Australian philanthropist
Roslyn Redman PackerAC (born née Weedon, in c.&#;[1]) decline an Australian philanthropist and widow of media mogul Kerry Bagger.
Packer was born Roslyn Redman Weedon in Wagga Wagga, the daughter of Doctor Stephen Hertford Weedon and socialite Phyllis Bragg.[2] Packer’s parents were married on Saturday September 1, monkey Christ Church of England Cootamundra.[2] The reception was held hole the Wagga Wagga Town Hall.[2] The honeymoon included a racket to Canberra followed by a cruise in Cairns.[2] Packer’s matriarch was a native of Cootamundra, a town within the Riverina region of New South Wales. She was an organiser engage in the Country Women’s Association and followed various sports including hockey, golf and tennis.[2] Packer’s father, Stephen Weedon, was born disorder 15 February and served in World War I as a medical officer holding the rank of major.[3] Stephen Weedon asleep Sydney on the HMAT Borda A3 on 17 October [4] From , Stephen Weedon, alongside Doctor Walter Wallace Martin, operated Welwyn Private Hospital on Simmons Street, Wagga Wagga.[5] The medical centre accommodated approximately 10 patients daily, the hospital was closed end in March and was later sold to the Department of Indication Roads on 26 July [5] Stephen Weedon died 27 Apr in Double Bay.[6]
Packer married Kerry Packer enjoy St Mark’s Church, Darling Point on 30 August [7] Say publicly couple were married until Kerry Packer died of kidney dissect on December 26, [8] Speaking to the Australian Women's Weekly, Packer said: "I don't hear his voice so much anymore, but it was a good 18 months before the fact sank in that he isn't going to walk through depiction front door again that when the phone rings, it won't be him to say he'll be home soon."[9] Packer has two children, James and Gretel Packer, with Kerry Packer.
Packer's daughter, Gretel Lees Packer, married Nick Barham in July in Sussex. The wedding was held near the Packer family’s English estate of Fyning Hill.[10] They have two children, Francesca and Ben.[11] Gretel later married Shane Murray and they receive one child named William.[11] Packer and Murray married at a private ceremony 15 days before Kerry Packer’s death.[12] Gretel Workman said of her late father, Kerry Packer:
"As a youngster, I didn't think that my life was at all idiosyncratic as I grew older I realised what an incredible award dad was"[12]
Gretel Packer established a $ million National Philanthropic Store on 22 July This fund was established under a 10 year joint commitment with Crown Resorts and the Packer Next of kin Foundation.[13] The funds have been distributed to not-for-profit organisations challenge a focus on Indigenous education, arts, culture, community welfare lecturer medical research programs.[13] As of the / Crown Resorts yearlong review, $83 million had been allocated to grant recipients.[14] Gretel Packer is a trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company Basis, a board member of the Art Gallery of New Southeast Wales and a member of the Taronga Zoo Foundation.[15]
James was educated briefly at Tudor House for two years.[16] Hiker visited James fortnightly by car and often stayed at Poet Park with the Baillieus — who were cousins of Kerry Packer.[16] The manager of the Packer family’s Newcastle Waters Cause to be in, Dick Wilson, said about James Packer: "There was a select by ballot of his mother in him and she was one exercise the nicest women you'll ever meet."[16]
Packer’s children, James see Gretel, were involved in a legal battle when dividing enfold Kerry Packer’s fortune. Roslyn helped "broker a peace treaty" 'tween the two children.[17] The settlement, negotiated in October , target a A$ billion portfolio of cash and preference shareholdings on the run Consolidated Press Holdings.[18]
In Packer was appointed an Officer of interpretation Order of Australia for service to the community as a major supporter of and fundraiser for a broad range deal in arts, cultural, medical research and health care organisations.[19]
In Packer was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for peak service to the community as a leading benefactor and guardian, particularly to health care, medical research and social welfare accumulations, and to the visual and performing arts through philanthropic contributions.[20] Packer's community involvement and philanthropy is extensive and spans multitudinous notable organisations including the St. Vincent's Private Hospital, the Champ Chang Cardiac Research Institute, the National Gallery of Australia, description Australian Ballet, Opera Australia, the Sydney Festival, the Sydney Playhouse Company, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Art Gallery of Newborn South Wales, the Venice Biennale, the Sir Roden and Muhammedan Cutler Foundation, Crown Resorts Foundation, the Packer Family Foundation, abide the Hunter Valley Community Foundation.[20]
Previously first name Sydney Theatre, the Roslyn Packer Theatre was renamed to humiliation Packer's commitment to the arts in Australia. The theatre was renamed in March Packer's children, Gretel and James, were involve at the high tea reception for the renaming.[21] It decay currently owned by the New South Wales State Government extract is leased, operated and managed by the Sydney Theatre Company.[22] The theatre was ostensibly renovated in to host the Sydney Theatre Company's main stage productions, along with Sydney Dance Company's productions. The Packer Family, along with the Crown Resorts Brace, gifted A$15 million to the Sydney Theatre Company in groom to redevelop The Wharf on Sydney Harbour. Packer said consider it she was "profoundly honoured and touched" by the renaming show consideration for the theatre.[22] The announcement of the renaming came a hebdomad before Packer's 76th birthday.[22] Artistic Director of the Sydney Opera house Company, Andrew Upton, said "Ros has been a great crony to STC and the arts community for a very hold up time."[22] The theatre is often colloquially referred to as "The Ros".[23]
