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corsetry store in 1939. Besen married John's sister, Eva Gandel. Sussan grew rapidly: by the 1960s it had become one of
Australia's largest fashion retailers and Besen was the managing director from 1951 to 1980. While expanding the number of Sussan outlets, they diversified by adding fashion chains
421:"for eminent service to the visual and performing arts as a leading benefactor and supporter, through philanthropic contributions to a range of social welfare, community health, educational and youth initiatives, and to business".
278:
In addition to his work in the fashion industry, Besen and his wife, Eva, were involved in various philanthropic activities over many years. They established their family foundation, named The Besen Family
Foundation, in 1978.
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AO, Debbie Dadon AM and Daniel Besen. Eva was also an art patron and philanthropist, and the couple were known for their philanthropic work, having donated millions of dollars to various charities and causes.
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In addition to his philanthropic work, Besen was a collector of contemporary art. He and his wife commissioned a private art collection that is
Australia's first privately funded public art gallery, the
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The Besens supported various other causes, mostly focused on social welfare and the environment. They gave to organizations including the
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Butler, Ben (4 October 2021). "Philanthropists Marcus and Leonie Besen donate $ 15m to Royal
Children's Hospital cancer centre".
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283:
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from 1951 to 1980, and he was involved in various philanthropic activities. In 2015, he was appointed a
Companion of the
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to establish the Besen Family
Foundation Chair in Design. They also gave to other educational institutions, including
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Butler, Ben (8 October 2020). "Philanthropists Marcus and Leonie Besen donate $ 1m to
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra".
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475:
262:
The Besens owned and operated a 300 hectares (740 acres) winery and cattle stud named TarraWarra, in the
Victorian
286:, which was renamed the ACCA – The Leonie and Marcus Foundation in their honour. Marcus served as trustee for the
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The Besens donated millions of dollars to the arts in
Australia. They were the largest individual donors to the
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Market Place. In 2006, the Besen family sold a 50% stake in
Highpoint Shopping Centres for $ 621 million to
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Who's who in Australia 2009: An Australian Biographical Dictionary and Register of Prominent People
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in 1985. In recognition of his contributions to the community, he was appointed an Officer of the
254:. The Besens sold their remaining 25% stake in Highpoint in 2017, for $ 680 million, also to GPT.
329:
200:
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Cantillon, Suzanne (3 September 2012). "Marcus Besen: The man who put the family into fashion".
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Cantillon, Suzanne (3 September 2012). "Marcus Besen: The man who put the family into fashion".
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The Besens also supported medical research and healthcare. They donated $ 15 million to the
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192:. He survived the sinking of his small boat off Turkey, and arrived in Australia in 1947.
8:
1063:"Melbourne billionaire Marc Besen's long love of art recognised in Australia Day honours"
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Initially, Besen worked as a hosiery supplier. In the 1950s, he went into business with
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Marcus Besen died on 8 November 2023, at the age of 99. Eva predeceased him in 2021.
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clothing stores that had been started by John's parents, Sam and Fay Gandel, as a
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in Melbourne, which named its cancer centre after them. They also gave to the
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Besen married Eva Gandel on 15 June 1950. The couple had four children:
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The Sussan group also acquired interests in shopping centres, including
199:, where he graduated with a degree in economics. He went on to study at
225:
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The Besens also supported education. They donated $ 10 million to the
1203:. Australian Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
1197:"Award extract: Mr Marcus BESEN, Companion of the Order of Australia"
1174:. Australian Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
1145:. Australian Government: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
1007:"Leonie and Marcus Besen's $ 16m Contemporary Art Collection on Show"
813:"Vale Marc Besen: A life of success and generosity made in adversity"
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148:(19 December 1923 – 8 November 2023) was a Romanian-born Australian
1139:"Award extract: Mr Marcus BESEN, Officer of the Order of Australia"
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180:, to a Jewish family, the son of Gusta and Simon Besen. He was a
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By 1990, there were 168 Sussan and 152 Suzanne Grae stores.
185:
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Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (30 October 2020).
1091:"Rich Lister, retailer, philanthropist: Marc Besen dies"
1155:
In recognition of service to the community and commerce
604:
575:
546:
514:
16:
Australian businessman and philanthropist (1923–2023)
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Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (27 May 2021).
1256:"The full list: Australia's wealthiest 200 revealed"
1225:
Bailey, Michael; Sprague, Julie-anne (26 May 2023).
780:
Westerman, Helen; Urban, Rebecca (26 January 2006).
266:. This is also the site where they established the
1254:
983:
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1168:"Award extract: Mr Marcus BESEN, Centenary Medal"
1327:
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978:
1286:"The 200 richest people in Australia revealed"
1227:"The 200 richest people in Australia revealed"
988:Boyd, Tony (18 October 2014). "Marcus Besen".
