Speech
Dr Marjorie Barclay Charitable Trust Cheque Presentation
May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand - English, Maori, Cook Island Maori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.
Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening and the sun is setting (Sign)
May I specifically greet you: Your Worship Peter Chin, Mayor of Dunedin; Your Honour Judge Paul Barber, Trust Chairman; and your fellow trustees, Euan Wright, Nerissa Barber and Bill Cowan; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.
It is an honour to be in Dunedin this evening to present the latest disbursement cheques from the Dr Marjorie Barclay Charitable Trust.
Dr Barclay was a leader in life as not only as one of New Zealand's first female hospital specialists, but also for specialising in the then relatively new speciality of diagnostic radiology. She studied in Edinburgh, Vienna and Boston before returning to Dunedin where she not only worked for the Otago Hospital Board but also lectured at the University of Otago Medical School.
And since her passing in 1978 and the establishment of the Charitable Trust a decade later, her generosity has assisted nine worthy charities continue their work. I am advised that Dr Barclay's decision to establish a charitable trust has seen about $3.2 million distributed to the nine charities in the last 20 years. As Patron of many charitable organisations, I can appreciate how such funding would assist them in their activities.
Tonight have I distributed annual cheques worth $245,000 in total, as well as an additional $45,000 the trustees have decided to award in honour of my visit.
I should properly, at this juncture, declare an interest, as several of the charities being honoured are also organisations that have received patronage from myself or my wife Susan.
But I'm sure that Dr Barclay would also be pleased to know that her trustees have so diligently administered her estate and that the initial capital of $300,000 is now, through prudent investment, worth $12 million.
One of New Zealand's most well known philanthropists, the late Sir Roy McKenzie who died in Wellington last year, once said that the giving away of money calls for more skill and judgment than the making of it. Dr Barclay clearly made some good decisions in her choice of trustees and charities. For as Sir Winston Churchill once said: "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
And on that heartening note, I will close in New Zealand's first language Maori, by offering greetings and wishing you good health and fortitude in your endeavours.
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tena koutou katoa.