Guardian Trust distributes Southland funds to health and community causes

Twenty-three years on from its inception, a trust managed by Guardian Trust Christchurch continues to donate regularly to the medical research and charitable causes dear to the heart of its founder, Mr William Dick, by providing in excess of $200,000 to three locally focused charities.

Over the past two decades, generous regular grants have been made to the Southland Medical Foundation, Presbyterian Support and the Salvation Army. Last month, the Southland Medical Foundation received $105,495; Presbyterian Support $52,747; and the Salvation Army $52,747 – in total, nearly $10,000 more than the amount given to the three organisations in 2007.

William Dick was moved to establish the William and Gwenda Cybil Dick Trust in October 1985 by the struggles of his wife, who passed away from a cardiac condition.
He specified that the trust’s two purposes would be to fund research into and treatment of heart conditions and to support children in the Southland area.

Guardian Trust Client Manager Gary Anderson, who manages the Dick Trust, said his team was delighted to be able to distribute the funds. “We’ve been able to grow the trust’s funds year-on-year, so it’s great to be able to support such worthy causes on an ongoing basis, as Mr Dick wanted, and give more to them each time.”

The Southland Medical Foundation was set up 42 years ago to support medical education and research among health sector workers. It has previously used Dick Trust grants to sponsor research into cardiac disease at the University of Otago, and to send nurses and other medical personnel to conferences and courses.

In the past year the foundation has also used trust money to sponsor cardiac monitoring equipment at Gore Hospital. The majority of 2008’s grant will go towards further research into cardiac diseases and treatment, including the purchase of equipment.

Peter Muller, the foundation’s Secretary/Treasurer, said the foundation’s research and education focus was a good fit with the trust’s objectives. “We are extremely appreciative of the grants, which have been made on an annual basis for the past 15 years and have benefited the people of Southland enormously.”

Presbyterian Support Southland Marketing Manager Noel Hassed said trust fund income was essential for many services delivered by Family Works Southland, and that the Dick Trust provided a large part of this money. Family Works supports children and their families through a broad range of services including foster care, social work support, counselling and education/development programmes.

The money is used to help give the children using its services access to the same things that others have, like school activities and clothing. “Family Works also has a goal to keep children within their extended family if possible, and knowing that this money will be available to assist the family can be the difference that allows this to happen,” Mr Hassed said.

“The ongoing nature of this funding is extremely valuable to us as it provides essential support for many children. It allows us to plan services, based on community need, in the knowledge that we have some secure ongoing income.”

Salvation Army Spokesperson Captain Richard Morris said, “We continue to be extremely grateful to the Dick Trust for its support. This grant enables us to provide practical support to children in Southland. The funding this year has enabled us to support a number of initiatives such as camping experiences, counselling, mentoring, educational opportunities, and youth support workers for at-risk youth.”