Alex | Buderim Foundation

Volunteer army mobilising to deliver “Spirit of Buderim”

Published on: 1 December 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

An army of willing Buderim volunteers will mobilise this weekend to deliver a very special publication to every home in the Buderim community.

The “Spirit of Buderim” publication is a joint initiative of the Buderim War Memorial Community Association (BWMCA) and the Buderim Foundation.

Buderim Foundation Chair Prof. Paul Clark said the 16-page publication celebrates the community’s achievements and seeks to explain how important our volunteers are in enriching the lives of every resident in the area.

“There are countless stories each and every day about those who give their time, their energy and their talent for the benefit of others while nourishing their own spirit in the process and the Spirit of Buderim aims to highlight just some of them,” Prof. Clark said.

This publication is the signature partnership initiative by the BWMCA and Buderim Foundation to mark Community and Philanthropy Partnerships Week (from December 7-13) and it will include information about many of the community organisations affiliated with the BWMCA so people can find out more and become involved if they wish.

2015 BWMCA President Simon Whittle said “Spirit of Buderim validates social researcher Hugh Mackay’s proposition that ‘It’s not where you live but how you live’. This is a timely message in the wake of Hugh’s recent visit to celebrate the BWMCA’s 70^th anniversary and we hope it will resonate with all those who’ve chosen to call Buderim home.”

Mr. Whittle said what made the publication even more special was the way it will be delivered.

“17,000 copies have been printed and our army of volunteers will be pounding the pavements from the weekend of December 12 and 13 to deliver to every home in the Buderim area.

“We think this publication is really special and because it has information that is likely to be of value to every member of our community, we will be delivering to every single letterbox – this is not junk mail so we hope everyone will receive the publication in the spirit in which it has been created. If you see our volunteers on their rounds please say hello,” Mr. Whittle said.

If you would like to help with the delivery just turn up in the carpark behind the War Memorial Hall in Church Street between 9 and 10am on Saturday.

Additional copies of Spirit of Buderim will be available while stocks last from the Old Post Office from the middle of next week. They make a great reference for locals and something to send on to family and friends so they see why we choose to live where we live.

Buderim Foundation distributes more than $50,000 to its 2015 grant recipients

Published on: 11 September 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

18 community organisations were awarded a total of more than $50,000 when Buderim Foundation grants were presented at its annual Good News Night held in the Buderim War Memorial Hall on Friday September 11.

Now into its 12^th year of operations and its eighth year of awarding grants, the Buderim Foundation is an undoubted success story of growth and achievement for the community it strives to serve.

Funds raised by the Foundation are carefully invested, and then the interest earned is distributed to community organisations serving the 4556 postcode area each year.

This year 18 different organisations are benefiting after applying for funding for specific projects.

Buderim Foundation Chairman Professor Paul Clark said the $50,740 awarded on Friday evening brought the total funding provided to the community since commencement of its grants program to more than $200,000. During this time 57 grants have been awarded ensuring broad support to different organisations right across the community.

Professor Clark said that each year more people become aware of the Foundation and generously donate money, and as a result there are more funds to inject back into the Buderim community.

“The Foundation’s grants program offers the opportunity for those that develop worthwhile community initiatives benefiting Buderim and its residents to receive funding for their fine work.

“The more money raised, the more funds there are to distribute, and I am happy to say that every year this amount grows,” Professor Clark said.

The Buderim Foundation is delighted to announce the 2015 Community Grant recipients are:

Buderim Contract bridge Club Inc. – Air conditioning of the clubhouse $5400

Buderim Cricket Club Inc. – Oval shade structures $1186

Sunshine FM Radio – Station security and computer upgrade $2625

Hot Ginger Chorus – Barbershop singing and musical concert $1220

Buderim Garden Club – 70^th Anniversary Banksia Spinulosa Project $1000

Sunshine Coast Square Dance Centre – Street art promoting Centre activities $1600

Siena Catholic Primary School – Automated composter and recycling bins $4500

Sunshine Statesmen Barbershop Chorus – Sound equipment for events $1172

Buderim P&C Committee – Storage shed for school swimming pool $2348

2^nd Lighthorse Regiment, Woombye Troop Assoc Inc. – Uniform/Kit for one trooper and Saddle/Tack for one horse $1764

Care Flight Rescue – Tractor-style vehicle to position helicopter for quick take-offs $6695

Fusion Community Care – Volunteer Management System to promote local volunteerism $4400

Suncoast Community Legal Service – Community legal education theatre about Wills and Powers of Attorney $3400

Friends of Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens – Whipbird Walk Sensory Trail for children – $5500

Hear and Say centre for deaf children – School hearing screening program for Buderim primary school children $5500

Buderim Concert Band – Glockenspiel for lending to new players $1000

Maroochy State Emergency Service – Tablets to improve response times and support during disasters $1430

BWMCA – Contribution towards staging the Buderim Community Expo scheduled for the last weekend in November $4500

The goal of the Buderim Foundation is to enrich and enhance the quality of life for Buderim and its residents, past and future. The Foundation is a philanthropic, not-for-profit organisation that generates income from donations and bequests from local community residents which it distributes by way of annual grants for community projects.

