OPERATION C –‘C’ for Churchill. · • On Churchill Memorial Sunday –28 February 1965 a...

• WELCOME…• WhenSirWinstonChurchillresignedasBritishPrimeMinisterin1955attheageof80,he

hadservedunder5reigningmonarchs,survivedthreewars,hadbeenawriter,historian,journalist,adventurerandpainter– andhehadalsowontheNobelPrizeforliteraturein1953.

• Therewaswidespreaddesiretohonourthegreatmanandtocapturetheessenceofhispublicservice,inspiration,intellectandhumourforgenerationstocome.

• Hewasamanwhoreadilybelievedthatanythingwaspossibleifyouputyourmindtoit,andthatthegreatestfiguresinhistorywerethosewhomadeacontributiontopublicserviceandtheirfellowcountrymen.

• TherewasalreadyChurchillCollegeforformalstudyintheUK,sodiscussionsbeganaboutwhatcouldbedonefortheCommonwealthcountries– andthisdiscussionwasdubbedOPERATIONC– ‘C’forChurchill.

• OperationCrapidlygrewbeyondformalstudytobe‘travellingfellowships’– firstintheUSAandwithinashortperiodoftimemanyCommonwealthcountriesexpressedaninterestinestablishingaChurchillTrustintheirowncountry.

• InAustraliatherewasenthusiasticsupport,withPrimeMinisterSirRobertMenziesclosetoSirWinstonandverypassionateaboutaChurchillTrustinAustralia.

• PlansstartedforAustralia’snationalfundraisingeffort– whichwouldoccurafterthedeathofSirWinstonandestablishaTrustfortravellingfellowshipsinthiscountry.ThiswasreferredtoasOperationG– ‘G’forGratitude.

• WhenPrimeMinisterMenziesannouncedthenewsofSirWinston’sdeathtoAustraliansinJanuary1965,hesimultaneouslyannouncedthenationalfundraisingeventtoestablishTheWinstonChurchillMemorialTrust.

• OnChurchillMemorialSunday– 28February1965adoor-to-doorappealwaslaunched–thereweresomanyvolunteersthatitwascalculatedthattherewasonecollectorforevery10housesinurbanareasandoneforevery20inregionalareas.Over220,000Australiansparticipatedascollectors.

• Morethan2.2millionpoundswereraised– ifyouindexthateffortitstillremainsthelargestpublicfundraisingeffortinAustralianhistory.

• ItistheonlytimeinourhistorythatthebanksopenedonaSundaysothemoneycouldbedeposited.

• SirRobertMenziesreferredtotheChurchillTrustasthe“people’sTrust”– sayingthateveryChurchillFellowcarriedtheaspirationsofmillionsofAustralians– past,presentandfuture.Thepastwhodonated,thepresentbeingtheannualFellowshiprecipients,andthefuturebeingthosewhobenefitfromthecontributiontheFellowshipcanmake.

• AFellowshipisnotjustanoverseastrip– itisthestartofalifelongjourneyandcontributiontomakeAustraliabetter.

• Ifyouhaveapassionforasubjectyouwishtoinvestigateoverseas,knowwhatyouarestrivingtoachieveandadesiretomakeadifferenceinyourindustryorcommunitywithinAustralia,thenaChurchillFellowshipcouldhelpyourealiseyouraspirations.

• Herearesomeofourmilestones– nearly4,200Fellowshipshavebeenawardedandeachyearthereare100more.

• ChurchillFellowsfromAustraliatravelacross theglobeonthewidestrangeanddepthoftopicsandbringbacktothiscountryinformation,networks,projects,products,ideasandinnovationwhichmakethiscountryevenstronger.

• IfyouwanttoapplyforaFellowship– firstyoumustbeeligible:• YoumustbeanAustraliancitizenandyoumustbeovertheageof18years.• Yourprojectmustalsobesuitable foraFellowship.• OverseastravelisessentialandyoumusthaveexhaustedyourresearchwithinAustralia

tobeconsidered• Theprojectmustbeaselfcontainedprojectof4-8weeksindurationandbetakenasone

continuousoverseastrip• Itcannotbepartofauniversitydegree,orpartiallyfundedbyanotherorganisation– it

mustbeastandaloneFellowshipproject.

