• Fairbrother Foundation

The Fairbrother Foundation has been established as a not for profit, Private Ancillary Fund (PAF). Its intent is to provide an avenue for donations from the Fairbrother family, business, employees and other key stakeholders to give back to areas of need in our communities.

The Foundation's core purpose is to support charities that:

  • Facilitate access to quality education, particularly among youth;
  • Support activities or research striving for improved health and wellbeing; and
  • Support initiatives that enrich the communities and environments in which Fairbrother operates, and particularly in which our Fairbrother employees live.

Background

In 2007, Royce and Thea Fairbrother established the Fairbrother Foundation as the vehicle to unite their personal philanthropic goals, and the community spirit of the Fairbrother business and employees. Whilst recognising the significant need for charitable support worldwide, the Foundation’s objectives align with the strong family desire to focus on local causes and needs.

"The motivation for Thea and I to establish the Fairbrother Foundation evolved from our journey discovering the company's core values and our aspirations for the future. Our goal is to persistently strive to build a company of excellence, committed to its core values and a company that leaves an enduring contribution to the communities where its people live and work. The Fairbrother Foundation is our chosen way to achieve that goal."

Initially, the funds donated to the Foundation came solely from the Fairbrother family and business, but in recent years key business partners like Graham Elliott & Associates (now a part of the Steadfast group), and employees have also contributed to the Foundation.

The Fairbrother Foundation actively seeks to donate to eligible charities (with Deductible Gift Recipient status) that align with our core purpose.

Our Directors

Gaye Rutherford, Chair, BA(Hons), BNutrDiet(Hons), G.A.I.C.D.

The current Chair of the Foundation is Gaye Rutherford (née Fairbrother). Gaye provides a strong family connection for the Foundation, and in addition to being a Foundation Director, also sits on the Board of Fairbrother Pty Ltd. As a mother and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Gaye feels passionate about the Foundation’s focus on education and wellbeing initiatives.

Thea Fairbrother

As a key driver behind the establishment of the Foundation, it was highly fitting that Thea joined the Foundation Director team in 2016. With her extensive history in financial management at Fairbrother, Thea is the principal accounts manager for the Foundation, and a strong vision driving the Foundation forward.

Yvonne Rundle B.Bus., F.C.A., G.A.I.C.D., F.T.I.A.

Following a long association with Fairbrother Pty Ltd, Yvonne joined the Board in 2011. As a Chartered Accountant and Non-Executive Director for a number of companies, Yvonne is the Responsible Person for the Foundation and provides an independent perspective with strong governance, financial and strategic insights.

Kurt Arnold

Kurt commenced his career with Fairbrother Pty Ltd back in 1995 and is currently General Manager of Fairbrother’s Tasmanian operations. Kurt joined the Foundation as a Director in 2016 and provides a valuable connection between the Foundation and the operational aspects of the Company, particularly the employees.

Inaugural Fairbrother Charity Ride - February 2019

February saw our biggest ever charity fundraising event - the Fairbrother Charity Ride - raise in excess of $33,000 for the Fairbrother Foundation.
This was no easy pedal, 17 riders took part in the two-day 358km journey from Devonport to Hobart.
Day 1 saw the riders leave Fairbrother’s Stony Rise Road location, headed for the Central Highlands Lodge for the overnight stay.
On Day 2, the riders left the Lodge (in the cool, damp weather) for the journey to Hobart.
Both days of cycling finished with brutal mountain climbs - Day 1: up Poatina Road, Day 2: to the summit of Mount Wellington.
Thank you to all riders and crew for conducting a safe and successful event.
Riders: Royce Fairbrother, Kurt Arnold, Dion Clarke, Joel Laycock, Peter Adams, John Cornell, Gareth Atkins, Nick Bourns, Greg Marshall, Scott Curran, Neal Mackintosh, Richard Lawrence, Stuart Green, Derek Bye, Mark Goodwin, Mark Lowe, William Overton.
Crew: Gaye Rutherford, David Ingram, Nick Freeman, Mark Nugent, Em Hollister.
Thank you to the following businesses/organisations who supported the event: Central Highlands Lodge, The Woolstore, Just Frames, Synectic, NH Architecture, Dulux, Artas, JAWS Architects, Gandy & Roberts, Neveco, Boral, Simplot, TasNetworks, William Overton Plastering, Palmers Plumbing, Access Hardware, Kiely Plumbing, Degree C Mechanical Services, Garage Door Solutions, Seba Sheetmetal, Biesse Australia, Slaters, MLH Stone, Tasmania Police Charity Trust.

University of Tasmania Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship

The Fairbrother Foundation formed a partnership with the UTAS Foundation in 2008 to support young Tasmanians to undertake an undergraduate degree at the University of Tasmania. Since 2008, the UTAS Foundation has awarded a $12,000 Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship to over 15 young Tasmanians, enabling many to successfully undertake university study away from home.

To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must have a parent employed by Fairbrother Pty Ltd or Degree C Pty Ltd (an entity owned by Fairbrother) and be entering the first year of their degree. Prior to 1 January 2018, the scholarship provided financial assistance for three years at $4,000 per year, however based on UTAS analysis of student needs, from 2018 the Scholarship was increased to $5,000 per year for 3 years.