The grants are offered to not-for-profit organisations in the Buderim community, or not-for-profit Sunshine Coast community organisations that are able to provide services to the Buderim community.

Sunshine Toyota on board as Buderim Foundation sponsor

Published on: 14 August 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

The Buderim Foundation welcomes prominent coast business Sunshine Toyota as a major sponsor, joining its two existing long term sponsors Buderim Pharmacy and Edenlea on Buderim.

Buderim Foundation Chair Professor Paul Clark said “We greatly value the long-term high quality relationship we have with our existing major sponsors and I am delighted that Sunshine Toyota is joining the Foundation ‘family’. Their genuine commitment in giving back to the community aligns with our purpose and therefore makes them a natural fit with our organisation.”

Sunshine Toyota Dealer Principal Darren Venning said “Living in Tanawha, I’ve witnessed what the Buderim Foundation has done for residents throughout Post Code 4556 over the past few years so I’m thrilled to be able to support the work it does and the community benefits it provides. Last year alone, 22 local organisations shared around $60,000 in grants. I am also looking forward to being an active part of the Foundation and seeing my team contribute back to this community.”

Mr Venning said he was particularly excited by the opportunity to work with the Buderim Foundation’s Youth Program as a way of supporting the next generation of Sunshine Coast leaders.

“The Foundation has done a great job in establishing philanthropy programs at a number of schools in the Buderim area and we are keen to work with them to grow these programs.

“We’ve also got a strong commitment to developing our staff into better leaders and we undertake a number of leadership activities that would align well with the shared goals of our two organisations,” Mr Venning said.

Professor Clark said the new partnership would help to ensure the organisation’s overheads are met while taking the Foundation’s profile to new levels of awareness within the Buderim community.

“It also preserves the Foundation’s central message that every dollar raised or donated goes directly to its Trust funds with only the earnings used to resource its annual grant program,” he said.

Food and Wine Package supports Foundation

Published on: 2 July 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

There’s a number of great ways to enjoy good food and wine on Buderim whilst supporting your community foundation. None better than by grabbing one of these great offers tailored to suit your budget.

REMAINING STOCK CLEARANCE

Now on offer is a special package of the cooking and lifestyle book Essence of Buderim, together with six bottles of the Buderim Foundation fine red wine for only $120. (Previously $150)

Or you might prefer one of these options:
•    Buy the Foundation’s fine red wine for $200 per dozen
•    $100 for a half dozen
•    $17.50 per bottle

The wine is a 2011 vintage Stonewell District Shiraz selected by a panel of the Foundation’s wine buffs. Its quality is well summed up by Buderim’s David Edwards who owns a 3000 bottle cellar and is considered one of the best wine palates on the Coast.
“This is a silky smooth Shiraz that can be enjoyed now but its full potential as an outstanding wine with fully integrated structure will be realised by cellaring for five years or more. Great value”

You can make any of these purchases simply by downloading order form, completing with payment details and returning to Erik Larsen PO Box 39 Buderim 4556 or email to erik2@cirlock.com.au or phone 0419772928.
Delivery will be organised.

Loloma’s story

Published on: 8 May 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

Long-lost romantic letter returned to Buderim resident

In 1943 a letter was written that changed Loloma Weir’s life. Over seventy years later, thanks to a good samaritan and the Buderim Foundation’s Gifts in Memory webpage it has travelled 1000kms to be returned.

Watch her reaction as she reads it for the first time. Click this link: https://youtu.be/Y9g99395V-o

Long-lost romantic letter returned to Buderim resident

Published on: 8 May 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

View a video interview with Loloma. click on: https://youtu.be/Y9g99395V-o

A letter written in 1943 by a former Buderim resident asking for his wife’s hand in marriage has been found in a book bought at a second-hand bookstall in Melbourne.

The letter, written by the late Stuart Weir, is addressed to the Reverend and Mrs Green and seeks permission to marry their youngest daughter, Loloma who, as the letter states, ‘has captivated my heart’.

The Melbourne book buyer, Intrigued by the letter, searched the internet for Stuart Weir and found a link to the Buderim Foundation ‘Gifts in Memory’ page.

Stuart and Loloma have been strong supporters of the Foundation and Stuart’s Gifts in Memory story was written shortly after he died in 2004. The story includes details of Stuart’s graduation from Duntroon Military College in 1942 and his marriage to Loloma Green in 1944.

The Melbourne gentleman telephoned Buderim Foundation Board member John Devers who contacted a Weir family member.

Loloma, who now lives in Buderim Views, was delighted to receive the letter and to hear the story of how it was found in a book which must have belonged to her father, the Rev Robert Green. Loloma knew Stuart had written to her parents asking for her hand in marriage but had not actually seen the letter until now – 72 years later.

“This is very special for me and I really appreciate the effort this gentleman has made to tracemy family.”

Loloma is extremely proud of her late husband.