• ThebeautyofaChurchillFellowshipisthatyoucandesignyourownproject.• Ifyoucanthinkofasuitabletopicthentherearenolimits.• Toaddfocus,weoffersponsoredFellowshipswheregenerousindividualsororganisations

haveagreedtofundaFellowshiponaparticulartopic.• Thisdoesn’tmeanthattheyarealwaysawardedbutdoesmeanthatwearelookingfor

applicationsinthosespecifictopicareas.• ThereisalistofthesponsoredFellowshipopportunitiesonourwebsiteandthe2018

applicationformallowsyoutoindicateuptotwosponsoredFellowship/syouwouldliketobeconsideredfor

• However,donotfeelconstrainedbythesponsoredFellowships,wealsooffergeneralFellowshipswhereyourtopiccanbeanything

• Yourfirststepshouldbetoaskyourself–whattopiccanIinvestigatethatwillbeofthemostbenefittosomeaspectofAustralianSociety.

•Applicationsopened on1 Februaryandclose27April– ApplyonlinefromtheChurchillTrustwebsite.

• Applicationscanonlybemadeusingtheonlineapplicationsystem•Rememberyouarecompetingagainstalltheotherapplicantssohowareyougoingtoconvincetheselectorsthatyouareabetterapplicantthanthenextprojectorperson.

• Theapplicationalsorequirestworeferences– aprojectreferenceandaprofessionalreference.

• Youareencouragedtogivethissomethought– thebetterthereferencesthemorelikelyyouaretostandaboveyourcompetitors.

• ChurchillFellowshavetoldtheTrustmanytimesthattheprocessofcompletingtheapplicationformallowedthemtofine-tunetheirprojectanditsimplementationupontheirreturn.

• Theonlineformisfullyautomated,allowingyoutoregisteryourdetailsandlogintoyourapplicationasrequiredthroughouttheapplicationprocess.

•Donotleaveittothelastminuteasitwillnotbeyourbestapplication.• YoushouldalsonotethatmanyFellowshaveappliedmorethanoncebeforereachinginterviewsorreceivingaFellowship.Itiscommonforcandidatestorealisewhytheywereaskedtotryagain- asaresulttheirprojectstendtobemuchstrongerfollowingadditionaltimeandthought.

• Werecommendthatyouidentifyyourrefereesandmakeyourrequestsforreferencesearlyintheapplicationprocesstoallowsufficienttimeforyourrefereestowriteandlodgethemonlinepriortotheclosingdate.

• TheonlineformcontainsabuiltinReferenceRequestFeaturewhichallowstheapplicanttorequestareferenceviaemailwithintheapplicationform.

• Theemailrequestwillprovideyourrefereewithguidelinestocompletethereference,alinktoaccessacopyofyourpartiallyorfullycompleteonlineapplicationformandadviceonhowtolodgethereference.

• Youwillreceiveadviceviaemailwhenthereferencehasbeencompletedbyyourrefereesandlodgedwithinyourapplication.Theemailprovidesalinkforyoutopreviewthereferencewithinyourapplication.Noeditingispermittedbytheapplicant.

• Youshouldensureyouhaveenteredtheprojectspecificinformationrequiredwithintheformpriortomakingarequestforareference.Thiswillproviderefereeswithaclearunderstandingoftheprojectyouareproposingsotheycanciteorrefertoaccuratecontentwhencomposingthereference.

• Youwillnotbeabletolodgeyourfullonlineapplicationuntilbothreferenceshavebeenreceivedwithinyourapplication.

• ReferencescannotbeacceptedinanyotherformatthanoutlinedabovewithoutthespecificapprovaloftheTrust'sCEO.

• Limityouritinerarytodestinationsthatwillbeofmostbenefittoyourproject.Overcrowdinganitinerarycanleadtofatigueandmaybeoflessbenefittoprojectoutcomes.

