Tauranga community benefits from $500,000 in bequests by late local couple

Many charities are reliant on donations from people in their communities to keep them going, and the story of one Tauranga couple illustrates the value of local connections. In their Wills, as written and executed by Guardian Trust, Ted and Doris Newberry left bequests totalling approximately $500,000 to local organisations: The Waikato/Bay of Plenty Division of the Cancer Society, the Waipuna Hospice Foundation and the Tauranga RNZSPCA.

Mr Newberry died in 2008 after a long battle with cancer, and his wife passed away three years later.

Guardian Trust’s general manager of personal client services Philip Morgan Rees says each of their Wills sought to acknowledge charities close to their hearts, and with the administration of the estate nearing completion following Mrs Newberry’s death in December, their wishes are being honoured.

“Having experienced cancer first-hand, the Newberrys wanted to support research into the disease and were specific about doing this in the Bay of Plenty,” says Craig Roebuck, Guardian Trust Client Manager for Tauranga.

According to Waikato/Bay of Plenty Cancer Society chief executive Judy Gould, many New Zealanders are not aware that the Cancer Society is an active supporter and facilitator of research, in addition to their other services.

“This bequest is a wonderful contribution – we are grateful to receive it and it will enhance the research projects we currently have underway in our region.”

As Mr Newberry’s illness progressed, he was admitted to the Waipuna Hospice in Tauranga, which relies on funding by the local community to cover its overheads. Chairman Tom Roper says the hospice is servicing a growing demand in the area and staff find it very gratifying when people think of them.

“We are very appreciative of this wonderful bequest from the Newberrys. Waipuna Hospice could not provide its current level of service to the Western Bay of Plenty without the financial support it receives from the local community. While the hospice receives partial government funding, it needs to raise 48% of its operating costs from donations, grants, bequests, fundraising events and income from its second-hand shops.”

On a more domestic note, the Newberrys shared a love of cats, and while they couldn’t provide great resources during their lifetime, felt it was important to make a provision for cats in their Wills. The bequest is timely, says Dot Forbes, marketing and fundraising manager for the Bay of Plenty RNZSPCA, as the Tauranga branch is constructing a new shelter in the Greerton area.

“As we get no government funding, donations such as these make a huge difference to how we carry on with what we do. We deal with about 1,600 animals a year in the Tauranga area and this keeps growing.”

After Mrs Newberry’s death, her cat was successfully re-homed by the Tauranga Branch of the RNZSPCA.

Mr Morgan Rees says many much-loved charitable groups are only able to operate thanks to communities’ collective generosity, including bequests made in Wills. “Even for those who may not have a lot, leaving a small bequest in their Will can make a great difference to a local organisation. Helping to implement these bequests to local charities is certainly one of the highlights of the work we do at Guardian Trust.”