Opening Doors to Opportunity
The creation of the Shaw Fund reflects a deep and enduring connection to Southland and a strong desire to give back to the province and its people.
Proudly rooted in the South, the Shaw Fund has been established as a way of recognising the opportunities, experiences and sense of community that have helped shape a lifelong connection to the region.
The Story Behind the Fund
The words below come directly from the donor and share the personal connection to Southland that inspired the creation of the Shaw Fund. They reflect a deep sense of pride in the province, gratitude for the opportunities it has provided, and a desire to give back in a way that will make a lasting difference.
“I was raised on a Southland sheep farm, where there was hardly a moment when there wasn't work to be done. There were many freezing early mornings starts feeding out hay or lambing and shearing, but it was a wonderful grounding in the values of hard work and resilience. Looking back, they were special years, filled with fond memories of rural Southland life and a close-knit community.
I attended Lochiel School, travelling each day on the old school bus. Life was simple, but I had an inquisitive nature and loved learning, along with all that school had to offer. Highlights were swimming, tennis, softball and rugby, cocoa in the mornings, reciting the times tables, visits from the Presbyterian minister, and proudly putting sixpence a week into The Southland Savings Bank. Those early years helped shape my curiosity about people, life and opportunity.
Later I made the daily journey to James Hargest College, where I developed the social skills and a broader understanding of the world that would prove valuable throughout life.
While my brothers committed themselves to farming, I chose a different path and entered the financial services industry, a career I have now enjoyed immensely for more than fifty years.
Invercargill is where I lived and married, where our family completed their schooling, and it has always remained at the centre of my values and identity. As proud Southlanders, we have always believed in the importance of giving back to the province and the community that shaped us.
That is why making a contribution by setting up a Southland Foundation Endowment Fund is something we feel honoured to do. We hope the Fund will, in a small way, help lift the spirit of the Southland community over time and help this province continue to thrive.”