Andrew Grimwade
Encyclopedia
Sir Andrew Sheppard Grimwade, CBE
(born 26 November 1930) is an Australian chemical engineer, scientist, philanthropist, businessman and cattle breeder. He is best known for his service for 15 years as honorary President of the National Gallery of Victoria
, and 15 years honorary Presidency of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
. He was also involved in the trial known as the JetCorp fiasco.
(founder of the Grimwade family fortune in Australia), and great-great-grandson of Edward Grimwade of Grimwade & Ridley & Company, London.
As pioneers of the pharmaceutical industry in Victoria
, the Grimwade family established the glass industry, the sulphuric acid and super phosphate industries, and later the industrial gases industry. Following various mergers, purchases, and spin-offs, the firms originally founded or co-founded by Frederick Sheppard Grimwade became Felton Grimwade & Bickford (manufacturers of Bosisto's Eucalyptus Oil), Drug Houses of Australia
Ltd and Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd.
Andrew Grimwade's father, Frederick Sheppard Grimwade, died when Andrew was 19. Andrew Grimwade's brother, the Honourable Frederick Sheppard Grimwade, served for many years as President of the Legislative Council of Victoria.
to the State Government for the new Coorong National Park
. This represents about 5.6% of the park's total area, but over 15% of the coastline.
Grimwade has been involved as a patron and executive with many charitable organizations, including:
At his committal it was ruled he had no case to answer, however the prosecution exercised it's right to a trial, which then became the longest running criminal trial in Victoria's history. After a first jury had sat for seven months, Grimwade's wife died and he was granted a new trial. The second jury sat for over nine months, during which time the judge and some jurors were absent at various times for medical reasons.
The first nine months of the second trial was largely taken up with the prosecution reading a transcript of the previous trial. The trial resulted in a suspended conviction which was subsequently quashed on appeal the appellate judge ruling that the case had become so convoluted that it had become impossible for the jury to render a proper verdict
& Mark Strizic (Australia, 1968, Sun Books) ISBN B0000CPM7D
Grimwade, Andrew. Great Philanthropists on Trial (Australia, 2006, Miegunyah Press) ISBN 978 05228 52639
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 26 November 1930) is an Australian chemical engineer, scientist, philanthropist, businessman and cattle breeder. He is best known for his service for 15 years as honorary President of the National Gallery of Victoria
National Gallery of Victoria
The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
, and 15 years honorary Presidency of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research is Australia's oldest medical research institute.In 2011, the institute is home to more than 650 researchers who are working to understand, prevent and treat diseases including blood, breast and ovarian cancers; inflammatory diseases such as...
. He was also involved in the trial known as the JetCorp fiasco.
Family background
Andrew Grimwade is the son of Frederick Sheppard Grimwade, great-grandson of Frederick Sheppard GrimwadeFrederick Sheppard Grimwade
Frederick Sheppard Grimwade was a businessman and Victorian member of parliament.Born in Norfolk, England, Grimwade arrived in Victoria in 1863. In 1867 he bought a pharmaceutical company and renamed it Felton Grimwade & Co.; it soon became the largest in the colony, prospering well into the...
(founder of the Grimwade family fortune in Australia), and great-great-grandson of Edward Grimwade of Grimwade & Ridley & Company, London.
As pioneers of the pharmaceutical industry in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, the Grimwade family established the glass industry, the sulphuric acid and super phosphate industries, and later the industrial gases industry. Following various mergers, purchases, and spin-offs, the firms originally founded or co-founded by Frederick Sheppard Grimwade became Felton Grimwade & Bickford (manufacturers of Bosisto's Eucalyptus Oil), Drug Houses of Australia
Drug Houses of Australia
DHA was originally established in 1936 as an amalgamation of 7 Australian pharmaceutical companies. In 1970, DHA was taken over by the British bank Slater Walker....
Ltd and Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd.
Andrew Grimwade's father, Frederick Sheppard Grimwade, died when Andrew was 19. Andrew Grimwade's brother, the Honourable Frederick Sheppard Grimwade, served for many years as President of the Legislative Council of Victoria.
Business career
Grimwade was trained as a chemical engineer (University of Melbourne) and as a scientist (Oxford University). His early business career was in Sydney where he was appointed to the board of Commonwealth Industrial Gases. Aged in his mid thirties he was the youngest director of the National Australia Bank, Chief Executive of CARBA and a director of the National Mutual Life Association. He also ran a small merchant banking company which underwrote the flotation of public companies. Since 1959, Grimwade has been Principal of the Green Valley Cattle Company, and in 1996 helped form Certified Australian Angus Beef Ltd, of which he became Deputy Chairman and was involved in building it into Australia's leading branded beef program.Philanthropist
In 1968, Grimwade donated 26 km² (2630 hectares) of coastal land with a 27-kilometre ocean frontage on the Coorong in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to the State Government for the new Coorong National Park
Coorong National Park
The Coorong is a national park and lagoon ecosystem in South Australia , 156 km southeast of Adelaide. Its name is thought to be a corruption of the local Aboriginal people's word kurangh, meaning "long neck"; a reference to the shape of the lagoon system...
