When former actor and respected entertainment agent James Laurie was diagnosed with cancer, he began to think about what he would like to do to give back to the industry in which he had worked since graduating from NIDA in 1979.

Laurie died on Monday 7 August. A week later, on Sunday 13 August, the Actors Benevolent Fund of NSW held its Cause Celeb fundraising concert and announced that Laurie had donated $500,000 in order to establish the James Laurie Senior Assistance Fund.

James Laurie. Photo supplied

Philip Quast, who was a close friend of Laurie, is an Ambassador of the Actors Benevolent Fund (ABF). Speaking at Cause Celeb, he told the packed audience that Laurie had hoped to attend the event himself and had booked a table of 10. His brother Jock Laurie, a grazier from Walca, who is Chairman of Australian Wool Innovation and a former President of the National Farmer’s Federation, was there instead, with his wife Lyn.

Speaking fondly of his friend, Quast said that when Laurie realised he wouldn’t make it to Cause Celeb, he said, “Don’t be doing any of that sentimental stuff.”

Deciding that he wanted...