March 2018
Scholarships - Do you want to help?
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Although there has been a huge growth in the number and value of grants awarded, this year we received over 100 applications – we had funds for only twenty-nine scholarships.
To enable us to help more we are now accepting donations for ‘pass through’ scholarships. So, if you wish to donate funds for a particular scholarship – whether it be an existing category or a new category - the funds won’t be invested, but passed directly through Advance Ashburton for the purpose of a scholarship. If you would like more information please contact Sandi Wood, Executive Officer on 027 577 5875. |
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November 2017
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Annual Celebration
It was great to see so many of you join us at our Annual Celebration of Philanthropy last week to hear our 3 guest speakers share their success stories. Ross Preece, Principal of Ashburton College, spoke of the positive results that are being observed at the new Kohanga at the College. Professor Bridget Robinson, Medical Oncologist, gave us an update on their research into Bowel Cancer, part funded by the late Ian Glassey fund. And Sir Stephen Tindall, founder of The Warehouse and The Tindall Foundation, shared with us some of the projects the Tindall Foundation are currently supporting and also a great insight into his involvement with The America's Cup team. |
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Breakfast with Sir Stephen Tindall
What a wonderful breakfast we had at our first ever breakfast fundraising event, raising funds for a local leadership scholarship. We were privileged to be the first event at the new EA Networks Pavilion in the beautiful Trotts Garden, Wedding and Function Venue, and were all inspired by our guest speaker. Sir Stephen Tindall gave the crowd of 120 his overview of philanthropy in the next generation, his entertaining stories and insights into Team NZ's success and the great importance of The America's Cup being held in NZ. Thank you to Sir Stephen Tindall and to everyone who attended and supported this event. |
September 2017
Welcome to our new Executive Officer, Sandi Wood
We are very pleased to introduce Sandi Wood as our new Executive Officer.
A born and raised Mid Cantabrian, Sandi has a passion for being part of community success. She is looking forward to working to make a positive difference in our community. We hope you will join us in welcoming Sandi to our team.
We are very pleased to introduce Sandi Wood as our new Executive Officer.
A born and raised Mid Cantabrian, Sandi has a passion for being part of community success. She is looking forward to working to make a positive difference in our community. We hope you will join us in welcoming Sandi to our team.
August 2017
Farewell to Margaret
It is with our best wishes that we say farewell to Margaret Rickard who is retiring from Advance Ashburton. As the first Executive Officer, and employee of our foundation, Margaret has been instrumental in the success and growth of Advance Ashburton over the past seven years.
During Margaret's time with the foundation, we have grown our combined asset and bequest base from $4.7 million to $35.7 million, and the foundation has distributed over $2.5 million to our community.
We wish Margaret and her family well with their future endeavors.
It is with our best wishes that we say farewell to Margaret Rickard who is retiring from Advance Ashburton. As the first Executive Officer, and employee of our foundation, Margaret has been instrumental in the success and growth of Advance Ashburton over the past seven years.
During Margaret's time with the foundation, we have grown our combined asset and bequest base from $4.7 million to $35.7 million, and the foundation has distributed over $2.5 million to our community.
We wish Margaret and her family well with their future endeavors.
March 2017
$1.5 million cash injection to Ashburton Hospital
On 28th March 2017, Advance Ashburton trustee Gary Fail presented David Meates, Canterbury DHB Chief Executive, with a cheque for $1.5 million to go towards the upgrades of Ashburton Hospital.
The donation is in conjunction with the Mackenzie Charitable Trust, the Lion Foundation, the Ashburton Licensing Trust and the Trevor Wilson Charitable Trust. This will go towards the $8.7 million of improvements underway at the hospital, which includes building a new 1040sqm Acute Assessment Unit and Day Procedure Theatre.
Mr Meates says it is great to receive such a generous contribution from the community. “It’s remarkable how supportive and engaged the community has been right from when we first announced the upgrade to the facilities here in Ashburton after the Canterbury quakes. We are very grateful to have had the people of Ashburton backing us on this journey. Their commitment has meant the best health services, for what has become a very strong and vibrant rural community, are available both now and long into the future. I’m absolutely delighted on behalf of Canterbury DHB to accept this donation today and would like to say a huge thank you to all those who have contributed to this very generous gift.”
Bernice Marra, Ashburton Health Services manager, says it’s wonderful to receive the donation towards the new facilities, which opened at the end of last year. “Already the new facilities are proving to be a huge asset for our community. Staff are just loving working in the fit-for-purpose building, and patients and visitors, are also saying how much of an improvement they are. It allows us to keep pace with health care innovations and means our staff can provide the right care to the right person at the right time, both now and well into the future.”
