A trust set up at the behest of a Southland farmer will grant nearly $100,000 to community groups this year.
W. Duncan Bickley was a Waimatuku farmer who retired to Invercargill. Passionate about Southland and his community, he made a plan for continued giving after his death. When he died in 1980, he left a legacy in the form of a trust, managed by Guardian Trust in Dunedin.
This year, $95,597 will be distributed from the W. Duncan Bickley Trust. Among the 27 Southland charity recipients are hospice groups, medical centres, toy libraries and preschools.
The trust has distributed nearly $1.2 million in the past 19 years.
Koru Care Southland will receive the largest grant this year, $33,000.
The group works with children suffering from terminal illnesses or mental disabilities, taking them overseas to either the Gold Coast or the United States for a trip filled with theme-park fun. It is run entirely by volunteers, enabling all money donated to go directly to helping the children in the programme.
Hospice Southland will receive the next largest contribution, totalling $7959.
Mr Bickley's trust was intended to be distributed to organisations in Southland primarily aimed at infants, the aged or those with disabilities.
