Wentworth Courier
by Kim O'Connor

A passion to improve the welfare of animals in Australia has led businessman Brian Sherman and his daughter Ondine to establish "Voiceless", a fund for animals. Putting $100,000 into an annual grants program to fund projects to help animals is a major move, and contributing even further commitment signifies a true a labour of love.

Both are vegetarians Mr Sherman said as he pointed to his vinyl belt and shoes. "It felt wrong to not eat meat and still wear leather," he said. Ms Sherman said she was seven-years-old and faced with a serving of tongue for dinner when the realisation hit her. She has not eaten meat since.

"When I was younger I was involved with different animal rights groups such as Animal Liberation, and I went off protesting about duck shooting and did work experience at the RSPCA," she said. A master's degree in environmental education and work with non-profit organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and animal rescue group WIRES have given her good grounding.

Until recently Mr Sherman was better known for his financial achievements at the big end of town than for his stand on ethical treatment of animals. He was chairman and joint managing director of the Equitilink Group from 1981 to 2000. It grew to be one of the largest independent funds management groups in Australia , with $6 billion under management. A director of Network Ten, chairman of others as well as president of the board of trustees for the Australian Museum, his corporate image now shares space with his animal rights crusade. "The whole family is behind this: my wife Gene (of Sherman art gallery fame), son Emile (a film-maker) and Ondine's husband, Dror Ben-Ami (wildlife biologist)," he said.

"We're determined to make an impact. We can do this through grants which will help others, to help others (grants are to be allocated each year to non-profit organisations, schools, universities and local councils). "We also want to educate children and young people about respect for animals and understanding of the conditions in which they live. "Through Voiceless we also have a chance to be involved in legal action, legislation and changing government policy."

Last year, Mr Sherman and his daughter attended an animal rights conference in America where they were exposed to a huge number of issues. Mr Sherman admitted it was a traumatic experience. "Watching the video evidence, those images stay with you," he said. Ms Sherman said: "We don't have to accept society's pattern of cruelty to animals. "We can challenge it. People are compassionate. They love their pet cats and dogs. "But with other issues it is out of sight, out of mind, particularly when it comes to farming practices that are cruel."

Paddington-based Voiceless has attracted the support of actor Hugo Weaving who has taken on the role of ambassador, and the patronage of Nobel Prize winning author J.M. Coetzee. Mr Sherman said after reading Coetzee's latest book, Elizabeth Costello, he had been moved by a character's line: "Animals have only their silence left with which to confront us".

"Did you know Australia has the largest wildlife cull in the world? Some six million kangaroos are on quota to be killed each year," he said. "Did you know about 10 million battery hens have never stretched their legs, seen the sun or felt the ground under their feet? "Are people aware that in NSW alone, 200,000 to 300,000 highly intelligent pregnant pigs are kept in sow crates so small that they cannot take a step backwards or forward, and that a lot go mad because of these conditions? "I think that if people realise that, this will be the first step in trying to help these animals." Ms Sherman added: "There can be humane farming practices. Look at how well the free range eggs campaign has worked. "People have the choice now to support farmers who do not battery-farm hens."

Applications for grants close on September 30. Inquiries to grants co-ordinator Elaine Morris on 9357 0703 or e-mail info@voiceless.org.au

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