The National Biography Award , established in Australia in 1996, is awarded for the best published work of biographical or autobiographical writing by an Australian. It aims "to encourage the highest standards of writing biography and autobiography and to promote public interest in those genres". It was initially awarded every two years, but from 2002 it has been awarded annually. Its administration was taken over by the State Library of New South Wales in 1998.
7-432: It was originally endowed by private benefactor, Dr. Geoffrey Cains, and the original prize money was $ 12,500. In 2002, Cains said of endowing the award that "I wanted to give back to literature something, it had given me so much; besides, philanthropy in this country is so overlooked and diminished". In 2005, the prize money was increased to $ 20,000 with the support of Michael Crouch . Belinda Hutchinson , former President of
14-671: A holding vehicle for his long-term investments in Australian manufacturing, beef production, meat processing and property. Michael was appointed (2008 - 2012) Board Director of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia and from 2012 to his death was Vice President of The Friends of The Duke of Edinburgh Award in Australia. He became sponsor in 2008 and a Benefactor of the Award in 2012. Michael Crouch died on 9 February 2018 and
21-685: A small Australian company, Zip Heaters, which had been formed in 1947 to market kitchen and bathroom water heaters. Under his management, Zip expanded its product range to include a variety of hot water appliances and in the 1970s introduced the world's first small instant boiling water heaters now widely used in homes, offices and restaurant kitchens. From 1970, Zip also developed under-bench drinking water appliances dispensing both instant boiling water and chilled filtered drinking water. Newer models also dispense sparkling chilled filtered water. From 1982, Crouch appointed Zip distributors in Singapore, Taiwan,
28-511: Is announced in early July each year, followed by the winner announcement in early August. In 2003, the National Biography Award lecture was instituted. It is associated with the award, and was also sponsored by Cains and Crouch. It is given annually, but takes place during the same week as the announcement of the winner. Michael Crouch (businessman) Michael Jenkins Crouch AC (27 May 1933 – 9 February 2018)
35-581: The Library Council of NSW, expressed gratitude for this increase to "an award that celebrates the Australian psyche through distinguished biography writing." In 2012 the prize money for the Award has been increased to $ 25,000. Since 2013, each shortlisted author receives $ 1,000. The judging panel varies from year to year. In 2018 the Michael Crouch Award was introduced for an Australian writer's first published biography. The shortlist
42-843: The Philippines and Thailand to cover South-East Asia. A distributor for Great Britain was engaged in 1987, and Zip products were introduced to Europe at trade shows in 1989 and 1991. A wholly owned subsidiary was formed in 1991 to handle UK distribution, and a distributor for Europe was appointed in 2002. A Zip subsidiary to handle distribution in New Zealand was established in 1996, and a joint venture partner in South Africa handles African marketing. Michael Crouch maintained his position as CEO of Zip until December 2013. From then until his death in 2018 he continued as Chairman of Midgeon Holdings Pty Ltd, an Australian private company acting as
49-426: Was Chairman of Australian private company Midgeon Holdings Pty Ltd. Midgeon acted as a holding vehicle for his long-term investments which include interests in Australian manufacturing, beef production, meat processing and property. Until December 2013 he was also Executive Chairman of Zip Industries , a manufacturing company he founded following his acquisition in 1962 of Zip Heaters. In 1962 Michael Crouch acquired
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