About
About Graham
Statement of Vision
Mission and Aims
Governance
History
Current Board and Trustees
Becoming a Volunteer
Artists for Peace Network
The Graham F Smith Peace Trust is a grassroots, non-profit organisation, which is totally staffed by volunteers. It was established in 1989 to provide the opportunity to continue Graham’s work, who spent his life working for peace, justice, human rights and for the dignity of labour.
Graham F Smith 1924 - 1989
“The inspiration of my life, my dreams, has always been made up of peace, socialism, of solidarity, of liberation, of loving and caring.” Graham F Smith
Graham Smith’s activities for peace and solidarity started in the then Dutch East Indies in 1945. While in the Australian Army he helped others to support the Indonesian people against Dutch colonialism. As secretary of the Australian Peace Council from 1949-51 he helped organise the Australian tours of the Dean of Canterbury, the Rev. Hewlet Johnson, and Paul Robeson.
In the eighties he was still going strong - carting water for the anti-uranium protest at Roxby Downs, and building unity among Adelaide’s various peace organisations in the large Palm Sunday rallies.
Graham was a teacher in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. He was an executive member of the South Australian Instititute of Teachers (SAIT) for many years and contributed to the achievement of equal pay for female teachers. He represented SAIT on the United Trades and Labour Council (UTLC), the Australian Teachers’ Federation and the World Confederation of Teaching Professions. He was made a Life Member of SAIT for his services. He was also made a Life Member of the Union of Australia College Academics of South Australia for his contribution to academic unionism and to the trade union movement over many years.
His commitment to solidarity work took him to places such as Cuba and the Philippines, and involved him in the struggles of Nicaragua, Indonesia and Vietnam. Graham was in the forefront of teachers against the Vietnam War. His life was dedicated to peace, to international understanding, to developing an ecologically wise society, to the dignity of all humanity, and to the egalitarian principles of socialism.
Statement of Vision
The Graham F Smith Peace Trust (The Peace Trust) recognises peace as a dynamic ideal in which dissonant factions in the family, community and world are brought together in harmony. The idea and the inspiration for the Peace Trust came from Graham F Smith. Graham’s non-judgmental approach brought together, in peace, factions in the Peace Movement. The Trust works to resolve differences as they occur today by showing a deep respect for Human Rights in social, cultural, political and economic fields and by opposing the forces which oppress people through poverty and injustice.
The Peace Trust celebrates the richness of diversity in local and global societies by supporting the expression of their cultures and, in particular, those of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
The Peace Trust also celebrates the beauty and wonder of the environment by recognising its fragility and importance to indigenous cultures. The Peace Trust values those initiatives that seek to protect and support environmental sustainability and opposes environmental desecration.
The work of The Peace Trust reflects Graham’s passion for justice, education and environmental sustainability, and his profound appreciation for the Arts.
Consequently, the Trust’s mission is to support projects which accord with one or more of the following aspects of the Trust’s vision:
• Promote peace and justice at family, community and international level
• Lead to the reduction of injustice, racial tension, oppression and discrimination
• Increase understanding and cooperation between political, racial and ethnic groups
• Support the right of Indigenous people to economic self-determination
• Educate the public in Australia about the alternatives to war as a means of solving international disputes
• Promote the care of the environment
• Support oppressed people to control their environment for their daily needs
• Promote ecologically sustainable development
Mission and Aims
The Trust supports projects which accord with one or more of the following objects:
- Promote peace and justice at family, community and international level
- Lead to the reduction of injustice, racial tension, oppression and discrimination
- Increase understanding and cooperation between political, racial and ethnic groups
- Support the right of Indigenous people to economic self-determination
- Educate the public in Australia about the alternatives to war as a means of solving international disputes
Promote the care of the environment - Support oppressed people to control their environment for their daily needs
- Promote ecologically sustainable development
Governance
The Peace Trust recognises the importance of effective governance in achieving its purpose. The Board of Trustees will, in partnership with the Management Committee, honour the vision and mission and provide leadership to The Peace Trust.
History
History of the GFSPT
Download further information about the history
Download our original pamphlet
Current Board and Trustees
Convenor: Léonie Ebert
| Board: Current Board Members: | ||
| Léonie Ebert | Julia Spence | Rosemary Thompson |
| Lindy Neilson | Chris Field | - Secretary |
| - Convenor, Grants Committee | Stephen Attrill | Donald Barnes |
| - Treasurer | ||
| Trustees: | ||
| Gail Carnes | Margaret Butcher | Jan Perry |
| The Hon. Steph Key | Ann Newmarch | Jim Redden |
| Léonie Ebert | Chris White | Jenny Smith |
| Julia Sumner | Don Sutherland | |
Becoming a Volunteer
You can contribute to working for peace through the arts by volunteering for the Trust in Adminstration, Public Relations, Fund Raising or any other talent you may have!
Leonie Ebert volunteers about four days per week to running the Trust. This is a significant commitment over many years, thus we are working to raise funds separately from our grant funding to create sustainability; employment of a Coordinator. Susan Atkinson volunteers one day per week supporting us with administration tasks. Ione Brown is volunteering her expertise with legal matters. Board members also contribute their time with administration tasks, networking, website development, fundraising, organisation of the annual dinner and silent art auction.
Please contact us at info@artspeacetrust.org to offer your time or ideas, or to ask what we may find useful.
Artists for Peace Network
The Artists for Peace Network brings together artists who actively support the Graham F Smith Peace Trust objectives.
Created to encourage and support the networking of artists, we believe the Network will take on a momentum of its own. Activities that the Network may endeavour in could include:
- Network events
- Artists’ register
- Promotion
- Concepts collection
- Resources for the network
The Graham F Smith Peace Trust currently relies on volunteer work and scarce membership monies to operate. To fund the network, anyone who becomes a member of the Graham F Smith Peace Trust may nominate for a portion of their membership monies to be directed to the operation of the Network.
The words ‘artist’, ‘peace’ and ‘arts’ have varying and shifting meanings for people. We support definitions of ‘peace’ that further our aims and objectives, and definitions of ‘artist’ and ‘arts’ that are as open an inclusive as possible.
Feel welcome to contact us about the Artists for Peace Network, and to read our discussion paper.
Artists for Peace Network membership form