Clive Berghofer honour

QIMR Berghofer Director, Professor Frank Gannon, has congratulated philanthropist Clive Berghofer AM on being named a finalist for Queensland Senior Australian of the Year 2015.

Mr Berghofer, 79, has donated more than $70 million to charity over the past two decades – including more than $60 million to QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

“Clive is, quite simply, a great Australian,” Professor Gannon said.

“He is one of the country’s greatest philanthropists and self-made men. He has made an enormous difference to all our lives by his generous, long-term backing of medical research.”

Clive Berghofer’s ongoing support for the Institute culminated in the announcement of a $50.1 million donation in 2013 – the biggest single philanthropic donation by an Australian at the time.

He has also supported a range of sporting, health and educational causes – many in his beloved home town of Toowoomba.

“We were thrilled to nominate Clive for this honour, on behalf of all Queenslanders – and Australians – who have benefitted from his generosity,” Professor Gannon said.

National Australia Day Council CEO, Jeremy Lasek, said the Queensland finalists were among 137 great Australians being recognised as State and Territory finalists in four categories in the 2015 Australian of the Year Awards.

“The finalists all embody the Queensland spirit, giving their time, skills and passion to make a difference to others and to make the State and Australia a better place,” Mr Lasek said.

Other finalists in the Queensland Senior Australian of the Year category include Indigenous advocate Jean Little OAM, Philanthropist Fred Hyde AM and Volunteer Joan Harris.

The winner of the category will be announced at a reception in Brisbane on Friday 24 October 2014.