e 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 1981 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2002 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Royal tours of Australia Royal visits to Rockhampton, Queensland
Incidents	Sue v Hill
Military relations	AUSCANNZUKUS ANZUK AUKUS Five Eyes UKUSA Agreement Five Power Defence Arrangements Southeast Asia Treaty Organization 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 on the Wounded and Sick (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