b'AUSTRALIAAROUND THE WORLD TheBirdandBellAwardisGiventoLadyMaryFairfax,AC,OBESEPTEMBER, 2014In 2014, one of the most generous supporters of The Australian Ireland FundLady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE,received The Ireland Funds Bird and Bell award. The award was established in 1978 and is given to those who have been outstanding ambassadors for Ireland through their involvement with The Ireland Funds. Lady Mary is the second Australian recipient of the award.Lady Fairfax joins an exclusive and varied list of recipients. Past winners range from the impeccably dressedPhilip Treacy and Louise Kennedyto the politically braveJohn Hume, Mo Mowlam and Mary McAleese. The diverse list of winners all share one thing in common; a commitment to supporting peace and charity on the island of Ireland. Lady Fairfax and family have been generous supporters of The Australian Ireland Fund for over 25 years.The Bird and Bell award was given in particular recognition of the $1 million donated to The AustralianIreland Fund in November 2003 to establish the Sir Warwick Fairfax Trust (SWFT) in honour of Lady Marys latehusband. This donation, to support Integrated Education in Northern Ireland, was the seed for a further$12.1 million commitment to that cause. Only 7% of children in Northern Ireland are educated in integrated schools, which are largely funded by organiza-tions like The Ireland Funds, SWFT and other donors. One example of what has been achieved with support from the SWFT is Rowandale Integrated Primary School. The school has grown from 18 pupils in 2007 to 399 in 2014. As Paul Caskey, Campaign Director of the Integrated Education Fund explains, The Sir Warwick FairfaxTrust / Australian Ireland Fund have been with us all the way in supporting this brilliant integrated school, helping to provide additional accommodation when it was so desperately needed. It is amazing what can happen with such support.connect2015 | 103'