• Itisimportanttoputforwardthemostcompleteitineraryyoucanatthepointofapplicationsomakesureyouincludethecountriesyouwishtovisitalongwiththemajorcitieswithinthosecountriesthatrequireairtravel(otherformsoftransportareeasiertoorganisein-country)andthepurposeforyourvisitateache.g.meeting,interview,observationetc

• PleasebespecificasthisinformationisusedbytheChurchillTrusttocostyouritineraryandonceitisapprovednoadditionscanbemade.

• Theapplicationsareassessedbyateamofselectors.• It’sacompetitiveprocess.• ThenumberofselectorsdiffersfromStatetoTerritoryandthevolumeofsuitable

applicantsusuallydeterminesthenumberofinterviewroundsrequired eg.NSWandVIChavetworoundsofinterviewsasthemostpopulatedStates

• Whencompletingtheapplicationform,considertheselectioncriteria– itisreadilyavailableontheTrust’swebsiteandiswhatisusedtoassessallapplications.

• Itisimportantthatyouritineraryoutline,asaccuratelyaspossible,thecountries,citiesandtownsyouwishtovisitonyourFellowship.Howevermeetings/bookingsdonotneedtobeconfirmeduntiltheselectionprocesshasbeencompleted.

PROJECT:Needfortheproject• Whatiscompellingaboutyourproject?Thingsyoumayliketoconsiderinclude-• Whatistheburningplatform?• Whathasmadeyoucomeheretonighttodomorethanjustreadabouthowtoapplyvia

thewebsite?• Isthetimerightforthisproject?• BenefitsoftheprojecttoAustralia• Thinkspecificallyabouthowthiswillbenefitothers….Beyondthegenericof“itwill

benefitcommunities”• Whowillbenefitandhowwilltheybenefit?• Whatdifferencewillthislearningmaketohowwelive,workorplay?• Partofyourhonestanswermightbethatyourbusinesswillbemoreprofitable.That’sOK

ifitwillalsoenrichthewidercommunityinsomeway.Maybeit’sanewproductor

processdevelopmentthathasthepotentialtoemployothersorsomethingthatcouldbeappliedtootherbusinesses.

• Maybeitwillchangethefaceofhowwedothingsorperhapsitwillbeasignificanttweakofanexistingprogramorbusiness.

Itineraryandoverseasdestinationsselected• Doyouneedtotraveloverseas?HaveyouexhaustedallavenuesoflearninginAustralia?• Whatisyourfocus-Don’tbiteoffmorethanyoucanchew.It’sgottobeachievable.• Whyhaveyouchosentheseplaces?Whowillyoubespeakingwithandwhy?Thisislearningby

speakingwith,observinganddoingwith,questioningandlookingverycloselyatothers‘programsandprocessesandaskingdeeperprobingquestionsthatyoumightnotbeabletodoifyouwerenotfacetoface.

• Isthisinformationavailablewithouthavingtotravel?• Achievabilityoftheproject• Weneedtobelievethatyouareinapositiontoachievewhatyousetouttodo.

PERSONAL• Whyyou…howcanyouconvinceusthatyouaretherightpersontoundertakethisproject?• Howareyoubestplacedtocomebackandimplementchangeorinfluenceothers?• Anarticleinyourprofessionaljournalisgoodbutnotusuallyworth$26,000!

Applicationsclose5pmAESTFriday27 April2018ApplicantswillbeshortlistedinMayandJuneInterviewswillbeheldinJuneandJulyandcanincludeweekends– ApplicantsareexpectedtoattendaninterviewinpersonApplicantswillbenotifiedofinterviewoutcomesinAugustFinalselectionsarereviewedbytheBoardmidSeptemberwithapplicantsadvisedthefollowingdayNewChurchillFellowsareannouncedpubliclyinthelastweekofSeptemberPresentationceremonieswillbeheldattheGovernmentHouseineachState/TerritorybetweenOctoberandDecemberFellowscandepartontheirFellowshipfrom1February2019throughto31January2020

YouremployerIfwhatyouwanttodoisconnectedtoyouremployment, doesyourbossknowandisshe/hesupportive?Findoutiftheyarewillingtopayyouwhileyouareaway?Ifthisissoessential,whyisn’tyourcompanyfundingthetripoverseas?