“Stuart has been recognised as the only officer to have commanded troops in combat in four wars,” she said. “He was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in Papua New Guinea in World War II and the Distinguished Service Order for his action in the Vietnam War.”

Stuart joined the Buderim Historical Society when he and Loloma moved to Buderim in 1977. He led walking tours of Buderim’s historic sites and, in 1983, he identified and listed Buderim’s historic trees, some of which were subsequently listed with the National Trust.

In 1986, he painstakingly researched the origin of Buderim’s street names, and arranged for the publication of a booklet called ‘Beautiful Buderim: origin of street names’. Stuart’s ashes were buried under a frangipani tree in the grounds of the Historical Society’s Pioneer Cottage.

The Sunshine Coast Council recently recognised Stuart’s dedication to Buderim by naming the viewing area overlooking Martin’s Creek in Lindsay Road, Stuart Weir Place.

You can read more about Stuart Weir and other great life stories on our Gifts in Memory page.

In January 2015 we reached the $1,000,000 milestone!

Published on: 2 April 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

I am especially pleased to share some exciting news with all of you.

Our Foundation has now reached a significant growth milestone in its 10 year history. We have just passed the $1million mark of funds held in trust. I’m sure you will agree that this is a great achievement.

It’s a perfect opportunity to thank everyone – one-off donors, regular donors, our sponsors, those who’ve made bequests, attended our events, supported our fund raising initiatives and of course all those who’ve given generously of their time and talent.

It’s also an opportunity to acknowledge the great work undertaken by the Foundation’s highly credentialed Investment Committee, chaired by Avril Staniland. Avril and her team have pursued a highly professional investment strategy to ensure growth of the Foundation’s corpus over the long term, while delivering a solid income stream each year to return to the community in the form of grants.

It should be noted that the Investment Committee has capitalised on the strength of the equities market in the past month or so to get us to this exciting milestone and I thank them for that.

Now for the second million!

Kind regards,

Paul Clark
Chair, Buderim Foundation

Kickstart to $2,000,000 target!

Published on: 1 April 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

It is just a month ago when I sent you a message saying that the Foundation corpus had reached the important $1million milestone.

I would now like our Ambassadors to be the first to know that this month we have received two quite separate $100,000 donations.

I was able to announce at the Ambassador Happy Hour on March 20th that a couple well known to most of you have made our largest single donation to give a wonderful start towards our next milestone.

And now just a week later, another $100,000 has arrived from a Buderim resident wishing to remain anonymous.

Naturally I thank these donors. However the whole Buderim Community deserves thanks for the way it has embraced and supported the Community Foundation concept. Surely this is a huge vote of confidence in the efforts of all those involved including the board, committees and of course, our Ambassadors.

As we enter what is historically our busiest giving time, you might like to think of ways you can help to keep this extraordinary momentum going.

While large donations are important to us, so too are very modest ones. Please don’t be put off by the size of the two donations I’ve mentioned above. Every donation, regardless of the amount is highly valued and regular donors are our life blood.

If you have not donated to the Buderim Foundation before and maybe have some questions…please let me know and I will arrange for a member of our Fund Development Committee to be in touch.

Let’s keep it going!

Regards

Paul Clark
Chair

Naming of Stuart Weir Place

Published on: 3 March 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

The 20th of Februaury 2015 saw the official naming of Stuart Weir Place in memory of retired Australian Army Officer, Mr Stuart Weir, for his outstanding levels of civic service to the Buderim community.

Division 7 Councillor Ted Hungerford said he was delighted that a wonderful Buderim asset was officially named ‘Stuart Weir Place’ after a truly inspirational and dedicated Buderim gentleman.

The name proposal was submitted by the board of Buderim Foundation and received positive endorsement from three significant Buderim community groups – the Buderim Historical Society, the Buderim Foundation and the Chair of the Buderim War Memorial Community Association – and unanimous support from Sunshine Coast Councillors.

4 Paws Animal Rescue receive grant for Solar Power

Published on: 2 March 2015Category: Buderim Foundation

4 Paws Animal Rescue was one of the 20 organisations to
receive a community grant from the Buderim Foundation this year. The grant of
$2500 will be used to install solar power in their office and the emergency
animal housing.

President of 4 Paws Animal Rescue, Julie Penlington said
that they were very excited and honoured when informed they were one of the
lucky recipients on the Good News Night.

“We are a 100% volunteer run organisation, no wages are paid
and we like to minimise costs so all money we receive can go into the vet care
and housing of our animals,” Julie said.

“The grant means we can reduce our costs further and more
funding can go towards the housing and care of animals in our emergency
housing.”

The emergency housing can be home to some animals for a
couple of days, but to other animals longer. The animals are bought to 4 Paws
for a variety of reasons and the housing allows a place for them to stay while
waiting for medical treatment before finding them a new home in the community.

“We take in a lot of abandoned or surrendered pets and help
find them new homes, sadly we have many because their elderly owners have
passed away,” Julie said.

4 Paws Animal Rescue has been caring for and helping
relocate animals since 2005, for more information on donating or adopting a pet
please visit http://www.4pawsanimalrescue.org.au/.