New Otago Community Trust Chair Appointed

Media Release

Otago Community Trust has today announced the appointment of John Wilson as its new chair. John takes over the Trust’s chair role from Ross McRobie effective from 1 June 2020. Ross will remain on the board of Otago Community Trust as a trustee until such time that the Minister of Finance makes the new trustee appointments.

John who was previously an investment advisor with Craigs Investment Partners was appointed as a Trustee in July 2016 and has served as deputy chair since July 2018. Diccon Sim, partner at law firm Gallaway Cook Allan has been appointed to fill the deputy chair role.

Mr McRobie said that he felt very privileged to have served on the Trust for the last nine years and has thoroughly enjoyed his tenure as chairperson since 2015.

“I have always particularly enjoyed visiting various community projects and groups throughout the region and witnessing first-hand the enormous contribution that they make to our communities.”

“I wish John and Diccon all the very best for their new roles. John’s strong investment knowledge and experience will serve the Trust well, during what is a particularly challenging time” said outgoing chair Ross McRobie.

Mr Wilson said that as the newly appointed Trust chair he will be working collaboratively with all trustees, our chief executive, and staff to support our region’s community organisations and communities.

“I believe my 30+ years’ experience in the finance industry as an Authorised Financial Adviser as well as my strong commitment to see the Otago region and its people and communities thrive will be valuable in managing this unprecedented period for the Trust and the communities it supports” said new chair, John Wilson.

Mr Wilson noted that while we enter unprecedented times, the Trust has a good level of accumulated-income reserves in place to support Otago. Our investment portfolio is robust, we have a highly skilled board of trustees, a dedicated team of staff whose collective experience will guide us in managing our way through these uncertain times.

“I would like to personally thank Ross for the tremendous work he has done during his tenure both as a trustee and more recently as chair” Mr Wilson said.

The Trust awarded a total of $76,910 to 12 community organisations in its May board meeting. Friends of the Forrester Gallery Society Inc was the largest beneficiary receiving a $25,000 grant. This will assist the gallery with the cost of purchasing and installing a purpose-built art storage system.

Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust also received funding support via a $12,000 grant which will support with the cost of installing a kitchen and bathroom in the middle floor of the Loan and Mercantile Building.

The Trust continues to approve much needed COVID-19 funding. To date $514,778.36 has been awarded to 41 community organisations since the dedicated COVID-19 Response Fund was opened in early April.

We encourage community organisations to contact the trust if they have any questions around funding support, said Trust chief executive Barbara Bridger.

“We are committed to doing the very best for our communities during this difficult and uncertain time”.

 

Otago Community Trust Community Grants, May 2020
Cromwell	Street Smart Charitable Trust	$9,200
Dunedin	Nature School Dunedin	$2,200
	Amputee Society of Otago & Southland Inc	$500
	Dunedin Lawn Bowls Stadium Inc	$3,000
	Otago Tertiary Chaplaincy Trust Board	$2,000
	Aroha Ki Te Tamariki	$2,000
	Northern Junior Association Football Club Incorporated	$2,000
	Progress of Waikouaiti Area	$5,000
Oamaru	Friends of the Forrester Gallery Society Inc	$25,000
	Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust	$12,000
Wanaka	NZ Mountain Film Festival Charitable Trust	$4,010
	Upper Clutha Tracks Trust	$10,000

 

COVID-19 Response Fund Grants

Otago Community Trust COVID-19 Response Fund Grants – at 22 May 2020
Alexandra	Central Otago District Council	$25,000
	Alexandra Community House	$21,350
Balclutha	Clutha District Council	$25,000
Dunedin	Otago Youth Wellness	$10,000
	Stopping Violence Dunedin	$10,424.36
	Dunedin City Council	$25,000
	Servants Health Centre	$5,000
	Dunedin Community Care Trust	$16,474
	Moana House	$3,563
	Connections Education & Development Centre	$2,042
	Te Hou Ora Whanau Services	$12,000
	Dunedin Community Mediation	$252
	Dunedin Budget Advisory Service	$7,636
	Mornington School	$14,260
	Work Opportunities Trust	$2,280
	Dunedin Friend-Link	$1,500
	Te Roopu tautoko kie te Tonga Inc	$20,000
Oamaru	Waitaki District Council	$25,000
	CCS Disability Action Waitaki	$10,570
	Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group Inc	$10,000
Otago	Cancer Society NZ	$13,036
	Aroha Ki Te Tamariki Trust	$29,141
	Youthline	$14,560
	Able Charitable Trust	$12,000
	Youthline	$10,440
	Pillars	$15,000
	Ronald McDonald House	$25,000
	Brain Injury Assn	$3,000
	Methodist Mission	$15,856
	IHC	$25,000
	Cystic Fibrosis NZ	$1,000
	CCS Disability Otago	$3,900
	Anglican Family Care	$19,845
	Presbyterian Support	$10,000
	Salvation Army	$12,000
	Methodist Mission Southern	$3,549
	Methodist Mission Southern	$2,400
	LifeMatters Suicide Prevention Trust NZ	$12,500
	Disability Information Service Otago	$4,200
Queenstown	Queenstown Lakes District Council	$25,000
Wanaka	Community Networks Wanaka	$10,000