RefereesHelpthemtohelpyou.Theyhaven’tdonetheresearchyouhaveabouttheTrustandwhatisrequiredfortheapplication.Theyarelikelytobeverybusypeople.Soperhapsmakeatimetohaveacoffeeoraphoneconversationwiththemtosuccinctlyandclearlyexplainwhatit’sallaboutandgivethemsomeideasabouttheareasyouthinkwouldbebestcoveredintheirreference.

ProjectrefereeSomeonewhocanauthoritativelymakethecaseforwhy thisisanimportantprojectandworthyoftheTrust’sconsideration.Theyshouldsaysomethingaboutwhytheyarebestplacedtomakesuchajudgement.Theymustbesomeonewhoknowsyourworkandvaluesthedirectionyouwanttoexplore.

ProfessionalrefereeThisislikelytobesomeonewhoknowsyourprofessionalcapacityandpersonalqualities.Cantheytalkabouthowothersviewyouinyourfield,thelengthandqualityofyourserviceorexpertiseandtheprofessionalachievementsyouhavehadtodate?

TheInterviewThisisnotthetimeformodestybutalsodon’toversellyourselfeither.Ifyou’rea talker,watchyourtimemanagement…youwillbegiven5-7minutestotalkaboutyourproject.Thentherestofthetimewillbetimeforustoaskquestionsandthereisnogoingovertime.Soaswithyourwrittenapplicationyouneedtomakeeverywordcount.Ifyou’reaquieterperson,despiteyournerves,trytoletyourpassion anddriveforwhatyouwanttodocomethrough.Practisewithsomeonewhoknowsnothingorverylittleaboutyourareaofexpertise.TheSelectionCommitteemembershavediverseareasofknowledgeandexpertiseonthepanel.Inyourwrittenapplicationandataninterviewyouneedtomakesensetoallofus.Thinkaboutthelifttestwhichisoftenusedfornetworking.Canyouexplainyourprojectinthetimeittakestogoesacoupleoffloorsinthelift?

CONCLUSIONWeencourageyoutomeetwithandtalktoanyoftheselectioncommitteeandthereturnedFellowstonightandlookforwardtoreadingsomeofyourexcitingprojectsandmeetingssomeofyou atinterview.

• Rememberthisisacompetitiveprocess– ChurchillFellowshipsareprestigious,wellfundedandhighlycontested.

• Thisisnotareasontobeshy,itisareasontoputthemosteffortyoucanintoyourapplication.

• Youwillbecompetingagainsteveryoneelsewholodgesanapplication– nodoubtmostwillsatisfythecriteriabutitishowwellyousatisfythecriteriathatwillultimatelydecidewhetheryouaresuccessful.Somakeyourapplicationstandout!

• AroundtheroomtonightwehaveanumberofChurchillFellowswhocanansweryourquestionsandprovideyouwithguidance.

• Followingthis,weencourageyoutodirectyourenquiriestotheNationalOfficeoftheTrustforanyadditionalinformationyourequire.

• Bev,Julia,Meg, SallyandEmmaatNationalOfficeareavailabletoproviderelevantadviceandinformationinatimelymanner.

• ThankyoutotheChurchillFellowsAssociationforhostingtonight’sinformationsessiononbehalfoftheChurchillTrust.

• Thankyoutoyouallforcomingtonightandforlisteningtothepresentations, wehopetheyhaveinspiredyou.

• Ifyoudecideapplyingthisyearisnotrightforyou,Iwouldencourageyoutoreconsiderinfutureyears.

• Equally,ifyouhaveacolleague,friendorrelativewhoyouthinkwouldbeagreatChurchillFellow,pleaseencouragethemtoconsiderapplyingthisyear.