T G Macarthy Trust Centenary Celebration Reception

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E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Kia ora tātou katoa.  Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Susan Satyanand - tēnā korua; Fellow TG Macarthy Board members, the Most Reverend John Dew, Catholic Archbishop of Wellington, Your Worship Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington and Hon Roger Sowry; past TG Macarthy Board members Sir James Belich, Sir Michael Fowler, Ian Lawrence, Kerry Prendergast, Hon Fran Wilde, and Cardinal Tom Williams; and Trevor Janes and Grenville Gaskell, Chair and Chief Executive respectively of the Public Trust Board - tēnā koutou katoa.

It is a great pleasure for Janine and me to welcome you here to Government House for this reception to celebrate 100 years of a Trust that has contributed so much, to so many.

Thomas George Macarthy is described as being a quiet and retiring man.  We also know he was, and through his trust is, a man of great benevolence.  Born in London in 1833 or 1834, he seems a golden man from his early life, traveling to Australia in the 1850s, and then across the Tasman to Otago in 1865, in search of that precious metal.  From there he followed the rush to the West Coast where, after some success on the various goldfields, most notably at Reefton, he established a small brewery at Charleston.

At just 44 years old , he sought to expand his business interests by coming to Wellington.  Initially Macarthy bought one and then a second brewery - on Custom House Quay and Tory Street.  The latter of which is, to this day, owned by the TG Macarthy Trust.  Later, Macarthy expanded his business interests further into many other fields.

As well as his success in business Thomas George Macarthy actively participated in public affairs and is recorded to have been a Director of the Bank of New Zealand, the Wellington-Manawatu Railway Company and the Wellington Opera House Company.  He was also President of the Wellington Racing Club.

On the 28 April 1897 he married Mary Ellen Fitzsimons, 40 years his junior.  There were no children from the marriage.  Thomas George Macarthy died in Wellington on 19 August 1912.  It is recorded that after some personal bequests, TG Macarthy left half of the residual estate to his wife and half for the purpose of establishing a trust for charitable and educational purposes or institutions in the Provincial District of Wellington.  The Trust was also to inherit from his wife if she had no children, and this was the case.  Upon his passing the Thomas George Macarthy Trust was incorporated and it has become a legacy dedicated to perpetually reflecting Thomas and his wife’s charitable spirit during their lifetime.  And what a wonderful legacy they have created.

2012 marks the Trust’s centenary.  This major milestone gives us an opportunity to reflect on the significant generosity and contribution that it has made to the community and social fabric of the greater Wellington region.

During the 100 years past, the Trust has distributed grants to the value of $58.61 million.  Each year it distributes approximately $2.5 million, in accordance with TG Macarthy’s will.   The individual grants have been directed to organisations in the region which: help children and young people develop and realise their potential; those that look after and provide care and dignity for older people; those that improve the quality of life for the disadvantaged and marginalised; and those that provide essential medical and emergency services.

The centenary celebrations of the TG Macarthy Trust begin today with this High Tea reception, here at Government House.  Those of you in attendance include members of the more than 123 organisations that have benefitted from the TG Macarthy Trust.

As part of the centenary celebrations, you will notice the exhibition on display this afternoon.  It was developed to recognise and profile the positive contribution the Trust has made to the Greater Wellington region.  After today’s event, it will then begin its journey through the catchment region during this Centenary year, and be on-display in libraries and other public places.

Additionally, in the lead-up to the Centenary year of the Trust, TG Macarthy was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame, which was celebrated at the Fairfax Media New Zealand Business Hall of Fame Dinner in June.  Thomas George Macarthy’s induction as a laureate – serves as an inspirational example of success to all New Zealanders.

Finally, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, current and past, I have the singular privilege of announcing an initiative that will be an enduring gift to the City of Wellington, the commissioning of a commemorative sculpture, in partnership with the Wellington Sculpture Trust.  In no small way will this initiative honour Thomas George Macarthy’s legacy.

The sculpture will take pride of place at the bottom of Cuba Street in the vicinity of Bond Street, the Opera House and the Town Hall – all significant landmarks associated with TG Macarthy.  It is expected to take between two to three years to commission and complete, and will ensure the story of TG Macarthy, and his contribution to the Greater Wellington region is told in perpetuity.

I close, reflecting on the words of the 19th century British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, whose words so aptly sum up Thomas George Macarthy and his remarkable contribution:
“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.