806:
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773:
319:Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre
172:Marcus Besen was born on 19 December 1923 in
1034:"My Brilliant Career: Eva Besen, art patron"
946:
429:As of May 2023, Besen and his family's
1184:For service to the arts as a philanthropist
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1218:
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417:list, he was appointed a Companion of the
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912:"Foundation Matters: Annual Report 2022"
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782:"Aussie gongs to big names in business"
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406:In 2001, he was awarded the Australian
184:survivor who fled from Romania and the
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662:Has not changed from the previous year
284:Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
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298:, of which Marcus was a trustee; the
1366:Companions of the Order of Australia
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718:. Crown Content. 2007. p. 249.
690:Has decreased from the previous year
676:Has increased from the previous year
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996:
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13:
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1089:Lenaghan, Nick (8 November 2023).
1032:Hornery, Andrew (15 August 2019).
870:Tran, Stephanie (5 January 2021).
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353:Australian Conservation Foundation
323:Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
14:
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1309:
1093:. The Australian Financial Review
917:. Mount Scopus College Foundation
811:Leibler, Mark (8 November 2023).
1114:"Tributes flow in for Eva Besen"
1111:
1061:Mills, Tammy (23 January 2015).
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393:honorary Doctor of Philosophy
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300:Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
296:National Gallery of Victoria
292:National Museum of Australia
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1262:Australian Financial Review
1232:Australian Financial Review
848:Australian Financial Review
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460:Australian Financial Review
294:. They also supported the
288:Australian National Gallery
10:
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1361:Australian philanthropists
1118:The Australian Jewish News
1011:The Australian Jewish News
415:2015 Australia Day Honours
349:Brotherhood of St Laurence
1356:Australian businesspeople
817:The Sydney Morning Herald
759:National Portrait Gallery
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315:Royal Children's Hospital
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1321:TarraWarra Estate Winery
754:"Marc Besen AC, b. 1923"
378:TarraWarra Museum of Art
268:TarraWarra Museum of Art
168:Early life and education
1316:Besen Family Foundation
330:University of Melbourne
201:Harvard Business School
197:University of Melbourne
476:Australia's 50 Richest
111:Eva Besen (née Gandel)
1068:Sydney Morning Herald
391:Besen was awarded an
1381:People from Bukovina
615:$ 2.23 billion
586:$ 2.20 billion
557:$ 2.05 billion
345:Australian Red Cross
308:Mount Scopus College
1376:Holocaust survivors
397:Tel Aviv University
195:Besen attended the
83:Romanian Australian
1201:honours.pmc.gov.au
1172:honours.pmc.gov.au
1143:honours.pmc.gov.au
419:Order of Australia
401:Order of Australia
387:Honours and awards
178:Kingdom of Romania
162:Order of Australia
1265:. Nine Publishing
1013:. 25 October 2018
725:978-1-74095-166-1
695:
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304:Australian Ballet
224:Suzanne Grae and
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1038:The Australian
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851:. 6 April 1990
843:"Marcus Besen"
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1295:. Retrieved
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1041:. Retrieved
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1015:. Retrieved
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939:The Guardian
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919:. Retrieved
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898:The Guardian
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879:. Retrieved
876:Michael West
875:
872:"Marc Besen"
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853:. Retrieved
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525:$ 2.24
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274:Philanthropy
264:Yarra Valley
261:
248:Moonee Ponds
233:
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215:running the
210:
194:
190:World War II
171:
141:Marcus Besen
140:
139:
68:(2023-11-08)
25:Marcus Besen
18:
1341:2023 deaths
1336:1923 births
822:22 November
648:Description
213:John Gandel
150:businessman
92:Businessman
79:Nationality
1330:Categories
1269:31 October
1123:8 November
1097:8 November
731:5 December
700:References
443:2.23
258:TarraWarra
226:Sportsgirl
89:Occupation
44:1923-12-19
499:Net worth
486:Net worth
465:Rich List
431:net worth
425:Net worth
403:in 1988.
270:in 2000.
252:GPT Group
236:Highpoint
203:in 1963.
182:Holocaust
73:Australia
351:and the
321:and the
116:Children
971:The Age
955:The Age
786:The Age
527:billion
445:billion
413:In the
56:Romania
1297:28 May
1238:6 June
722:
636:Legend
471:Forbes
347:, the
302:; the
246:, and
217:Sussan
207:Career
188:after
158:Sussan
108:Spouse
102:Sussan
1207:5 May
1178:5 May
1149:5 May
1074:5 May
921:5 May
915:(PDF)
881:5 May
855:5 May
791:5 May
765:5 May
600:2023
571:2022
542:2021
510:2020
495:Rank
482:Rank
455:Year
186:Nazis
1299:2021
1271:2020
1240:2023
1209:2023
1180:2023
1151:2023
1125:2023
1099:2023
1076:2023
1045:2021
1019:2021
923:2023
883:2023
857:2023
824:2023
793:2023
767:2023
733:2023
720:ISBN
643:Icon
367:AC,
336:and
63:Died
38:Born
503:USD
490:AUD
441:A$
439:at
395:by
1332::
1288:.
1259:.
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1217:^
1199:.
1182:.
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