Phil Spry-Bailey: If I could add a comment. For a time, I worked very hard to get all the fundraising to come together on the campus. Where it's at now, we have three [fund-raising entities]. We have the Institute, which has its Foundation; we have the Hospital, which has its Foundation; and there are some other groups that are looking for funding as well. To the extent that those three foundations don’t cross each other too strongly, people will support the various parts. So there are possibly different catchment areas but, as you say, if you’re looking at major donors you’re probably going to come back to the same group.

Barry O'Callaghan: Of course, the institution as a whole attracts a lot of interest. But what really attracts people and major donations is one individual in whom a particular person or group of people have a real interest. Bernard was the perfect case. Donors want to make sure that he or she gets their donation and controls how it’s used. That’ll probably never be any different and it probably doesn’t matter so long as you realise that you might lose out because a certain individual has a higher profile at the moment but that, over a lifetime, the wheel turns. You’ve just got to philosophically accept that.

Laurie Muir: In his own way, Wayne will actually attract support for special areas. Wayne is a most interesting person.

Ann Westmore: The fact that the Institute has so often had visits from State and Federal politicians and other luminaries, which is not so evident with some other organisations in the medical and clinical research area,[84] was that a strategic decision made at some point?

Laurie Muir: Bernard's always been very keen about it, just as he so quickly got the Archbishop to open the building and things like that. He’s insisted on a visit at state and federal level each year, pretty well. And Ron Walker is just as good at it. He has this ability to get the politician he wants. The last Minister for Health was here several times. We got a pretty good response from that. So, as Barry says, there is an immediacy about people coming to look at the work here.

And the press is the other great avenue. If we've got a sensational case, the fundraising is much easier. People like to associate with help, success and saving lives in that immediate way.

Geoff Renton: The Board here has been very unique. I've been involved in other public hospitals and other organisations for fund-raising. I’ve often said microsurgery should give up trying to apply for their NHMRC grants, on which they spend about twelve weeks every year. They (the medical and scientific staff) put in for about $300,000 and get maybe $50,000 at the end of the day. Well, with the Microsurgery Foundation Board and past Boards and Ron Walker’s leadership, they are able to bring people into the organisation to show the work, and get very substantial donations and payments for research grants. That’s something I have not seen in other organisations and that’s fairly unique. I think it requires knowing the particular people and companies to target.

Ann Westmore: I think Liliana may have something to say about targeting members of Rotary Clubs.

Liliana Pepe: [85] My association with the Institute began in 1979 when I started working in the research theatres and we had surgeons from all over the world who we trained to do the work. I remember Mr O'Brien as having a great personality, ambitious, and always on the ball. He knew everything about everybody and one thing I will always remember is that when he had visitors, he would introduce each of us and give them all the details of our personal lives.

Sue McKay: The visitors included Rotarians who, while they don't give big money as such you never know who will be on those committees or who they will know.

Geoff Renton: It's changed a little bit, but just to take up that point. The Leggos (Liz and Russell) have been great benefactors. My understanding is that a St Kilda Rotary group came here and Liz and Russell came along. Liz has been doing painting for many years and they now hold an art show at 101 Collins St every few years, and all the proceeds from that come to microsurgery.

Witness to the History of Australian Medicine