Valda Twaddle Trust Awards 2017

In 2006 I received a telephone call from Perry Westons Lawyers regarding funds that were bequeathed to me.  I made an appointment to attend their offices and in doing so I learnt that Valda Twaddle, a lady I had known since birth basically had bequeathed some $363,000 to both Geoff Burrell and myself as Trustees to distribute in the community as we saw fit.

Valda left three instructions:

• That we distribute the funds as we see fit in the community.
• The Awards would be presented in conjunction with the Lions Club of Forest Hill where Valda’s brother John was a Past President.
• The third and final instruction from Valda that the funds were to be managed in Trust for 80 years.

Both Geoff and I went about setting up the Trust appropriately so that it could live for the 80 years in question.  Appropriate policies were written and a legal trust was written up to ensure that the funds would be protected no matter what happened to the Trustees along the journey.

A website was established; www.valdatwaddletrust.com.au, and an application process with the rules and regulations was formed. We decided from the date we received the funds in 2007 that we wanted the funds to grow by CPI annually and we would only distribute over and above that amount.

Since 2007 the Valda Twaddle Trust has distributed $95,288.25 to 35 individuals or organisations.

On Thursday 15th March 2018 we gathered for the annual Trust Awards dinner at Bucatini in Mitcham. The three organisations that we awarded on that evening were:

Dream Stitches
Woodhouse Grove Kindergarten
Pinchapoo

To learn more of these three great organisations and the work that they are doing in the community please watch the video prepared for our evening : 

Kate Austin shared with all those that had gathered at the dinner, the great story on Pinchapoo. www.pinchapoo.org.au

Through pinching and donating hotel toiletries, or donating full size toiletries, to Pinchapoo, participants can help get toiletries to people in hospital, living in shelters, living on the streets and most recently to those affected by the fires in the South West of Victoria.

The Honourable Dee Ryall MP for Ringwood joined us to present the Awards. Dee has been a great supporter of the works of the Valda Twaddle Trust since inception. Without doubt Valda Twaddle would be very proud of what her Trust has achieved in a little more than a decade. Her name lives on and great works live on through the Valda Twaddle Trust, Making Projects Happen.

I would personally like to thank the many people that assist me in making the Trust the reality it is today; my fellow Trustee Jamie Kennedy, Financial Advisor Andre Bierenbroodspot from Boston Financial Services and my colleagues at Tobin Brothers; Donna Jenkins, Mike Lynch and Matt Weedon.

James MacLeod

Trustee, Valda Twaddle Trust