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Voiceless.org.au
October 2, 2004
He's played a blind photographer in Proof, a drag queen in Priscilla
Queen of the Desert, a villain in the Matrix and he's fought the forces
of darkness in Lord of the Rings. Hugo Weaving, however, may be about
to face his greatest challenge yet.
Weaving and high profile Sydney business identity, Brian Sherman, are
just two of the five animal advocates who have agreed to judge the 2004
Voiceless National Grants Program. Ondine Sherman, Dr Dan Ramp and
Katrina Sharman are also on the judging panel which met for the first
time yesterday.
Voiceless, the Fund for Animals is a philanthropic organisation
established by Brian and Ondine Sherman earlier this year to promote
respect and compassion for animals. Weaving, who is also an ambassador
of Voiceless, is in good company. JM Coetzee, Nobel Prize Literature
Winner in 2003 and author of 'Lives of Animals' is a Patron of
Voiceless.
This year Voiceless is offering $100,000 in grants for projects aimed
at improving the lives of animals. The judges will award 10 grants -
two $20,000 grants, four $10,000 grants and four $5,000 grants.
Non-profit organisations, schools, universities and local councils have
all been invited to apply.
Applications for the Voiceless grants program closed last month and
according to Ondine Sherman, the response to the program has been
overwhelming. Voiceless received more than 140 applications in this,
its inaugural year.
Brian Sherman said "We have received high quality applications from a
wide range of organisations all over Australia . It is very encouraging
to know that there are so many people out there who want to speak up
for animals".
Sherman also said: "This is going to be an extremely difficult
decision. Animal suffering exists in all aspects of society from farms
to scientific institutions to wildlife control. The difficult question
is how do you value the life of a dog against the life of a pig or a
kangaroo? Of course there will never be an easy answer. The importance
of Voiceless is simply in the asking. Our mission is to ensure that all
animals are accorded greater value than they have now".
Voiceless expects to announce the winners of the grants late next
month. And fortunately for the animals, the Grants Program will be
offered on an annual basis. So those organisations that miss out this
year will be encouraged to apply again. The Grants Program forms part
of an integrated approach by Voiceless to educate the community and
create legislative change to protect and defend animals.
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