Britain–Australia Society

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 apolitical and non-commercial societies, based in the United Kingdom and Australia.

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
• be a forum for personal and professional development of talented youth

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.

A primary activity is organising events including diplomatic dinners, seminars, and social gatherings. The West Country branch arranges an annual service of remembrance and lunch in Bath honouring the memory of Admiral Arthur Phillip.

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, David Attenborough and Lord Carrington.

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 Lord Carrington)

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 OAM
• 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 OAM
• Mr George Vestey DL

Honorary Vice-Presidents:

• Mr Dale Eaton FRGS
• The Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke PC
• Sylvia Countess of Limerick
• June Mendoza AO OBE
• Mr Barry Tuckwell AC OBE

As a non-commercial society, administration and events are funded by membership subscriptions, management fees and corporate sponsors, including Australian Government agencies and businesses and organisations with an Australian interest in the United Kingdom or a British interest in Australia.

• 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 Royal Flying Doctor Service – Friends in the UK
• 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.

• Official site
• Australia-Britain Society
• List of Sponsors
• The Menzies Foundation
• The Northcote Trust
• The Friends of the University of Sydney UK Trust
• Britain-Australia Society Education Trust
• RFDS Friends in the UK