Premier, rocker, billionaires assemble for Murdoch institute gala

Australia’s business and political elite assembled in force on Saturday evening to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute at Melbourne’s State Library.

The paediatric medical research organisation was founded in 1986 by Professor David Danks and News Corp chairman Lachlan Murdoch’s grandmother, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, with major support from her media baron son Rupert Murdoch.

Sarah Murdoch, who co-chairs the institute, arrived through a back entrance and welcomed guests in the lobby as they arrived. Her husband was absent on the evening, as was his 95-year-old father, who has not visited Australia since 2024.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan arrived late, but posed for pictures with Sarah Murdoch. Her political rival, Victorian Liberal leader Jess Wilson, declined to speak as she arrived. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll arrived with a smile and offered to pose for pictures.

The institute, which has researchers working on better understanding and treating more than 100 childhood diseases, is hosted by the University of Melbourne and the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

There was a clutch of senior News Corp executives, past and present, on hand at Saturday’s function, with local executive chair Michael Miller offering to bring snacks out during the event.

The Age and Sydney Morning Herald approached guests for comment and captured images from outside the event.

Eddie McGuire, a former chief executive of Nine (which owns this masthead) and onetime president of the Collingwood Football Club, greeted reporters on his way into the venue. The co-founder of Dodo internet and owner of the National Basketball League, Larry Kestelman, put aside any woes from dealing with fractious team owners to attend with his wife Anita Pahor.

Former News Corp Australia chief executive Julian Clarke arrived early, as did veteran editor Peter Blunden, while former Foxtel chair Siobhan McKenna, once Lachlan Murdoch’s consigliere, arrived promptly with husband James Flintoft.

Billionaire Heloise Pratt, of the manufacturing dynasty, arrived with her rocker partner, Jon Stevens, who fronted first Noiseworks and then INXS.

Rupert Murdoch’s niece and Melbourne powerbroker Penny Fowler, who is also chair of the hospital’s Good Friday Appeal fundraising drive, arrived around the same time as rich-lister retailer Solomon Lew.

Collingwood star Nick Daicos was one of the last to arrive.

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