The current recipients of the Fairbrother Foundation Scholarship are:

Claire Weeding Mikaela Adams
Lily James Samuel Bertram

Former recipients include:

Isaac Alford Melissa Hawksley
Taylah Dickson Olivia Newlands
Ellen Bennett Timothy Cuthbertson
Thomas Mountney Luke Webb
Sandon James Jonathon Haines
Christopher Haines Sarah Frankcombe
Rebekkah Rundle Jacinta Butler
 

University of Tasmania RFDS-Fairbrother Foundation First-Year Nursing Scholarship

In 2018, the Fairbrother Foundation partnered with the Royal Flying Doctors Service to offer a $5,000 scholarship to a first year nursing student from an outer regional or remote area of Tasmania. The scholarship includes a one week experience at an RFDS base, either on in Tasmania or interstate.

For more details see https://info.scholarships.utas.edu.au/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2706.

The inaugural recipient of this Scholarship is Sharni Walker from Currie, King Island.

 
 

Other Key Partnerships

The Fairbrother Foundation has also formed key partnerships with:

  • Hobart City Mission (HCM), providing financial support in particular the HCM’s Small Steps Program.
  • Guide Dogs Tasmania (GDT), where the Foundation funds the work of Ambassador Dog Dexter, who is instrumental to GDT’s awareness and fund-raising activities.
  • Carers Tasmania, an organisation providing much needed support for carers of family members and friends who have a disability, mental illness, chronic condition, terminal illness or who are frail and aged.
  • SPEAK UP! Stay ChatTY, where the Foundation is contributing to SUSC's essential and powerful work around promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention.
  • Pathways Tasmania, a local organisation committed to assisting the homeless and those who have suffered from the impact of addiction. Pathways runs both a residential rehabilitation programme (Velocity Transformations) and a 6-bed "high care" shelter (Launch).

Employee-Led Donations

The Fairbrother Foundation recognises that it is the quality work of Fairbrother employees that underpins our ability to make charitable donations. Each year employees are consulted regarding charities to support. As a result of this process, the Foundation has had the pleasure of making donations to each of the following charities:

"I nominated Cystic Fibrosis Tasmania as this is a disorder close to me. My brother-in-law lives with this disorder. There needs to be a lot more awareness as many people don't have knowledge of this unless it affects them personally. That was me before I learnt about it. As with a lot of charities, they can all do with more funding for research and to help those suffering," Brooke Casboult, Degree C.

"A big thank you to the Fairbrother Foundation for their donation towards MS Australia and MS Research Australia. This was the perfect gift to give Mum in time for Mothers Day," Tim Mee, Fairbrother.

"Thank you to the Fairbrother Foundation for supporting Dementia Australia. In recent months my father has been diagnosed with vascular dementia and parkinsonisms. Dementia Australia has been an invaluable resource for my family as we struggle to deal with his diagnosis, care needs and planning for the future," Em Hollister, Fairbrother.

"Being able to contribute to Lets Talk allows their organisation to continue with their great work in destigmatising mental health, particularly in men. It gives our staff, as a whole, a great feeling to know that we are able to assist them to continue their inportant work within our community," Billy Edis, Fairbrother.

2019-20 bushfire crisis

In January 2020, the Fairbrother Foundation made some special donations to assist with the bushfire relief efforts in Victoria. Over the summer, states on the eastern seaboard of mainland Australia were hit with severe and devastating bushfires. Affected communities were devastated by loss of lives and property, while widlife habitat was also significantly impacted.

In keeping with the Fairbrother Foundation's core purpose to support charities and initiatives that enrich the communities and environments in which Fairbrother operates, the Foundation focused its donations on supporting bushfire emergency work in Victoria.

The Fairbrother Foundation donated:

  • $5000 to Foodbank Victoria's bushfire emergency work, which is providing essential supplies to those in stricken areas.
  • $5000 to the Country Fire Authority (specifically the CFA & Brigades Donations Fund) to support the amazing work of the firefighting teams - those brave people who put their lives on the line every day.

Finances

At the end of December 2018 the Foundation’s accumulated assets surpassed $1 million for the first time. These funds are invested in accordance with the Foundation’s Investment Policy and advice from Shadforth Financial Group. The initial intent of the Foundation was to establish a capital base of $2 million dollars to enable a level of sustainable giving to be created. Whilst we still have some way to go before our capital base reaches this level, the Fairbrother group is committed establishing a sustainable Foundation that via its donations will be able to impact the lives of its employees and the communities in which it operates.

How can you help?

Fairbrother Foundation would love to grow its contributors. Donations from employees can lead to the Foundation being able to significantly impact the lives of people within the communities in which Fairbrother works. Just a small donation out of your pay once a year, monthly or weekly will see the Foundation grow and in turn, the number of charities supported grow. Each year, you can nominate charities that you believe are worthy of support. Studies have shown that people are happier when they give to others. If giving as little as $5.00 can lead to increased wellbeing for the giver, then why not feel better whilst helping others. You can contact the payroll department to arrange a payroll deduction form.