Ann Garms OAM FAIM
We have a new home!
As President of the English-Speaking Union QLD and on behalf of the ESUQLD Board of Directors I am very proud to announce that the new Headquarters of ESUQLD is ESU House, Cook Terrace, Cnr Park Rd and Coronation Drive, Milton. ESU House is a landmark property that is very suitable for ESUQLD as it matches the prestige and profile of our organisation. This wonderful three-storey heritage listed Terrace building also incorporates Joseph Alexanders Restaurant.
Following an intense and extensive search for a suitable property that would have appropriate Council zoning, Heritage character, car parking, a central location close to public transport, reliable income, and future capital gain potential, the Board decided that there was only one available property that could fulfil all these needs. Consequently on behalf of the members of the English-Speaking Union Qld the Board has purchased 6/249 Coronation Drive Milton to become the future home of ESUQLD.
This property offers the opportunity to own a prime investment with a long lease to an established tenant in one of the highest profile positions in the Inner City. The property offers extensive views of the Brisbane River and the nearby CBD. The key strengths of the property include its position, size, exposure, accessibility, and proximity to amenities, the Brisbane CBD, QUT and Southbank Institute of TAFE and flexibility in respect to its use in the future.
Cook Terraces are located approximately 2.5km west of the Brisbane CBD. Milton is considered Brisbane’s premiere fringe office precinct and Park Road has established itself as one of Brisbane’s busiest café and restaurant precincts. ESU House is in a prime position, 5 minutes drive to Brisbane City Centre with close access to all forms of public transport. The Milton railway station is 400m north, bus lines nearby, and a City Cat terminal that has been approved for construction at the end of Park Road in the near future. The property has been refurbished internally as a restaurant and has eleven exclusive car parks, eight shared car parks and unlimited access to parking for minimal cost under Cosmos Apartments next door.
The English-Speaking Union QLD’s offices and members rooms will occupy one level of the building and the other levels will house Joseph Alexander’s restaurant which will provide the English Speaking Union QLD with an annual income in excess of $100,000.00 per annum. In addition, the ESUQLD will hold a portfolio of shares and Bank deposits in addition to rental income from some of the car parks of $20,000 per annum. The President and the Board of the English-Speaking Union QLD are exceptionally proud to have purchased this building on behalf of the members of the ESUQLD as a permanent headquarters in the wonderful Cook Terrace heritage premises, in a prime location with incredible views of the Brisbane River, substantial parking, and significant reliable income.
The ESUQLD office is being established immediately and will be available for members from Monday the 26th of July 2010. A special event is planned to officially open ESU House in late August after basic painting and refurbishment is complete. We look forward to welcoming you all to our new ESU House Headquarters.
We have been very fortunate to have the cooperation of our tenants, the current owners of Joseph Alexander’s restaurant, who have kindly offered a 10% discount on dining and High teas for members who produce a current ESU membership card.
The future development of our educational programmes
Since the commencement of my Presidency of ESUQLD we have established a strong partnership with Southbank Institute of TAFE and the Literacy and Learning centre and QUT. The ESUQLD will be working closely within this partnership to develop meaningful programmes that promote international understanding and human achievement through English.
In conjunction with Southbank Institute of Technology and QUT, ESUQLD has established an integrated system of pathways and scholarships for students targeting entry to university, pathways through university, postgraduate education and post-tertiary international education.
These scholarships will target students, both Australian and new Australians, rural and indigenous women, as well as aspiring students with exceptional leadership potential. ESUQLD will play an important role in each case by mentoring scholarship holders and assisting with their selection. Over time, scholarship winners will not only become part of the ESU Global community but will have their own supportive network of other Scholarship awardees with similar experiences and backgrounds.
Our ESUQLD scholarships include
1. ESUQLD/QUT/Southbank Institute of Technology Indigenous Scholarship.
This scholarship, in conjunction with SBIT will provide full fee relief and financial support. It will attract targeted support and full access to our award winning QUT Business Advantage Program which covers a wide range of extracurricular personal and leadership development courses. Scholarship holders will have their own academic and professional mentors.
2. THE ESUQLD INTERNATIONAL AWARD.
This award provides a fully funded opportunity to attend QUT. Apart from learning and networking, scholarship holders will be strongly supported by the ESU community and will have significant ongoing opportunities through the ESU global network.
3. THE ESUQLD INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP. The Scholarship program will target exceptional students in Speech, Debating or Public Speaking, assisting them to travel overseas to further develop their skills.
This ESUQLD/SBIT/QUT joint scholarship program is very exciting and has a significant potential to grow in the level of support it attracts. In due course, we can expect to see students at each level being awarded scholarships and accompanying development and leadership opportunities.
As previously discussed, ESUQLD will collaborate with Southbank Institute of Technology to provide a full fee scholarship to a graduate of SBIT. We will also make a similar scholarship available to a student who has graduated from grade 12 and wishes to study Business. Further ESU will have a number of equity scholarships which we will make available to indigenous students.
We have also been approached by a number of business organisations seeking to partner with us and we are holding discussions with them seeking their support to provide mentoring and internships for these scholarship holders while they are undertaking their studies at Southbank Institute of Technology and QUT. This would not only provide financial support, but equally or more importantly, help to build the confidence and network of the scholarship holders.
In my role as Deputy Chair of Southbank Institute of Technology and Patron of QUT Business Faculty Fostering Executive Women, our programmes are well established, with the selection of the 2010 Scholarship Awardees to be announced in the latter part of 2010. I wish to pay a special tribute to the Ex Dean of QUT Business School, Professor Peter Little, and Southbank CEO Craig Sherrin for their tremendous heartfelt support and significant personal commitment to the advancement of our graduates in assisting them achieve, with distinction, their chosen professional career paths.
ESU QLD as a partner of ESU International London is a Peak Body and Educational Charity. Our new headquarters will play a pivotal role as the place for students, members and those who have mutual goals in furthering excellence in English.
On behalf of The ESU QLD Board of Directors we look forward to welcoming you to ESU House in the very near future.