News

October Donations

Oct/2009

Otago Community Trust Announces October Donations

The Otago Community Trust donations this month have meant several popular Dunedin events can again be staged, including the well-supported Santa Parade and the International Science Festival.

A total of $254,000 was distributed by the Otago Community Trust to 24 organisations throughout Otago in October, said CEO Keith Ellwood.

The International Science Festival received $50,000 for its 2010 event, the Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust was granted $35,000 for its 2010 Festival, and $15,000 was donated for the Santa Parade in Dunedin.

Major donations this month also included $28,000 to Otago Surf Lifesaving for continuation of its Beach Education programme, which the Trust has now supported for 15 years.  The Otago Rowing Club received $19,786 for equipment to support the establishment of a national Centre of Excellence, and the Taieri College in Mosgiel has been given $25,000 towards upgrading the school’s tennis/netball courts.

International Science Festival

Dunedin has now established a reputation for the quality of its International Science Festival, to be held again in July 2010.

The Trust is pleased to be supporting this event, with its $50,000 donation be used to assist with production of the Festival.

 A celebration of the contribution science makes to society in the past, present and future, the theme of this biennial event will be “Food for Thought.” The Festival will be offering interactive, entertaining activities that engage the audience.

Dunedin Fringe Arts Festival

The Dunedin Fringe Arts Trust will use its $35,000 donation to produce the 2010 Fringe Festival in March.

The Dunedin Fringe is an annual festival of innovative and experimental art by emerging and established artists from Dunedin, throughout New Zealand, and overseas guests. The 2009 Dunedin Fringe brought a vibrant and engaging feast of artistic work to the central city, featuring 250 artists who presented 50 events over 11 days to an audience of over 10,000.

Otago Surf Life Saving Association

Keeping our children safe at the beach is an essential and very worthwhile endeavour that has been supported by the Otago Community Trust over many years.

The Otago Surf Life Saving Association actively promotes and provides education programmes for children. Its Beach Education programme makes aquatic safety classes available to all Otago schools. 

Co-ordinated by the Water Safety Council of NZ, the programme delivers valuable water safety, sun safety and risk management information, and last year educated over 5000 Otago children.

OtagoUniversity Rowing Club

Dunedin is fortunate to be the selected as the only high performance rowing centre outside of the elite training centre at Lake Karapiro in the North Island.

The Otago University Rowing Club was selected by Rowing NZ as a NZ Rowing High Performance Centre, and will be the preferred training venue for the development of young New Zealand rowers. The partnership between the University of Otago and Rowing New Zealand has been described as an exciting development with mutual benefits for both.

The Otago Community Trust’s $19,786 donation will assist with the purchase of essential training resources.

Smaller Donations

Trustees Appointed

Oct/2009

Otago Community Trust Trustees Appointed

Two well-known North Otago people have been appointed as trustees for the Otago Community Trust.  They are Gary Kircher and Helen Webster.  The appointees replace Russell Hendry and Sally Hope who retire after eight years of service to the Trust. Nicola Taylor was re-appointed to the Trust for a second four-year term.

Community Trust chairperson Bill Thomson welcomed the new appointments, which brings representation on the Trust from North Otago back to two. “We are delighted with the breadth and depth of community knowledge and involvement the two appointments have in North Otago, and the complementary skills in local authority, education and service organisations they will bring to the table. We look forward to their contribution to our monthly meetings.”

Mr Thompson acknowledged the retiring trustee’s commitment and skills.  “Russell Hendry’s expertise and sound judgement in investment and finance have been invaluable; we appreciate his experience with the community, and the careful consideration he brought to the Trust’s grant-making processes. 

“I also pay tribute to Sally Hope’s concern for community welfare issues, her interest in rural health, and understanding of heritage activities in North Otago.”

The new appointments, advised by the Minister of Finance, are initially for a four year term.

About the New Trust Members

Gary Kircher is a self-employed financial advisor, company directory and deputy mayor of the Waitaki District Council. He is a Sport Otago trustee, Director of Irrigation North Otago and member of the Weston Progress League.

Helen Webster is an owner of a farming company and bird and small animal feed manufacturing and trading company. She is a Waitaki Boys High School trustee, a community representative on the Safer Communities Council Restorative Justice Board and President of the Oamaru Rotary Club.

October Donations

Oct/2008

A total of $395,400 was distributed by the Trust to 24 organisations throughout Otago in October.

The Community Trust of Otago has donated $200,000 to the Otago Hockey Association for a replacement artificial turf at Logan Park in Dunedin.

Large Donations

Other larger donations included $40,000 to the Balclutha Presbyterian Church, $28,000 for the Trust’s on-going support to Otago Surf Life Saving Otago education programmes, $25,000 for upgrades to the Otago Outdoor Education Trust’s camp at Bannockburn, and $5000 will assist with the production of Dunedin’s New Year’s Eve event.

Smaller Donations