Valmai Pidgeon

Last updated

Florence Valmai Miller Pidgeon AM (born c. 1927) is a leading figure in the Arts and the construction industry in Queensland.

Contents

After completing her education in 1945, Florence joined her father's building construction business F.A. Pidgeon & Son Pty Ltd. which was founded in 1927. She was appointed Company Secretary in 1950 of the company, and a Director in 1957, Joint Managing Director with her brother, Sir John Pidgeon, in 1980, and managing director in 1993. Under the joint stewardship, F.A. Pidgeon & Son Pty Ltd., grew into one of the largest privately owned construction companies in Queensland. Valmai Pidgeon has also established herself as a developer in her own right, through a range of projects in and around Brisbane - most recently, a major inner city high-rise residential development. [1]

Of particular note has been her public profile as a supporter of landscape architecture through her own award-winning garden in her Holland Park home. She also supports many important groups including Opera Queensland, Opera Australia, Australian Ballet, Queensland Art Gallery, Royal Brisbane Hospital, St. John's Cathedral, QUT's Art Museum, Multiple Sclerosis and the State Library of Queensland.

Valmai Pidgeon is a Les Étoiles supporter of the Australian Ballet, which is a gathering of individuals who are amongst the most dedicated friends of the Australian Ballet. [2]

Honours and awards

On 11 June 2001 Valmai was recognised with an AM for service to the arts in Queensland as a patron and benefactor, to women, particularly in the area of industrial democracy in the workplace, and to the community. [3]

School and university buildings have been named in her honour including the Valmai Pidgeon Performing Arts Centre at Somerville House school, which was opened in her honour in the year 2000. [4]

A special ceremony in 2005 hosted by the Queensland University of Technology Chancellor, Major General Peter Arnison AC, CVO and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Coaldrake, was held at Old Government House was held in honour of Valmai as she was conferred with the degree of Doctor of the university. "Miss Pidgeon was recognised for her outstanding contribution to the community and QUT through distinguished service to the construction industry, the arts, and the advancement of women. Miss Pidgeon has made a significant contribution to QUT over the past 20 years as a patron of the QUT Art Museum and Art Collection, and as a generous benefactor and vocal supporter." [5]

Valmai Pidgeon was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2009. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland University of Technology</span> University in Australia

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public research university located in the urban coastal city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. QUT is located on two campuses in the Brisbane area viz. Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. The university in its current form was founded in 1989, when the Queensland Institute of Technology (QIT) was made a university through the Queensland University of Technology Act 1988, with the resulting Queensland University of Technology beginning its operations from January 1989. In 1990, the Brisbane College of Advanced Education merged with QUT.

Susan O'Neill, is an Australian former competitive swimmer from Brisbane, Queensland, nicknamed "Madame Butterfly". She achieved eight Olympic Games medals during her swimming career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglican Church Grammar School</span> School in East Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

The Anglican Church Grammar School (ACGS), formerly the Church of England Grammar School and commonly referred to as Churchie, is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school for boys, located in East Brisbane, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Performing Arts Centre</span> Australian performing arts venue

The Queensland Performing Arts Centre is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct. Opened in 1985, it includes the Lyric Theatre, Concert Hall, Playhouse and Cremorne Theatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State Library of Queensland</span> Main research and reference library in Queensland

The State Library of Queensland is the main reference and research library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the state government. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988. It contains a significant portion of Queensland's documentary heritage, major reference and research collections, and is an advocate of and partner with public libraries across Queensland. The library is at Kurilpa Point, within the Queensland Cultural Centre on the Brisbane River at South Bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Marchant</span>

George Marchant was a soft-drink manufacturer and philanthropist in Brisbane, Colony of Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerville House</span> Independent, day and boarding school in South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Somerville House is an independent, boarding and day school for girls, located in South Brisbane, an inner-city suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelvin Grove State College</span> Public school in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Kelvin Grove State College is a government primary secondary school in Kelvin Grove, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, three kilometres from Brisbane’s central business district and adjacent the Kelvin Grove campus of Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Some of the school's buildings are listed on the Queensland Heritage Register.

