Newspaper Article 2006 – Boost for Bay landmark

Boost for Bay landmark

Environmental protection of a Hawke’s Bay landmark will be championed by the Community Foundation, says chairman Peter Dunkerley.

Estimated to involve up to $400,000, the project is one of three in Hawke’s Bay the foundation is backing. “We intend to get a few things in place before we make any announcements,” Peter says.

The foundation has employed Tony Pilalis from Wellington to undertake a feasibility study to establish a pool of endowment monies from Hawke’s Bay people. More than $1 million has been identifies.

“We’re harnessing the goodwill and philanthropy of those who can afford to provide assistance where it is needed in Hawke’s Bay – with the intention of making our place a better place to live,” Peter says.

The foundation found more than a third of the $186,000 applied for last year (to March 31, 2006) by charities and worthy causes – field officers and co-ordinators for the aged in Hastings and Flaxmere; defibrillators in Flaxmere and Waipukurau; assistance for the training of budget advisers, youth workers and victim support people; and it has donated funds to the Deaf Association, the Napier-based Backup Trust and Maraenui’s night patrols. It also backs a children’s oral health trial, which could expand to other schools if successful, and it continues to support Sport Hawke’s Bay’s programme against child obesity.

Peter, the foundation’s chairman since 2002, is a Hawke’s Bay District Health Board member, enjoys a long involvement with the Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust and is a Rotary member. Other trustees this year are Napier ophthalmologist Dr David Sabiston; Waipukurau JP and former district councillor Diana Petersen; Hastings lawyer Mark von Dadelszen, whose specialties include charitable trusts; retired editor James Morgan of Twyford, the longest-serving board member; and Napier businesswoman Alison (Ali) McCarthy. They are supported on the foundation’s allocations committee by Waa Harris, of Pakipaki, and two more businessmen will join the board soon.