Susie White on the Boroondara Foundation

Chair for the day Noel Halford introduced Susie White a 35 years resident of the Boroondara region and long-time consultant on local government and community projects.

Susie told of her first links to Rotary via her father a Rotarian in Hamilton Victoria. Early involvement as an educator focussing on the community issues of AIDS/HIV provided a start for long term community work.

Boroondara Foundation an example of the Australian wide community foundation movement was established in 2002. These foundations revolve around geographic areas. Whereas the Boroondara Foundation identifies with the Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and nearby suburbs it was noted that other bodies attending the annual Australian conference cover vaster areas in rural and regional Australian.

The Foundation’s goal is to sustain a fund to provide grants to local organisations and individuals in need, and thus is different to specific charities.  Its source of funds is donations and grants.

Three current areas were highlighted- a scholarship program for senior students, the Kinder Plus project to subsidize appropriate families, and a set of small grants to promote given social inclusion efforts to bring together isolated community members (e.g. English speaking experiences).  In all modest expenditures achieved much.

The perceived “wealth” of the Boroondara area and generic coverage of the Foundation were seen as constant challenges (in fund raising). 

Susie saw two big challenges for the community, the problems of the limited opportunity of activity for young people without work or study, and the developing isolation of older citizens as friends and families departed.    Keen to work on these with other organisations in the regions Susie sought ideas from the audience.

It was an inspiring address on what can be gained to assist the disadvantaged in the community.