Voiceless.org
February 20, 2007

Internationally acclaimed actors Hugo Weaving and Abbie Cornish join philanthropist Brian Sherman AM and Director Ondine Sherman at the third annual Voiceless Grants Awards Event.  The inaugural Animal Club ‘Humane School’ prize will also be announced at this event. A total of $145,000 will be awarded on the day.

What has now become Australia’s most acclaimed animal protection event will this year see sixteen grants recipients awarded up to $20,000 each for a variety of projects that are all inspired by a common theme: respect and compassion for animals.

The school deemed to have contributed the most towards animal protection during 2006 through Voiceless’s education arm, Animal Club, will also receive a cash prize of $5,000.  Artist Guan Wei will lead a children’s art workshop during the morning and the pictures painted will be on display in the Client Viewing Room at Sherman Galleries later that day.

Brian Sherman, co-founder of Voiceless said today, “The quality of grant applicants this year was the strongest yet, clearly demonstrating that Australians from all walks of life take the plight of animal suffering and factory farming seriously and are prepared to do something about it. Having school children here today who are actively involved with animal protection through Animal Club is an exciting additional element to what has become a hugely successful annual event.

“I am honoured to share the stage with Voiceless Ambassador, Hugo Weaving, who will present the grants awards, and with Animal Club Ambassador, Abbie Cornish, who will present the Animal Club Humane School prize.”

The 2006 Voiceless Grants Program attracted applications from a range of animal protection organisations, universities, councils and other non-profit groups.

Grants winners will now be able to initiate, establish and promote a variety of activities aimed at improving the lives of animals. These activities range from the public display of oversized battery farm cages containing human occupants to expose the plight of factory farmed animals, to the launch of Australia’s first animal law referral scheme to be based within a community legal centre.

Abbie Cornish, committed animal advocate, said today, “I am proud to be the Animal Club Ambassador and to be actively involved in the Club’s activities. Children have a natural compassion for animals and anything that can help foster this is a cause worth supporting. Animal Club informs school children about a broad spectrum of animal protection issues.” 

The Voiceless Awards event is being held to coincide with Voiceless: I feel therefore I am, an exhibition presented by Sherman Galleries which features work by sixteen of the region’s leading artists.

Peter Garrett MP, AM (Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment, Heritage and the Arts) will be opening the exhibition at 7pm.