Sir James McCusker John Monash Scholarship announced
Melbourne, 31 March 2025 — A visionary Western Australian business leader and philanthropist who gave generously to those in need has been honoured by his family with the announcement that a Sir James McCusker John Monash Scholarship will be awarded annually from 2026.
The scholarship has been named by Sir James’s son, Malcolm McCusker AC CVO KC, a former Governor of Western Australia, and his wife, Tonya McCusker AM, both of whom have continued a family tradition of philanthropy.
The McCuskers become the first Western Australian family to fund a John Monash Scholarship, via their McCusker Charitable Foundation.
“We are so deeply grateful to Malcolm and Tonya for supporting the mission of the General Sir John Monash Foundation to create future leaders for the nation,” Paul Ramadge, the Foundation’s CEO, said. “We admire them greatly and we look forward to celebrating the achievements of Sir James McCusker John Monash Scholars in the years ahead.”
Malcolm McCusker, a barrister, was the 31st Governor of Western Australia from July 2011 to June 2014. He was personally appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by Elizabeth II during the royal visit to Australia in October 2011, then advanced to Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2012 Australia Day Honours for “service as a lawyer, an advocate for sustainable development and education, and philanthropy in medical research, youth and arts organisations”.
Tonya McCusker AM is a Director and the Administrator of the McCusker Charitable Foundation. She studied ballet in Monte Carlo and danced with the Australian Ballet before completing a law degree at the University of Western Australia.
The McCusker Charitable Foundation supports more than 100 not-for-profits each year and has distributed more than $30million to charity.
Sir James McCusker was a prominent Australian financial services figure. When World War II broke out, he joined the AIF and became a sergeant with the 1st Armoured Division. With business success in the post-war years, Sir James co-directed, with his son, the family company, Martindale Pty Ltd, which supported dozens of organisations, including a training body for carers of Alzheimer’s sufferers, the Lions Eye Institute, the Glaucoma Research Institute and the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
The Sir James McCusker John Monash Scholarship for postgraduate study at a leading institution overseas, will be available to a talented Australian of any age, studying in any field, who can demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership or the potential for leadership, an understanding of what it means to be an Australian citizen, and a vision to deliver positive impact for their country.