A Lasting Legacy: Remembering Ian Glassey’s Gift to His Community
Born in Ashburton in 1932, and living most of his life in Tinwald, Ian Glassey was a man deeply rooted in his community and the natural world around him. Whilst he trained as an electrician, he found his true passion not in wires and circuits, but in soil, plants, and the environment. That passion became a defining thread throughout his life— one that would flourish into a legacy of generosity, care, and beauty that continues today.
The purchase of a block of land on Carters Terrace marked a turning point in Ian’s life. What began as a personal venture grew into a lifelong commitment to gardening and conservation. His time at Millichamps Nursery and later, 18 years as the gardener at Ashburton Hospital, deepened his skill and love for working with plants. On his own land, Ian created a thriving garden, carefully planting and tending to it with vision and patience. Over 50 years, he transformed part of that property into a woodland garden—a sanctuary of trees and natural beauty. When he sold the land for the development of Terrace View Retirement Village, this treasured woodland was retained on the site.
Beyond his gardens, Ian quietly enriched the lives of those around him. Friends, family, neighbours and charities often benefitted from the bounty of his produce, while local organisations were sustained by his time, knowledge, and quiet generosity. He gave selflessly to causes close to his heart, including Forest & Bird and the Cancer Society, where he was still volunteering with gardening and small maintenance jobs shortly before his passing. His steady support of six charities through annual donations during his lifetime reflected his deep commitment to both environmental protection and community wellbeing.
Ian never sought recognition—he just gave, in ways both big and small, to make the Mid Canterbury community a better place.
When Ian passed away in 2014, that spirit of giving did not end with his life. Through the Ian Glassey Memorial Fund established with Advance Ashburton Community Foundation in his name, Ian’s generosity continues to grow. The fund provides grants to causes related to the environment and health—issues that mattered deeply to him—whilst also ensuring that the six charities he supported during his lifetime will continue to receive annual donations, forever.
In remembering Ian, the community sees not only the gardens he nurtured but also the lives he touched. His story is one of vision, dedication, and kindness—an enduring reminder that when we care for the earth and each other, we create legacies that live on for generations.
The purchase of a block of land on Carters Terrace marked a turning point in Ian’s life. What began as a personal venture grew into a lifelong commitment to gardening and conservation. His time at Millichamps Nursery and later, 18 years as the gardener at Ashburton Hospital, deepened his skill and love for working with plants. On his own land, Ian created a thriving garden, carefully planting and tending to it with vision and patience. Over 50 years, he transformed part of that property into a woodland garden—a sanctuary of trees and natural beauty. When he sold the land for the development of Terrace View Retirement Village, this treasured woodland was retained on the site.
Beyond his gardens, Ian quietly enriched the lives of those around him. Friends, family, neighbours and charities often benefitted from the bounty of his produce, while local organisations were sustained by his time, knowledge, and quiet generosity. He gave selflessly to causes close to his heart, including Forest & Bird and the Cancer Society, where he was still volunteering with gardening and small maintenance jobs shortly before his passing. His steady support of six charities through annual donations during his lifetime reflected his deep commitment to both environmental protection and community wellbeing.
Ian never sought recognition—he just gave, in ways both big and small, to make the Mid Canterbury community a better place.
When Ian passed away in 2014, that spirit of giving did not end with his life. Through the Ian Glassey Memorial Fund established with Advance Ashburton Community Foundation in his name, Ian’s generosity continues to grow. The fund provides grants to causes related to the environment and health—issues that mattered deeply to him—whilst also ensuring that the six charities he supported during his lifetime will continue to receive annual donations, forever.
In remembering Ian, the community sees not only the gardens he nurtured but also the lives he touched. His story is one of vision, dedication, and kindness—an enduring reminder that when we care for the earth and each other, we create legacies that live on for generations.
Personal adversity fuelling a personal legacy
For Ashburton farmers Allan and Janette Andrews personal adversity, both of them having been deeply affected by cancer, has helped to drive their purpose.
Allan’s older brother, Lyndsay, died from leukaemia and bone marrow cancer at just 21 years of age. Lyndsay’s death had a profound effect on Allan who was faced with his own challenge when he was diagnosed with acute malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with bone marrow cancer as a secondary condition in 1988. At the time, Allan was given a five per cent chance of survival, but with stoic determination he defied the odds and recovered.
In 2010, Janette was then diagnosed with bowel cancer alongside liver cancer as a secondary condition. At the time Janette recalls travelling to Dunedin for treatment, “I thought to myself, I don’t think I’ll see Ashburton again, but when I woke in the morning and thought yes I will!” After extensive chemotherapy, Janette also made a full recovery.
Allan and Janette have both been actively involved in fundraising for the Cancer Society over the years, since they know firsthand how much support cancer patients need. Their own personal experiences have driven their purpose to create a legacy, which will have an impact on cancer patients throughout their journey.
In 2023 Allan and Janette made a significant donation, covering the cost of over 300 bed nights at Rānui House in Christchurch, for Mid Canterbury cancer patients receiving treatment. The couple have also left a gift in their will to Advance Ashburton Community Foundation, to be invested in their own Named Fund, which will be dedicated to support cancer related causes in Mid Canterbury.
“We know that our money is going to be there forever, to help local people”, said Allan. “We wanted it to stay local as we didn’t want it to get lost in the larger scope of things. It stimulates me to think back over the things we’ve been through with cancer, it stimulated me to write a book and if I see other opportunities to help others, I will do it. Leaving a legacy with Advance Ashburton is part of that”.
Janette agrees, saying, “I think it’s important to help others, we know how hard it can be when people get sick, having been through it ourselves. It makes me feel good to leave a legacy and lend a hand to people, to help to give them the determination to fight.”
Allan’s older brother, Lyndsay, died from leukaemia and bone marrow cancer at just 21 years of age. Lyndsay’s death had a profound effect on Allan who was faced with his own challenge when he was diagnosed with acute malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with bone marrow cancer as a secondary condition in 1988. At the time, Allan was given a five per cent chance of survival, but with stoic determination he defied the odds and recovered.
In 2010, Janette was then diagnosed with bowel cancer alongside liver cancer as a secondary condition. At the time Janette recalls travelling to Dunedin for treatment, “I thought to myself, I don’t think I’ll see Ashburton again, but when I woke in the morning and thought yes I will!” After extensive chemotherapy, Janette also made a full recovery.
Allan and Janette have both been actively involved in fundraising for the Cancer Society over the years, since they know firsthand how much support cancer patients need. Their own personal experiences have driven their purpose to create a legacy, which will have an impact on cancer patients throughout their journey.
In 2023 Allan and Janette made a significant donation, covering the cost of over 300 bed nights at Rānui House in Christchurch, for Mid Canterbury cancer patients receiving treatment. The couple have also left a gift in their will to Advance Ashburton Community Foundation, to be invested in their own Named Fund, which will be dedicated to support cancer related causes in Mid Canterbury.
“We know that our money is going to be there forever, to help local people”, said Allan. “We wanted it to stay local as we didn’t want it to get lost in the larger scope of things. It stimulates me to think back over the things we’ve been through with cancer, it stimulated me to write a book and if I see other opportunities to help others, I will do it. Leaving a legacy with Advance Ashburton is part of that”.
Janette agrees, saying, “I think it’s important to help others, we know how hard it can be when people get sick, having been through it ourselves. It makes me feel good to leave a legacy and lend a hand to people, to help to give them the determination to fight.”