Donald Robert ArgusACCPASF is an Australian businessman, chairman of Bank of America Australia advisory board and member of Monash University's Monash Business School advisory board. He is a former member of Bank of America's inaugural Global Advisory Council (2013–2019); former chairman of BHP (1999–2010) and Brambles (1999–2008), former director of the Australian Foundation Investment Company (1999–2013) and former CEO of National Australia Bank (1991–1999). He was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School.

Clive John Berghofer is an Australian property developer, politician and philanthropist. He was a Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Alderman and Mayor of Toowoomba.

Mackay Sugar is the largest sugar producer in Queensland and second largest sugar producer in Australia. In 2013, Mackay Sugar was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manuel Hornibrook</span> Australian builder and civil engineer

Sir Manuel Richard Hornibrook OBE was an Australian builder and civil engineer. He founded the firm M R Hornibrook Pty Ltd that after merger with Baulderstone became one of the largest Australian civil engineering firms. Known as "MR", Hornibrook was knighted in 1960. He was highly respected and a builder of bridges across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Papua New Guinea as well as other major projects including Stages 2 and 3 of the Sydney Opera House.

The Queensland University of Technology Distinguished Constructor Award recognises significant contributions by individuals to the Queensland construction industry and community and to honour those who have given a lifetime of work to the industry. The achievements of Queensland's most admired construction industry leaders are further acknowledged by their induction into the QUT Construction Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Pidgeon</span>

Sir John Allan Stewart Pidgeon was an Australian contractor and property developer. He and his sister, Valmai Pidgeon, have been involved with the Queensland construction industry since joining their father's business in the 1940s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roma Egan</span>

Roma Jean Egan was a child actress on Australian television, and an Australian ballet dancer and teacher. She was notably a senior soloist for The Australian Ballet, and variously performed for the Queensland Ballet, Basel Ballet, Ballet Victoria and Royal New Zealand Ballet.

Martin Carl Albrecht AC, FTSE, FIE Aust, FAICD, FAIM, is a prominent Australian businessman, best known for his service as chairman, previously CEO (1985–2000), of Thiess. In June 2002 he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia "For service to the construction industry, to the development of export markets, to the engineering profession, and to the community in the areas of education, corporate social responsibility and industrial safety."

Margaret Helen Mittelheuser (1931—2013) was an Australian stockbroker. She was the first female stockbroker in Australia and one of the first female stockbrokers in the world. Margaret joined Ralph W. King and Yuill stockbrokers in July 1964. On Queensland Day in 2021, Mittelheuser was named jointly with her sister Cathryn Mittelheuser as one of Queensland Greats by the Queensland Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame</span> Honors martial artists

The Australasian Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Inc. gives recognition to influential martial art practitioners throughout Australasia. The hall of fame recognizes those who make an outstanding contribution to martial arts, consistently demonstrate excellence, and unselfishly promote the growth of martial arts.

Wayne Denning is an Indigenous Australian businessman of Birri Gubba heritage, and is the Managing Director and owner of Carbon Creative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Bacon</span> Australian art dealer and philanthropist

Philip John Bacon is an Australian art dealer, philanthropist and mentor to young artists. In 2019, he was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in recognition of his status as Australia's leading art dealer and his outstanding contributions to philanthropy.

References

  1. ↑ "Eighth Annual Gala & Celebratory Event, Sydney May 9 - 13, 2004" (PDF). Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Private Giving". The Australian Ballet. Archived from the original on 17 August 2009. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  3. ↑ "PIDGEON, Florence Valmai Miller". It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "VPAC". Somerville House. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "Miss Valmai Pidgeon AM honoured in special ceremony" (PDF). Spring 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "Hall of Fame". Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame . State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame | Valmai Pidgeon AM". leaders.slq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 8 March 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.