Autumn – Reflections Magazine

The Avondale Foundation will grant, for the first time, Academic Excellence Scholarships to students studying degree courses at Avondale College from this year.

The initiative, voted at the foundation’s 27th annual general meeting in October last year, will see the foundation awarding 15 scholarships valued at up to $27,500 each for a four-year course.  The foundation also donated a further $125,000 to the college, with the scholarships making up the remainder of the foundation’s annual $200,000 donation.

The foundation funds its donations from the profits of several commercial enterprises.

Former theology lecturer Dr Norman Young is the new president of the foundation for 2005-6.  He has been associated with the foundation since its formation in 1978.  “My role will be largely a matter of encouraging the talented group of volunteers and executives that run the foundation businesses,” he said in response to his election.

Other officers elected include Jim Williams as secretary and Chris Akroyd as treasurer.  Vice-presidents include Gavin Currie, Rodney Long and Todd Saunders.

A former president, Lyn Knight, announced his retirement at the meeting after a 27-year association with the foundation.  Dr Young describes Mr Knight as the “driving force” behind the formation of the foundation.  “We express our appreciation to Lyn and [wife] Audrey’s immeasurable contribution and wish them both good health in their retirement years.”

Brenton Stacey