Mrs Greta Moran has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the visual arts through philanthropic initiatives, as an advocate for Australian art and artists, and to the aged care sector.
Mrs Moran is an outstanding businesswoman, philanthropist and family doyen. She has spent her life working both professionally and in voluntary capacities to enhance the lives of many Australians. As a businesswoman and Registered Nurse Greta with her husband Doug Moran invested in the healthcare sector via nursing homes, private hospitals and retirement villages run by the Moran Health Care Group to offer quality, compassionate and affordable care for older Australians. As an artist and philanthropist Greta (with Doug Moran) created the Moran Arts Foundation to foster and promote Australian artistic talent.
Service to the Aged Care Sector
Greta Moran graduated in nursing from Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. In the early 1950s Australian nursing homes were small, owned and operated by trained nurses who though well intentioned, worked long hours- many seven days a week and often lacked an important ingredient, management expertise. Inspired by Greta Moran’s nursing work, the Moran’s solution was to combine Doug Moran’s expertise in real estate, property development and business with Greta Moran’s health care skills to establish facilities for the elderly that were economically viable, plus offering patients a standard of care higher than that in existence at the time. The Morans consolidated their joint experience in 1956 to co-found the Moran Health Care Group, an all-Australian, family-owned private group of companies.
Greta Moran has remained a pivotal figure in the Moran legacy. Since establishment in 1956, and under Greta’s steadfast, visionary stewardship, Moran Health Care Group continues to be a beacon of innovation, quality and success in the aged care industry in Australia.
Contribution to Australian Arts
In 1988, in celebration of Australia’s Bicentennial, Greta and husband Doug Moran, established the Moran Arts Foundation – a philanthropic, not for profit organisation which fosters Australian portraiture skills, excellence in photography and enhances arts in education.
In making substantial funds available to visual artists in Australia through the Moran Arts Foundation, Greta and Doug Moran sought to foster and encourage a renewed emphasis on the quality of skill in Australian portraiture. This initiative had the full support of the then Prime Minister of Australia, The Rt. Hon. RJL Hawke who said “as a nation, we are indeed fortunate in having such a rich source of creative talent as is evident in the arts. The challenge to us is to encourage and nurture that creative energy and enthusiasm. I am pleased to support the establishment of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize which promises to encourage works which will enhance considerably our growing heritage of national art.”
Greta Moran, as a founding director of the Moran Arts Foundation, is a keen artist herself and has worked tirelessly to encourage, cultivate and promote the arts in Australia. Greta’s passion for encouraging the creative vision of Australian artists and photographers is demonstrated by the increasing number of works submitted each year for judging in Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize and the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, Australia’s richest art prize. Past winners have included Tim Storrier, Ben Quilty, Louise Hearman and Robert Hannaford.
The Foundation proudly supports photography and education in schools, including free programs for students in metropolitan, remote and rural areas. The Moran School Photographic Workshop Program introduces children to a new way of seeing the world, encouraging individual and collaborative creativity and building self-confidence.
Eldest son Peter Moran, who is also Managing Director of Moran Health Care Group and CEO Moran Arts Foundation said “My mother Greta, has always been dedicated to creating opportunities for others to succeed and to improve the quality of life for ageing Australians. I have seen this first hand through her leadership of Moran Health Care and her commitment to Australian artists and photographers. I am so proud to share this wonderful recognition of her work with her today.”