Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of Queensland explained

Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of Queensland
Founder:	Alan Edwards AM MBE
Focus:	Assisting Performing Arts Professionals
Location:	South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Area Served:	Queensland, Australia
Key People:	Michael Balk JP (president) Oliver Samson (vice president) Michael Mandalios (treasurer) En Rui Foo (secretary) Tim Fairfax AC (patron)
Founded Date:	1975

The Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of Queensland (Inc) is a registered charity assisting actors, performers, and entertainers in times of dire circumstance.^[1] It is commonly known as the Actors' Benevolent Fund, ABF QLD, and The Fund.^[2] The Fund is run by an elected committee of industry professionals, with Michael Balk JP as the current president.^{[3] [4]}

History

The Fund was started by Alan Edwards AM MBE in 1975. Charities of this kind have been operating across the world for over a century, including the Actors' Benevolent Fund of NSW^[5] and the Victorian Actors' Benevolent Fund.^[6]

The Actors' Benevolent Fund of NSW, of which Don Crosby was the serving president, provided a donation of $500 to seed the charity.

Alan Edwards AM MBE, a prominent figure in local performing arts who was the first artistic director of the established Queensland Theatre Company in 1970, was the inaugural president of the charity. Edwards served in that role until 1994.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Fund presents an industry award to recognise excellence and lifetime achievement in the arts in Queensland.^[7] It is named in honour of the founding president Alan Edwards. The first award was recognised in 2002.^[8]

Recipients of the Alan Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award

Award Recipients !Year!Name!Occupation

2002	Leo Wockner^[9]	Actor/Union Activist
2003	Carol Burns	Actor/Director
2004	Errol O'Neill^[10]	Actor/Playwright
2005	Kaye Stevenson	Actor
2006	Rod Horton	Arts Administrator
2007	Penny Everingham	Actor/Puppeteer
2008	Dr Tony Gould AM	Arts Administrator
2009	Joan Whalley OAM	Arts Administrator
2010	June Craw OAM	Arts Administrator
2011	NO AWARD	NO AWARD
2012	Brian Tucker CPA	Arts Supporter/Advocate
2013	Dianne Eden OAM	Teacher/Mentor
2014	Jim Vilé	Artistic Director/Teacher
2015	Michael FordeMargery Forde	Actor/Playwright/DirectorActor/Playwright/Director
2016	Sue Rider^[11]	Artistic Director/Dramaturg
2017	Robby Nason^[12]	Arts Administrator/Costume Designer
2018	David Walters^[13]	Lighting Designer/Mentor
2019	Sue Benner^[14]	Arts Administrator/Director/Writer
2020	Kate Foy^[15] ^[16]	Actor/Director/Educator
2021	Roxanne McDonald^[17]	Actor
2022	Paul Dellit OAM^[18]	Actor/Mentor/Producer

External links

• Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of Queensland

Notes and References

1. Web site: Actors and Entertainers Benevolent Fund Queensland Incorporated. 28 March 2019. www.acnc.gov.au. en. 13 June 2019.
2. Web site: Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of QLD Inc Helping performers in need since 1975. en-AU. 5 July 2019.
3. Web site: Our Committee Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of QLD Inc. en-AU. 5 July 2019.
4. Web site: Queen's Birthday Honours 2017. 11 June 2017. TV Tonight. en-AU. 14 June 2019.
5. Web site: Actors Benevolent Fund Of NSW Inc. 8 April 2019. www.acnc.gov.au. en. 13 June 2019.
6. Web site: The Trustee For Victorian Actors Benevolent Fund. 20 May 2019. www.acnc.gov.au. en. 13 June 2019.
7. Web site: Sue Rider Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Stage Whispers. Stage Whispers. 13 June 2019.
8. Web site: Awards Actors' & Entertainers' Benevolent Fund of QLD Inc. en-AU. 5 July 2019.
9. Web site: Archives. Matilda Awards. en-AU. 14 June 2019.
10. Web site: 2000s . 2022-10-11 . Matilda Awards . en-AU.
11. Web site: 2016-05-31 . Drama Adjunct Professor Wins Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award . 2022-10-11 . communication-arts.uq.edu.au . en.
12. Web site: ALAN EDWARDS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2017: ROBBY NASON . 2022-10-11 . en-AU.
13. Web site: David Walters' Lifetime Achievement Award Stage Whispers. Stage Whispers. 13 June 2019.
14. Web site: Sue Rider Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Stage Whispers. Stage Whispers. 13 June 2019.
15. Web site: Kate Foy – Page 88 – Actor, director, educator . 2022-10-11 . en-AU.
16. Web site: Alan Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award 2020 Stage Whispers . 2022-10-11 . Stage Whispers.
17. Web site: Roxanne McDonald Receives Lifetime Achievement Award Stage Whispers . 2022-10-11 . Stage Whispers.
18. Web site: 2022-05-17 . Lifetime achievement award for Paul Dellit OAM . 2022-10-11 . Bundaberg Now . en-AU.