The new Acute Assessment Unit replaces an older, smaller unit and is designed to allow staff to assess, stabilise and provide short-term care for people with acute conditions. Greg Robertson, Canterbury DHB Head of Surgery, says the AAU provides “state of the art” facilities allowing specialists from Christchurch to perform day procedures for people in Ashburton in its new theatre and recovery suite. "The new facilities together with the $450,000 pledged by the generous community funders to establish a rural health academic centre allows Ashburton Hospital to build its status as New Zealand’s first rural centre of medical excellence. It also allows us to offer a wider range of procedures than at present, and has enabled more efficient transfer of patients to and from Christchurch Hospital.”
On 28th March 2017, Advance Ashburton trustee Gary Fail presented David Meates, Canterbury DHB Chief Executive, with a cheque for $1.5 million to go towards the upgrades of Ashburton Hospital.
The donation is in conjunction with the Mackenzie Charitable Trust, the Lion Foundation, the Ashburton Licensing Trust and the Trevor Wilson Charitable Trust. This will go towards the $8.7 million of improvements underway at the hospital, which includes building a new 1040sqm Acute Assessment Unit and Day Procedure Theatre.
Mr Meates says it is great to receive such a generous contribution from the community. “It’s remarkable how supportive and engaged the community has been right from when we first announced the upgrade to the facilities here in Ashburton after the Canterbury quakes. We are very grateful to have had the people of Ashburton backing us on this journey. Their commitment has meant the best health services, for what has become a very strong and vibrant rural community, are available both now and long into the future. I’m absolutely delighted on behalf of Canterbury DHB to accept this donation today and would like to say a huge thank you to all those who have contributed to this very generous gift.”
Bernice Marra, Ashburton Health Services manager, says it’s wonderful to receive the donation towards the new facilities, which opened at the end of last year. “Already the new facilities are proving to be a huge asset for our community. Staff are just loving working in the fit-for-purpose building, and patients and visitors, are also saying how much of an improvement they are. It allows us to keep pace with health care innovations and means our staff can provide the right care to the right person at the right time, both now and well into the future.”
The new Acute Assessment Unit replaces an older, smaller unit and is designed to allow staff to assess, stabilise and provide short-term care for people with acute conditions. Greg Robertson, Canterbury DHB Head of Surgery, says the AAU provides “state of the art” facilities allowing specialists from Christchurch to perform day procedures for people in Ashburton in its new theatre and recovery suite. "The new facilities together with the $450,000 pledged by the generous community funders to establish a rural health academic centre allows Ashburton Hospital to build its status as New Zealand’s first rural centre of medical excellence. It also allows us to offer a wider range of procedures than at present, and has enabled more efficient transfer of patients to and from Christchurch Hospital.”
Tindall Foundation Annual Report
Check out this wonderful tribute to Merle and Laurence Cooney published in The Tindall Foundation Annual Report.
Merle Cooney
Laurence and Merle Cooney Fund, supporter of BOOST literacy programme | Ashburton
Check out this wonderful tribute to Merle and Laurence Cooney published in The Tindall Foundation Annual Report.
Merle Cooney
Laurence and Merle Cooney Fund, supporter of BOOST literacy programme | Ashburton
April 2016
New Appointments
We are delighted to welcome two new trustees to the Foundation’s Board.
Nicki Webster
Nicki is a Director and Financial Manager of farming businesses in Dorie, Rakaia and Aylesbury. She is a Justice of the Peace, a trustee of the Rakaia Medical Centre and Dorie Community Trusts, and was the founding Chairperson of the Dorie Community Preschool. She farms with her husband Peter and they have three adult sons.
Chris Wylie
Chris, Senior Partner at BNZ, has been a banker since 1988 and in Ashburton since 1994. Previously an Agri banker, he now leads the BNZ team across Ashburton and Timaru. He is the Past Chairman of Ashburton Borough School Board and past Chairman of Christchurch Girls’ High School Rowing. Chris is married to Jacqui and is father of four daughters. He loves cycling, climbing hills and boating in his spare time.
Investment Advisory Committee
The Foundation thanks Roger Bonifant, who has been a member of the Investment Advisory Committee since 2011 and who has recently retired from the role. His expertise and experience have been greatly appreciated and valued: we acknowledge and thank Roger for his wonderful contribution. Grant Bonniface, has joined the committee. He is a Chartered Accountant and since 2008 has been the Chief Financial Office of Ashburton Contracting Ltd (ACL). ACL is a diverse civil contracting company based in Mid Canterbury employing 135 staff. His interests include commercial property ownership, investment and farming. He is a trustee (and treasurer) of the Waihora Ellesmere Trust and Life Member and Secretary/Treasurer of the Waihora Clay Target Club.