Former Australian cultural attaché, Carrillo Gantner recognised for contribution to Australia-China relations
Philanthropist, and former Victorian Senior Australian of the Year, Carrillo Gantner has been honoured for his ongoing efforts to build Australia-China relations with the inaugural “Orchid Friendship Envoy” award.
Gantner, who is adjunct professor at the Australia-China Institute for Arts and Culture of Western Sydney University, was conferred the award at a ceremony in Sydney on September 12.
At the acceptance he remarked, “Artists believe in the potential for good, for richer and more positive relations between individuals and therefore between countries.
“So, the responsibility of each of us as individuals is to do what we can to add our single bricks of friendship, to the great wall of trust that we must build between our countries.”
He added that relationships between nations should not be judged on narrow issues rather they should be the sum of all parts.
Gantner has held many notable positions, including chairman of the Sidney Myer Fund, president of The Myer Foundation, chairman of Asialink at Melbourne University, and president of Arts Centre Melbourne.
In 2019, he was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the performing and visual arts and his efforts in Australia–Asia cultural exchange. He was also the inaugural recipient of the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Cultural Leader of the Year Award in 2001. He holds honorary doctorates from both Western Sydney University and the University of New South Wales.
From 1985 to 1987 he was the Cultural Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Beijing.
By Marcus Reubenstein (Image Supplied/Monash University Press)
