Page 1131 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 3 May 2022
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relevant to our shared constituency of Kambah, it is fair to say that Kambah hopes one day to be reunited as one whole community, served in one electorate.
That, of course, means that I would have to take back everything I have just said, should the Electoral Commissioner one day, in their wisdom, decide to include east Kambah in the electorate of Brindabella. Were that to happen, I would simply need to co-opt all of the wonderful things Minister Davidson has had to say today, because that may very well be, all things considered, an area of town that we Brindabella members may have the privilege of representing in the future. But until such time, Minister Davidson is keeping the seat very warm. Thank you.
Professor Don Aitkin AO—tribute
MS CHEYNE (Ginninderra—Assistant Minister for Economic Development, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Minister for Human Rights and Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (4.41): I rise to pay tribute to the late Professor Don Aitkin AO, former Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra from 1991 to 2002, and long-serving former Chair of the ACT Cultural Facilities Corporation.
Don, who passed away in April this year, had a long-lasting impact on the arts and the cultural sector in Canberra, with nearly a decade as the Chair of the Cultural Facilities Corporation from 2002 to 2011. Don was known for his inspirational leadership, his deep understanding of the cultural sector and his detailed knowledge of Canberra’s heritage.
He was instrumental in bringing the Nolan Collection to CMAG, in raising the profile of our ACT historic places and in telling the story of Canberra. He was also a vocal and longstanding advocate for the expansion of Canberra Theatre. Don was widely acknowledged for his deep recognition of the importance of arts and culture in the lives of both individuals and the community.
As Chair of the CFC he was generous with his time, his intellect and his personal resources. At the conclusion of his service on the CFC board, Don was recognised with the establishment of the Don Aitkin Awards, which are provided each year to members of staff and volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the mission of the CFC. Thirty-three people have received a Don Aitkin award over the past decade.
Don was deeply committed to the role of Canberra as both the national capital and a vibrant community of people. He was passionate about our city’s history and had grand visions for our future. He believed in the importance of arts and culture both in enriching the lives of individuals and in ensuring that our city is a vibrant, diverse and rewarding place to live. He firmly believed that everyone is inherently creative and should be given the opportunity to explore their creative potential, and to participate in cultural experiences.
Don’s PhD from ANU in 1964 was followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Oxford, a social research position at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and then a
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