As we near the end of 2018, now is a good time to reflect on the year that has been and look at our contributions that go beyond the scope of IP.
We are proud to have played a role in numerous fundraising and volunteer efforts across 2018, and to have supported many great causes that make a positive contribution to the community. Below are the key highlights that our firm came together to support:
Daffodil Day
Daffodil Day provides each of us the opportunity to work toward a future that is free of cancer, with all funds raised through Daffodil Day going to cancer research, prevention, support services and advocacy. POF employees generously volunteered their time to support Daffodil Day, operating a fundraising stall in Melbourne’s CBD.
Loud Shirt Day
Loud Shirt Day spreads the message that deaf children can learn to listen and speak through early intervention. Staff members wore their most colourful shirts to the office to raise funds, and POF’s own Peter Coath also gave an interactive session on Auslan, introducing staff members to the basics of sign language.
R U OK? Day
As employers or staff, we can all create a culture where people feel confident asking and answering this simple yet important question. POF hosted a lunch time seminar for R U OK? Day, as part of an ongoing campaign to demonstrate that these conversations can make a real difference to staff going through a tough time.
International Women’s Day
POF held a fundraising morning tea to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. We also released an electronic booklet to showcase women in IP from around the world.
Pride Cup
Pride Cup is an organisation that is committed to creating a world where all LGBTI+ people feel included and accepted. A local football club came up with the idea to stage a Pride Cup, with players wearing rainbow jumpers and lines painted in rainbow colours to support the LGBTI+ community. It led to the annual AFL Pride Game, and has now spread across Australia and expanded into other sporting codes. The POF Group is proud to support this great cause through pro bono IP services in order to facilitate their expansion plans.
Individual contributions
Individuals at POF have also made a number of contributions to the wider community. We would like to take a moment to showcase some of the most notable efforts from this year:
- POF Partner Rodney Cruise was recently nominated for the “Victorian LGBTI Person of the Year award” for the 2018 GLOBE Community Awards, recognising excellence in Victoria’s LGBTI+ community.
- POF Partners Malcolm Bell and Ross McFarlane participated in the United Energy Around the Bay bike ride, a 210km ride around Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay.
- POF Partners Andrew Massie and Russell Waters, along with Patent and Trademark Attorney Peter Wassouf and Trainee Patent Attorney James Burnley, have raised funds and awareness for Movember – a leading charity that encourages men to grow a moustache in order to bring awareness to men’s health issues.
A big thank you to all of the POF Partners and staff for their contributions to these and our many other causes in 2018. We look forward to continuing these efforts into 2019.