Dick Smith sold his Cessna Citation CJ3 in the USA, due mostly to the Australian requirement to install a FDR and ADS-B at a cost around $450,000.
The Dick and Pip Smith Foundation has decided to donate the proceeds of the sale to worthy charities. I believe the details will be revealed tomorrow but the list includes:
The donations include:
A donation to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society ($125,000) For the completion of the restoration of the Southern Cross Replica aircraft.
Royal Flying Doctor Service Canberra ($100,000) To improve the safety of night operations at remote aerodromes.
Major donations to Institutions in Canberra and Sydney
• The Australian War Memorial ($50,000)
• National Museum of Australia ($50,000)
• National Library of Australia ($50,000)
• National Film and Sound Archive ($50,000)
• Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (Powerhouse Museum) ($50,000)
These donations will be given with the suggestion that the money be allocated towards protecting, and possibly expanding, aviation related material.
Arabunna Community South Australia ($25,000) To assist the Arabunna community to employ people in the aviation tourism industry. Perhaps constructing an airstrip near Marree Man so tourists can be taken to the site by the original landowners.
Australian Museum Trust ($25,000) Towards scientific expeditions and furthering the Museum’s work.
NSW Police Legacy ($20,000) Towards assisting Legacy’s air transport and other purposes.
Angel Flight ($50,000) To assist country people to access medical treatment through flight.
Careflight Westmead ($50,000) For helicopter rapid response and rescue services.
Southern Region Westpac SLSA helicopter ($50,000) For helicopter rapid response and rescue services.
Southcare Helicopter Fund ($20,000) For helicopter rapid response and rescue services to people in ACT and SE NSW.
AMREF Flying Doctors Africa ($25,000) Flying Doctor Service in Kenya who service the whole of Africa with emergency and Primary Health Care.
The Salvation Army ($20,000) Flying Padre and outback services to assist people in remote areas of Australia.
Uniting Church in Australia Frontier Services ($10,000) Flying Padre and outback services to assist people in remote areas of Australia.
State Library of NSW Foundation ($20,000) To assist with aviation related projects including the possible digitisation and rehousing of the Sir Hudson Fysh pictorial collection.
Clamback and Hennessy Aviation ($20,000) For exemplary services to the aviation training industry while being opposed by formidable forces.
Able Flight USA ($13,412 or $10,000 USD) To assist people with disabilities to learn to fly.
FunFlight ($5,000) To inspire underprivileged children through the exhilaration of flight.
QANTAS Founders Outback Museum Longreach ($5,000) To maintain the collection and inspire through aviation.
Temora Aviation Museum ($5,000) To maintain the collection and inspire through aviation.
Central Australian Aviation Museum Alice Springs ($5,000) To maintain the collection and inspire through aviation.
Goolwa Air Park ($5,000) and four other small aerodromes ($5,000 each - total $25,000) To improve safety and participation levels at smaller aerodromes.
Donations to Improve the Safety and Participation levels in Aviation
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association ($30,000)
• Recreational Aviation Australia ($30,000)
• The Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia ($20,000)
• Australian Helicopter Industry Association ($20,000)
• Australian Aviation Hall of Fame ($10,000)
• Scouts Air Activity Centre Camden NSW ($10,000)
• Scouts Air Activity Centre Moorabbin Victoria ($10,000)
• Australian Business Aviation Association ($5,000)
• Australian Ballooning Federation ($10,000)
• Australian Women Pilots Association ($10,000)
• Hang Gliding Federation of Australia ($10,000)
• Sport Aircraft Association of Australia ($10,000)
• Australian Air League Air Activities Centre Camden NSW ($5,000)
Primary donation of $1 million to the Rotary Australia Benevolent Society Note: This amount was initially allocated to promoting and sponsoring an air race to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Vickers Vimy flight from London to Australia by Ross and Keith Smith in 1919. Dick’s idea was the race should be commemorated 100 years later – this time with electrically powered aircraft.
Unfortunately, after much toing and froing, Dick could not get any positive Government support for the project, so it was decided to reallocate the money. Following a proposal by Bob Cleland of the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie, this money was allocated to the Rotary Australia Benevolent Society. Bob is an old friend of Dick Smith from the Coal and Candle Rural Fire Brigade days.
This donation has the potential to generate another $1 million, making a total of $2 million - similar to a previous donation to the Lions on 23 April 2013. The aim will be for individual Rotary Clubs to use this funding to in effect double any money raised for important social causes to help those in need.
A major donation of $1 million to fund the Wilberforce Award. A number of years ago, Dick announced the Wilberforce Award, which is to go to a young person under the age of 30, who has the ability to show leadership in communicating an alternative to our population and consumption growth-obsessed economy.
This amount will be set up with the plan to hopefully present the award within the next 12 to 15 months.
Scouts Australia ($100,000) For the World Development Fund.
Wild Care Tasmania ($100,000) Continue funding for 2017 – replacement of Lake Tahune Hut.
Australian Indigenous Education Foundation ($120,000) To provide scholarships that enable Indigenous students to attend leading Australian schools and universities, as well as mentoring and career support.
Wayside Chapel ($100,000) Care and support for the valuable work performed by the Wayside Centre.
The Prince’s Charities Australia ($100,000) To further Prince Charles’ vision for a society to live in balance.
Prosperity Without Growth ($100,000) Sustainability think tank initial funding.
Exodus Foundation ($100,000) To continue with the important work under the direction of the incredible Bill Crews.
UTS Health Psychology Unit ($50,000) Continue funding the vision of the late Dr Tony Kidman.
Shepherd Centre for Deaf Children ($50,000) Specialising in teaching deaf children to speak.
Mahboba’s Promise ($50,000) This is a further year’s sponsorship to take the funding to October 2017, after the Dick and Pip Smith Foundation funded the original construction of Panjshir Valley Hope House in Afghanistan.
Muscular Dystrophy Association of NSW ($25,000) Working towards a world without Muscular Dystrophy.
Clean up Australia Environment Fund ($20,000) Clean up and conserve our environment.
Regg Dodd ($12,000) To further Reg’s work at Marree in communicating Aboriginal culture and knowledge to nonAboriginal people including school students.
Pennicott Wilderness Journeys Nature Conservation Trust ($10,000) To further programs for the removal of feral species from remote islands.
Ted Noffs Foundation ($10,000) To provide life management programs to equip youth at risk.
Total donation: $4,170,412 so far – Christmas is the time for giving!
Amazing charity from an amazing Aussie couple. I suspect this may be the largest private aviation focused gift in Australian history?