Acknowledging to yourselves that you’ve spent $1.2 million on assisting local community recipients is more than cause for celebration. The Daylesford Foundation took this opportunity to acknowledge their success and at the same time launch their first printed Annual Report at The Bamford Bar at The Daylesford Hotel on Wednesday 7th October. Not heard of the Daylesford Foundation? That’s not surprising as they’ve been working under the radar for some time now. Jane Westney, Chair, said, ‘we felt it was time to start letting people know we are here and what we do, so what better way, than to launch ourselves into the public eye with our first printed annual report’.
So, let’s take a step back and understand how the Daylesford Foundation came about, what they do and who is involved. The Foundation, started by Jim and Norma Foster in 2018, came about because they wanted to give back to the community. Initially, on moving to Daylesford, they searched for a local charity, with clear goals, strong governance, minimal overheads and the ability to respond quickly to those in need. When they couldn’t find one, they said, well, let’s do it ourselves. To quote Jim and Norma, ‘it was never just about giving money; we had to deliver practical, timely and compassionate assistance to people in times of crisis’. On that basis the Daylesford Foundation was born and it’s now about to celebrate its eighth anniversary on October 22nd.
Since initiating the Foundation in 2018 their journey has developed and grown into the charity it is today. From expanding health and food relief, donating a car to the L2P program to establishing a Forever Fund of $1.92 million and now culminating in having donated over a million dollars to the community it’s been a huge growth process and learning curve about how to best go ensuring the money goes where it’s most needed. Specifically, the Foundation funds what they call The Three Pillars – Schools Support, Scholarships and Local Impact.
Schools Support – 13 local schools helping students access essential resources, health services, activities and literacy programs;
Scholarships – helping young people pursue university, TAFE, training, apprenticeships and employment pathways;
Local Impact – helping local people navigate financial hardship and stay connected to their communities.
If we just take one of those three pillars (Schools Support) as an example, the Foundation has contributed $48,000 to schools’ program, $135,000 to literacy and a total of $183,000 to Daylesford Primary School. It makes it very clear how important their role has been. Speaking on the evening of the launch, Ali McHalliwell, Principal, Daylesford Primary School, said ‘the Foundation’s generosity extends well beyond financial assistance — it provides dignity, opportunity and hope to children and families who might otherwise miss out on experiences many of us take for granted’.
The Foundation prides themselves on working with established local program providers rather than trying to create their own pathways, as a more cost-effective way of working in the community. Their support reaches people through those trusted partners who understand the clients’ needs first-hand. Partners such as CAFS, Central Highlands Rural Health (CHRH), Good Grub Club (GGC), mecwacare and, of course, the shire schools.
Speaking on the evening of the launch, Mary Christodulaki, Mental Wellbeing Manager at CHRH, reflected on the significant impact the Foundation has on the lives of local people. Mary said ‘whether it’s enabling access to essential household items, covering unexpected medical costs or supporting individuals during challenging times, the support we receive from the Foundation provides a safety net that would otherwise not exist’.
The very unusual thing about this charity is that Jim and Norma personally absorb the cost of administering it, which means every single donated dollar goes to helping the people and groups they specifically support. When you think about the percentages that most charities put to administration, this makes it a very unique situation. Most charities are only able to distribute around 20% of their donated money to the recipients, the rest going on administration.
So, we’ve talked about how they started and what they do, let’s talk about who is involved. Besides Jim and Norma Foster, the board is made up of local people including Jane Westney (Chair), Cheryl De Zilwa (board member), Natalie Delaney-John (board member) and Trevor Shard (board member). Each member brings a wealth of skills to the board having worked across many and varied industries including health, banking, multi-nationals, hospitality, aged care, disability, travel and many others over the years. This is all about locals for locals.
What about that $1.2+ million? Where did it go and how did it help? It’s important to understand the focus that the Foundation has in helping young people, whether that be individually or through families, schools and the broader community. This can mean helping a family keep a roof over their heads, a young person getting the equipment they need for school or simply someone feeling seen and supported when times get tough. The money in fact represents 10,000 separate moments where someone local got a helping hand when they needed it most. In anyone’s estimation that is a figure that does more than raise eyebrows, it makes you take a deep breath and realise how much help is actually required out there in Hepburn Shire.
Want to know more about The Daylesford Foundation? Want to learn how you can help or donate? Go to their website https://thedaylesfordfoundation.org.au/ for more information. You can read their Annual Report there and learn more about how they are helping the local community.
A quote from their Annual Report sums up why they do what they do ‘The Daylesford Foundation exists for the community that does not appear in the tourism brochure’.
