McCusker Charitable Foundation
About the Foundation
Mission
The McCusker Charitable Foundation has been established for charitable purposes aimed at improving health and education, with particular emphasis on Western Australia.
Key Objectives
The McCusker Charitable Foundation will consider all applications for assistance. However, priority will be given to projects related to:
- Medical research and advancement of medical science.
- Care, welfare and education of young people.
- Promotion of high achievement and excellence.
- Support for the aged and infirm.
- Arts and Environment.
Trustees
The McCusker Charitable Foundation has 4 Trustees:
Malcolm McCusker AO QC CitWA
- Born in Perth and educated at Perth Modern School.
- Graduated from UWA Law School and admitted to practice in 1961. He has appeared as counsel in the Supreme Court, Federal Court, High Court and Privy Council.
- Part-time lecturer at University of WA (1963-1982) in Faculties of Commerce and Law.
- Appointed Queen's Counsel 1982.
- Chairman, Legal Aid Commission of WA (1983-present). (Longest serving Commission Chairman in Australia).
- Special Inspector (1989-1990) to investigate and report on Rothwell’s Bank collapse.
- Chairman WA Constitutional Committee (1993-94).
- Chairman of the Advisory Board of WA Constitutional Centre (1997-present).
- WA Member of the Australian Constitutional Centenary Foundation (1998).
- Inaugural Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission (2004 - 2008).
- Awarded Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) 2005.
- Awarded WA Citizen of the Year (Professions) 2005.
- Awarded Civil Justice Award (Australian Lawyers Alliance) 2007.
- Awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Western Australia in 2008.
- Awarded an Honorary Doctorate of the University, Edith Cowan University in 2009.
- Patron McCusker Foundation for Alzheimer's Disease Research.
- Patron, Landcare WA – a unique partnership between government and community involving more than 4000 volunteer community land care groups.
- Patron of the WA Institute of Medical Research fundraising campaign.
- Co-Patron of the Innocence Project WA.
- Co-Patron of the St Mary’s Cathedral Appeal.
- Extensively involved in the establishment of the Lady McCusker Home – providing 60 high care beds to Alzheimer’s patients and the Sir James McCusker Alzheimer’s Training Programme.
- Board member of the Martindale Agricultural Research Project – a joint project with UWA and the WA Agricultural Department and funded by the McCusker family.
Carolyn McCusker
- Carolyn, Malcolm’s sister, was born in Perth and educated at Perth College.
- Graduated from UWA Law School in 1970.
- Completed Diploma in Business Studies (with Distinction) from the London School of Foreign Trade.
- Admitted to the Bar and joined McCusker & Harmer becoming a partner.
- Completed Bachelor of Arts at Australian National University in 1978.
- Admitted to practice in the High Court Australia.
- Worked as a Research Assistant at the Department of Social Service, Department of Veteran’s Affairs and the Law Faculty at ANU.
- Purchased restaurant and became chief cook and bottle-washer.
- Worked for a number of years with her partner Alan Jordan (mining engineer) as an underground gold miner with hoist driver and shot-firer’s certificates.
Tonya McCusker
- Tonya, wife of Malcolm, was born in New South Wales and educated at Applecross SHS and through Distance Education.
- Trained and danced in Monte Carlo and with the Australian Ballet Company from 1982-1989.
- Graduated from UWA Law School in 1994.
- Worked in Hong Kong for 3 years.
- Graduated from Henley Management College (UK) with Graduate Diploma in Management.
- Worked with the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation as Business Development Manager.
- Worked with the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce as Business Development Manager.
James Edelman
- James, close friend and colleague of Malcolm, was born in Perth and educated at Scotch College.
- Graduated from UWA Law School with First Class Honours in 1996 (Top Graduate).
- Graduated from UWA, Bachelor of Economics in 1996.
- Graduated from Murdoch University, Bachelor of Commerce in 1996.
- Associate to Justice Toohey, High Court of Australia (1997-1998).
- Admitted to practice law in 1998.
- Completed his Doctorate in Law at the University of Oxford in 2000.
- Barrister at the Chambers of Malcolm McCusker (2001-present).
- Acted as counsel in a number of important civil and criminal cases in Australia and the UK including junior counsel to Malcolm in the landmark High Court Appeal, pro bono, for Andrew Mallard.
- Admitted to the Bar of England and Wales (2008-present).
- Member of One Essex Court Chambers (2009-present).
- Fellow of Keble College and Lecturer in Law at University of Oxford (2005-2008).
- Professor of the Law of Obligations at the University of Oxford (2008-present) (youngest professor of law appointed at Oxford).
- Conjoint Professor of Law at the University of New South Wales (2008).
Latest News
Tuesday, 19 Jan 10
In 2009 Trustee Professor James Edelman met with Mr Richard Potok from the Charlie Perkins Trust. The Charlie Perkins Trust was established in 2002 in memory of the late Dr Charlie Perkins AO, to assist indigenous children in the areas of health and education. The McCusker Foundation will contribute funds towards 2 new annual postgraduate shcolarships that will allow talented indigenous Australians to study at the University of Oxford for up to 3 years (http://www.perkinstrust.com.au/scholarships).
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Sunday, 15 Nov 09
Tonya and Malcolm McCusker thoroughly enjoyed their tour over the new Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Murdoch University. Hosted by Professor John Yovich AM Vice Chancellor and President of Murdoch University, the McCuskers had the opportunity to view firsthand, this state of the art building which will be the new home of cutting edge research into infectious diseases.
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Saturday, 03 Oct 09
In October, Malcolm, Carolyn, Alan and Tonya spent a memorable evening at the Make a Wish Ball where they were recognised as Gold Supporters of the organisation. The Ball raised significant funds that would be used to grant the wishes of terminally ill young patients. Hosted at the Hyatt Hotel Perth, guests had the opportunity to learn more about Make A Wish and the wonderful work it is doing in caring for young patients and their families.
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