The year before her death, Irene Phelps reflected on her life: the girl from a former gold mining town in northern Tasmania, who had started out sweeping floors at a women’s apparel store, had travelled the globe, established a new life in Melbourne and built an impressive real estate empire.
Then in her late fifties, with a terminal cancer diagnosis, Irene turned her mind to her legacy. It’s been a decade since Irene’s death and her vision is having an extraordinary impact.
The Irene Phelps Charitable Trust has provided donations of $2.36 million to youth and mental health programs in the Beaconsfield and West Tamar region. It also supports medical and scientific research.
At the Menzies Institute for Medical Research at the University of Tasmania, Irene’s legacy is fast-tracking world-leading projects to enable people to live healthier, longer and better lives.
A world-first multiple sclerosis (MS) stem cell biobank – a crucial step towards a cure – is gaining momentum, and a ground-breaking trial using magnetic stimulation to repair the brain is being boosted.
Professor Kaylene Young, Senior Research Fellow at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, said funding from our generous donor community was crucial.
“These are long multi-year projects that come on the back of 20 years of prior research,” Professor Young said.
“Sometimes donor funding, like the support we are receiving from Irene’s trust, is the only thing that keeps a project going, other times it allows us to take the next critical step in developing or testing a treatment faster.”
As much as Irene’s legacy has a global impact, it also has a local focus. Scholarships bearing her name are transforming the lives of Tasmanians by allowing them to further their education.
This is particularly poignant, as higher education was not possible for Irene.
She attended Beaconsfield Primary School and Riverside High School, but her rebellious and independent streak saw her leave formal education at age 15.
However, these same characteristics stood her in good stead to make her own way in the world. Irene became one of the first female managers of clothing store Just Jeans, before moving to London to travel and further her career. She soon returned to Melbourne to establish her own successful real estate company.
Despite her business acumen, Irene regretted not finishing high school, which is why educational attainment is central to the Irene Phelps Charitable Trust’s mission.
The Irene Phelps Memorial Scholarship has provided Bachelor of Education student Monique Schouten with invaluable support.
“When I applied for the scholarship I was experiencing financial hardship and I couldn’t fall back on my parents to help with the cost,” Monique recalls.
“When I found out I had received Irene’s scholarship there was a sense of reassurance that my dream could be achieved and I am so very thankful and honoured to receive it.
“Not only has it released some of the financial stress, knowing that Irene was thinking of future students, I feel that I have the ability to pass on her message and help students with their learning needs.”
Monique would like to work as a teacher in the West Tamar Community, as a way of giving back to the local community.
Read more stories from Impact 2022.
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Banner image: Professor Kaylene Young