Funding Awarded to Archibald Baxter Peace Memorial

Media Release

The Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust has received a significant boost from the latest round of grants from the Otago Community Trust.

The Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust was awarded a $75,000 grant to assist with the creation of a memorial garden on the corner of George and Albany Streets, Dunedin. The memorial garden location was approved by the Dunedin City Council earlier this year. 

Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust chairman Professor Kevin Clements said it was the Baxter Trusts first significant donation and provided a wonderful platform for raising all the other funds necessary to bring the memorial and garden to completion. 

“We see this project as a living memorial to an often overlooked part of our history. But we are also hoping that it will stand as a constant encouragement to all citizens to exercise vigilance and speak truth to power.” 

"We hope it will remind all of us to hold elected authorities accountable and responsible for their actions and when necessary to have the courage to disobey authority when those in power are acting irresponsibly or harmfully. In this way it will be a constant reminder to all of us to “guard the guardians” and make sure that they are serving the public interest rather than their own."

Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger said that the Otago Community Trust was pleased to be able to support the memorial garden project which has been four years in the making. 

Otago Community Trust also approved its annual grants to Dunedin Symphony Orchestra ($70,000) supporting the production of orchestral experiences for Otago communities and the Otago Medical Research Foundation ($70,000) for annual grants to support innovative, early stage medical research in Otago.

The ChatBus Trust, which is a community organisation providing a free counselling service to children under 14 years, received a $16,500 grant to assist with the fitout of a new ChatBus. ChatBus works through Primary and Intermediate schools in the greater Dunedin area, giving children access to professional counselling within the safety of their school environment. 

Other grants included $8,000 to the Aspiring Biodiversity Trust to assist with their Makarora Catchment rock wren protection and enhancement project; $7,000 to the Dunedin Curtain Bank Trust supporting its ongoing work and volunteer expenses and a $2,629 grant will support the Waitaki District Council - Safer Waitaki Coalition with its up and coming ‘Clued Up!’  events for Year 6 students and senior citizens. 

The Otago Community Trust gave a total of $387,871 to 24 community organisations in July.

 

Otago Community Trust Community Grants, July 2018
Alexandra	Alexandra Community Advice Network Inc	$1,500
Cromwell	Central Otago District Arts Trust	$5,755
Dunedin	Otago Cricket Assn Inc	$13,140
Dunedin	Dunedin Curtain Bank Trust	$7,000
Dunedin	Dunedin Symphony Orchestra	$70,000
Dunedin	ChatBus Trust	$16,500
Dunedin	Otago Settlers Association Incorporated	$5,000
Dunedin	Otago Medical Research Foundation	$70,000
Dunedin	Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust	$75,000
Dunedin	Rotary Park Kindergarten	$2,000
Dunedin	Otago Malaysian Students Association	$1,000
Oamaru	Waitaki District Council - Safer Waitaki Coalition	$2,629
Oamaru	Awamoa Bowling Club Inc	$3,200
Otago	South Island Secondary Schools Netball Association Inc	$7,500
Otago	Tangata Whenua, Community & Voluntary Sector Research Centre	$7,500
Otago	Project Litefoot Trust	$45,647
Otago	Wellington Museums Trust Inc	$2,000
Otago	NZ Special Olympics Lower South Island Regional Council	$8,000
Ranfurly	Maniototo Golf Club	$5,500
Wanaka	Aspiring Biodiversity Trust	$8,000
Wanaka	Snow Sports NZ Inc	$11,500
Wanaka	Wanaka Search and Rescue Inc	$15,000
Wanaka	Upper Clutha Music Festival	$1,000
Wanaka	Wanaka Golf Club Inc	$3,500