The Gutsy Group started life as Medica Viva in late 1999 and was the “brainchild” of Dr. Ross Elliott, a Senior Gastroenterologist who was passionate about the need for research into Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and was concerned about the lack of available funding in this area.
The inaugural Chairman was Mr. John Gross, and other founding members of the Committee of Management included Dr. Kerry Breen, Ms. Lorraine Elliott AM, Mr. Richard McCubbin and Dr. Ross Elliott. In 2004, Mr. Anthony Hyde the C.E.O. of the travel company Abercrombie and Kent, joined the Committee and he instigated the name change to The Gutsy Group, in order to drive a more visible profile for the organisation.
The initial fundraising for The Gutsy Group was supported by friends of Mr. John Gross, and in 1999 and 2000, two fundraising lunches were held. Within 6 months over $200,000 was raised to establish a strong capital base to fund the first research project.
The personnel behind The Gutsy Group remained static until 2004, when Mrs. Wendy Gleeson became the Executive Officer. Through Wendy’s efforts and her friendship with Mrs. Harriet Moore and Mrs. Prue Troedel, a wider donor base was established and fundraising on a more regular basis was introduced. Anthony Hyde called this trio the ‘Gutsy Angels’ because of their extremely hard work and great fundraising ideas. Through their networks, they co-ordinated successful fundraising nights at private homes, and also introduced the annual ‘Walk the Point’ at Point Nepean National Park, Portsea, which was held over 4 consecutive years from 2005 to 2008. In 2007, Wendy stepped down as the Executive Officer, and was replaced by Mrs. Leslie Moat.
Mr. Gross ended his term as Chairman in 2004, and was succeeded until 2005, by Mr. Richard McCubbin who instigated an improved corporate structure. Business commitments forced Mr. McCubbin to abdicate the Chairman’s role sooner than expected and Dr. Kerry Breen then became the Chairman for the subsequent 2 years. Other members of the Committee of Management at the time included Associate Professor Tony Catto-Smith, Mr. Richard Sheen and Ms. Penny Grau. Ms. Clare Cummins and Dr Miles Sparrow subsequently joined in 2008. Mr. Brent Lehmann assumed the role of Chairman in mid 2007 until 2009, after which time he became one of The Gutsy Group’s inaugural Ambassadors. The current Chairman is Dr. Alex Colllie.
The Fundraising Advisory Group was established in 2006. Since then, regular fundraising events have been held. The group is made up of a small number of volunteers, many of whom have Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, who research appropriate events and prepare business cases for presentation to the Committee of Management prior to engaging venues and finalising the event details.
