From the 16 February 2003 media release...

In 2002 Anglicare's Social Action and Research Centre approached nine leading Tasmanians and asked them to become Fellows of its Research Centre.

The Fellows are a group of Tasmanians who have contributed to the good of the community through public debate, literature or artwork. They are people who have given voice to the experiences of ordinary Tasmanians, voices which might otherwise not have been heard in the noise of public debate.

The Fellows are Tasmanian writers, sculptors, historians, essayists, activists, poets, businessmen, world champion debaters and living national treasures. They are Dr Alison Alexander, Michael Field, Dr Pete Hay, Patrick Hall, Professor Margaret Reynolds, Tony Richardson, Margaret Scott, Justice Pierre Slicer and Rev. Dr Jim Young.

'It is our hope that the establishment of the Fellows will provide opportunities to open up public debate and raise awareness about social justice issues,' said the CEO of Anglicare, the Rev. Chris Jones. 'Like so many Tasmanians, we wish to live in a State which is committed to citizen's rights to respect, justice, dignity and value.

'Anglicare provides many services to Tasmanians who are disadvantaged but if we stopped at that we would just be part of the status quo. We believe we must also work actively towards creating a more just society and we do that through taking up debates about justice and equity in any sphere we can.'

'The Fellows have indicated their willingness to support our work. Already a number of them have contributed to a book which looks at national policies towards asylum seekers from a Tasmanian perspective.'

Click here to view the SARC Fellows.