A Tradition of Giving: 75 Years of Myer Family Philanthropy
From PhilanthropyWiki
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This book explores the history of the philanthropic contributions of the Sidney and Merlyn Myer Family and their influence on the Australian community. Beginning with the origins of Simcha Baevski, born in 1878 in Kritchev, Byelarus, the book follows his emigration to Australia, where he changed his name to Sidney Myer and became a hawker in the goldfields town of Bendigo. His growing success led to the establishment of what eventually became the Myer department stores.
By his premature death in 1934, Sidney Myer had become one of Australia's most prominent philanthropists, giving away in excess of £100,000. He was also one of Melbourne's most beloved citizens; according to some reports, 100,000 people lined the route of his funeral procession.
Sidney Myer bequeathed 10% of his estate "in perpetuity, for the charitable, philanthropic and educational needs of the community in which I made my fortune." This book explores the history of that legacy, from the relatively informal giving of The Sidney Myer Fund's early years, through the change of direction towards more strategic and focused giving, and the establishment of The Myer Foundation by Sidney Myer's sons Kenneth and Bailieu Myer in the 1950s.
A Tradition of Giving explores the Myer family's ongoing commitment, with many family members including fourth-generation representatives actively engaged in philanthropic work. It also focuses on the contribution Myer philanthropy has made to Australian society, including the establishment of community resources such as the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, the development of initiatives such as Asialink and the Cranlana Programme, and the early and innovative focus on such areas as increasing understanding of Indigenous Australians before this became a matter of mainstream concern.