Parker joined our ‘intimate’ meeting last week to share with us the broad reach of the Mount Wellington Charitable Trust. The Trust returned $1.2 million last year and makes donations to a wide range of community organisations.
Their first major project was in the 1960s building Swimarama, now Lagoon Pool and Leisure Centre. The Trust’s main asset is the Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre. In the 1990s, gaming machine operations also became a main source of funds, via the Licencing Trust. Interestingly, since 2003 the number of gaming machines has decreased by 60-70% in the Mt Wellington Area. Despite this, the Trust typically receives applications amounting to three times the amount of money they give away. But on average they continue to give $1 million per year.
Any organisation (community, sporting, social) can apply for funding as long as they are in the Panmure/Mt Wellington area, or as long as the application will benefit people residing in the area.
Parker explained that these key areas have (typically) seen the bulk of their funding:
All local primary schools (12 in total). Each school receives annually around $15K which the schools mostly use to buy ICT equipment. This type of funding (which has taken place for the past 10 years) has ensured students level of achievement is 10% higher by the time they go through school.
Funding has also gone to secondary schools: Tamaki, One Tree Hill, Edgewater, Otahuhu, Sacred Heart and McAuley High where scholarships have been provided for the first year of tertiary education (around $8K per student); and numerous Outward Bound Scholarships are also awarded.
Additionally, the Trust funds events such as the Panmure Basin Fun Day; the Senior Citizen Christmas Lunch, the Panmure and Ellerslie Christmas Parades, and in the past, the King of the Mountain event.
Assistance with funding for capital projects is another area in which the Trust has been a major contributor, having worked closely with a number of organisations. Such projects have included building a new pontoon on the Tamaki River; development of a 1 km rowing course; installing an elevator at the Waka Ama rooms at Ian Shaw Park, assistance with lighting and resurfacing of Mt Wellington Tennis Club and assistance with the Auckland Netball Centre courts; and building special “bike” tracks in primary schools.
It was especially interesting to be reminded that the Trust is very happy to assist with joint projects and Parker reminded the Club, they are always keen to receive and consider applications.