THE Museum of Australian Democracy at Eureka is going national, appointing its first non-Victorian patron in former Sydney lord mayor and businesswoman Lucy Turnbull.
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"If you saw her on Q&A the other week, you would have seen how impressive she is"
Mrs Turnbull will come to Ballarat in July to officially take up the role. She is third patron, alongside former premier Steve Bracks and former state health minister Rob Knowles.
“The Eureka Stockade is a very important event in the creation of Australian democracy. I want to do what I can to reclaim the Eureka flag as a symbol for all Australians,” Mrs Turnbull said in a statement.
“Participatory democracy is essential to civics – now and in the future. I want to be able to support the work of M.A.D.E in its aim to increase the knowledge and appreciation of democracy and increase levels of engagement, particularly for younger generations.”
M.A.D.E director Jane Smith said the appointment was a great moment for the museum and reflected M.A.D.E’s status as a national institution.
Mrs Turnbull’s interest in contemporary democracy would mean she could make a real contribution, Ms Smith said.
“If you saw her on (ABC program) Q&A the other week, you would have seen how impressive she is.”
Mrs Turnbull is a member of the Council of Australian Government’s city expert advisory panel, a board member of the NSW Cancer Institute and has been inducted into the Office for the Order of Australia for her philanthropic works.
She is married to communications minister Malcolm Turnbull.
alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au