. This represents about 5.6% of the park's total area, but over 15% of the coastline.
Grimwade has been involved as a patron and executive with many charitable organizations, including:
- Chairman of the Felton Bequests Committee, a foundation created in 1904 by his great-grandfather's business partner, Alfred FeltonAlfred FeltonAlfred Felton was an Australian entrepreneur, art collector and philanthropist.-Biography:Alfred Felton was born at Maldon, Essex, England, the fifth child of six sons and three daughters of William Felton, a currier, and his wife Hannah...
, and primarily dedicated to purchasing art work for the National Gallery of VictoriaNational Gallery of VictoriaThe National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1861, it is the oldest and the largest public art gallery in Australia. Since December 2003, NGV has operated across two sites...
. - President (1976–1990), trustee, and life member of the National Gallery of Victoria.
- Trustee of the Victorian Arts Centre.
- Patron of the Miegunyah Press, an imprint of the University of MelbourneUniversity of MelbourneThe University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
Press established by a bequest from Grimwade's great-granduncle Russell Grimwade. - Honorary Member of the Royal Society of VictoriaRoyal Society of VictoriaThe Royal Society of Victoria is the oldest learned society in the state of Victoria in Australia.The Royal Society of Victoria was formed in 1859 from a merger between The Philosophical Society of Victoria and The Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science , both founded...
- Fellow and Life Member of the Royal Australian Chemical InstituteRoyal Australian Chemical InstituteThe Royal Australian Chemical Institute Inc. is both the qualifying body in Australia for professional chemists and a learned society promoting the science and practice of chemistry in all its branches. The RACI hosts conferences, seminars and workshops...
- Life Member of the Australian Conservation FoundationAustralian Conservation FoundationThe Australian Conservation Foundation is an Australian non-profit, community-based environmental organisation focused on advocacy, policy research and community outreach.-History:...
. - Founding Chairman of the Australian Arts Exhibition Corporation, which presented The Chinese Exhibition in 1976.
Public Service
Grimwade's public service includes:- In 1977 he was appointed a CBECBECBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for services to the Arts and the Community - In 1980 he was created a Knight BachelorKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
for services to Industry and Commerce - Member of the Australian Government's first trade mission to China in 1973.
- Founding Member of the Australian Government Remuneration Tribunal
- Inaugural Member of the Council for the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(1975–1982) - Victorian Government Board of Review into Parliamentary Salaries (1980)
- Chairman of the Australian Government Committee on Official Establishments (1976–1978)
- Founding Chairman of the Australian Government Official Establishments Trust (1979–1982).
- Appointed WEHI Laureate (with Nobel Laureate Sir Macfarlane Burnet & Sir Gustav NossalGustav NossalSir Gustav Victor Joseph Nossal, AC, CBE, FRS, FAA is an Australian research biologist.-Life and career:Gustav Nossal's family was from Vienna, Austria. He was born four weeks prematurely in Bad Ischl while his mother was on holiday...
) (2007)
Jetcorp Trial
In the 1980s, Grimwade was an underwriter of an aviation entity that was floated as Jetcorp Australia Unit Trust. Though he was not involved in the prospectus or management of Jetcorp, in 1992 he was charged with fraud and conspiracy for his involvement in a false prospectus when Jetcorp collapsed..At his committal it was ruled he had no case to answer, however the prosecution exercised it's right to a trial, which then became the longest running criminal trial in Victoria's history. After a first jury had sat for seven months, Grimwade's wife died and he was granted a new trial. The second jury sat for over nine months, during which time the judge and some jurors were absent at various times for medical reasons.
The first nine months of the second trial was largely taken up with the prosecution reading a transcript of the previous trial. The trial resulted in a suspended conviction which was subsequently quashed on appeal the appellate judge ruling that the case had become so convoluted that it had become impossible for the jury to render a proper verdict
Publications
Grimwade, Andrew. Involvement; the portraits of Clifton PughClifton Pugh
Clifton Ernest Pugh AO, was an Australian artist and three-time winner of Australia's Archibald Prize. He was strongly influenced by German Expressionism, and was known for his landscapes and portraiture...
& Mark Strizic (Australia, 1968, Sun Books) ISBN B0000CPM7D
Grimwade, Andrew. Great Philanthropists on Trial (Australia, 2006, Miegunyah Press) ISBN 978 05228 52639