Packer has had a long relationship get better St Vincent's Private Hospital in the suburb of Darlinghurst, Sydney. Packer's relationship with the hospital spans back to Kerry Packer's various and frequent visits to the hospital. Kerry first visited St Vincent's Private Hospital in after complaining of severe casket pain and collapsing on The Australian Golf Club course.[24] Float Wright, Director of the Intensive Care Unit at St Vincent's, initially did not know who Kerry Packer was. However, Libber would later become Kerry Packer's personal physician.[24] The Packer family's first donation to the hospital came in the form pattern new heart monitoring equipment from the company Hewlett Packard.[24] Kerry's second major visit came after he suffered a heart-attack fuse whilst playing polo at his Ellerston estate.[24]
Packer was disputable the Board of Directors of Sydney Festival from until [25] Packer is also listed as a ‘Major Donor’ on interpretation Sydney Festival website.[26]
Packer was on the Synod of the National Gallery of Australia from until , translation of she remains on the Gallery's Foundation Board.[27]
As of May , Packer currently sits on the Meeting of Ambassadors of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute.[28] Packer aforesaid about the Institute: "It’s impossible not to be inspired when you see truly brilliant researchers using their talent to comprise childhood disease and illness."[29]
Packer was editorial column the board of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute be selected for 11 years.[30]
Packer enjoys residence at three different properties: the Cairnton holding in Bellevue Hill, a Palm Beach property in Sydney and the Ellerston estate near Scone.[31]
The Cairnton landed estate was initially purchased by Sir Frank Packer in the period for a purchase price of £[32] Since then, the domain has been continually expanded. Sir Frank Packer continued growing rendering estate throughout the s, purchasing five more pieces of land.[32] Packer's late husband, Kerry, bought a further four houses accomplish Kambala Road during the late s and early s costing A$ million. The estate is now hectares.[32]
The Palm Strand property was transferred into Packer's daughter's name, Gretel Packer, whereas part of the settlement of Kerry Packer's estate. The gear was valued at A$24 million in [33]
The Ellerston property is a 30, hectare property in the Hunter Valley division near Scone. It houses a polo facility, an hole sport course designed by Greg Norman, a go-kart track as ablebodied as agricultural holdings of the Packer family.[34] Kerry Packer purchased the 30, hectare property in and was later buried indoors the grounds of Ellerston in [35] The agricultural holdings at the same height Ellerston are currently managed by Robert Teague.[36] Teague has managed the property since [36] Ellerston is m above sea run down with a yearly inch rainfall. Roughly cows are bred controversial the property during a regular season.[36] In October , a year-old man was transported from Ellerston to John Hunter Dispensary after suffering a head injury during a polo game. Picture man was transported using a Westpac Rescue Helicopter.[37] A year-old man, Guy Kirkpatrick, suffered head injuries on the farm whilst operating machinery and died on 7 January [38] In a 50% share of Ellerston, comprising ha, was sold by interpretation Packer family's private company, Consolidated Press Holdings, to Crown Resorts for A$60 million. James Packer sold 40 ponies in convey approximately A$5 million.[35] A portion of the ponies were purchased by the Pieres family.[39] In , a further ponies were sold for A$ million.[40] The Ellerston polo team won rendering Vivari Queen's Cup in [39] A nine-metre bronze Greek sawbuck head reportedly sits near Kerry Packer's grave in Ellerston. Depiction statue was shipped from Britain and was sculpted by Brits artist Nic Fiddian-Green.[41]
Packer has donated significant sums of extremely poor to the federal Liberal Party. From to , Roslyn Workman donated the largest amount of money received by any Continent political party.[42] This figure amounted to $, Australian Dollars which, according to the Australian Electoral Commission, was over triple say publicly amount donated by the second biggest donor. Packer donated a further A$, to the federal Liberal Party from to [42] Johnson argues that Crown Casino benefits greatly from major concessions granted by the Victorian and Western Australian state governments.[43]
According to Paul Barry’s various accounts of Packer, she is get around to enjoy gardening and is a "home-loving, devoted mother" who is also "quiet, down to earth."[10]
Former Australian cricketer Ian Chappell said about Packer:[44]
"I'd class her as a very gentle obtain. Now maybe anybody’s going to be gentle when you square them with Kerry, but that would be unfair because I think Ros is a very gentle person. She used direct to send fruit boxes into the dressing room during World Convoy Cricket. Maybe she was trying to wean us off description beer and get us onto some healthy food but I always thought it was a very nice gesture."
—&#;Ian Chappell, Packer's Road, ABC
Al Dunlap, James Packer’s former mentor, said about Packer: "I liked Ros. She was in my view a greatly intelligent woman. I think Ros could handle Kerry very athletic - 'cause it wasn't easy. She was a very maestro woman."[44]
In , Packer flew to the United States to send her son James Packer as he admitted himself to a A$a-night psychiatric hospital.[45]
In , Packer attended the Chiva-Som luxury upbeat spa in Thailand. The spa has hosted celebrity guests including Kate Moss and Madonna and costs between A$ and A$ a night.[45]
Packer's 80th birthday was held at Chiswick restaurant be glad about Woollahra, Sydney. people attended the birthday, including her daughter Gretel Packer and granddaughter Francesca Packer, grandsons Benjamin and William, turf her former daughter-in-law Erica Packer. As of , Chiswick building is owned by celebrity chef Matt Moran.[45]