Named fund to help Eastwoodhill and Hospice

Bill and Margie Thorpe have established a named endowment fund at Sunrise to support Eastwoodhill Arboretum and Hospice Tairāwhiti. 

Margie was born in Wellington and attended Victoria University. She moved to Gisborne in 1963 to take a teaching role at Lytton High School.  

Later, as a mother of three, she became involved in Parents Centre, school committees, and as a Hospital Board member for eleven years.  

In 1983 she was elected to the Gisborne District Council, serving for twenty-four years, the last six years as Deputy Mayor. Her time on Council involved diverse involvement in Parks and Reserves, Sister City and Keep Gisborne Beautiful. 

Bill attended Victoria University and returned home to Gisborne in 1963 to take a production management role at the family company, Columbine Hosiery.  

In 1982 he established a horticulture management company which came to include ownership participation in a number of orchards, construction and management of packing company NZ Fruits, and establishment of fruit marketing company First Fresh.  

In 2018 Bill was awarded the Bledisloe Cup recognising contribution to horticulture. 

Moving into retirement Bill and Margie have a desire to recognise the satisfaction and enjoyment they have derived from their involvement in the community. They see Sunrise as a way to enable a lasting contribution back to their community. 

Margie says they chose Eastwoodhill as “we feel it is unique and we are both very supportive of the continuation and development of the arboretum”.  

Bill says it was “the opportunity to participate in the very generous $ for $ matching commitment by the JN Williams Memorial Trust which provided added incentive”.  

They both recognise Hospice Tairāwhiti for its exceptional work in end of life care, the large volunteer component, and the increasing need for qualified staff and access to specialist equipment. 

Both Bill and Margie say they are "enthusiastic about the ability to establish a perpetual endowment which will be continuously managed by professional investment advisers". 

“Our endowment fund is an opportunity to give back to the community who have given us so much and to see it benefit our chosen charities while we are still alive.”

Click here to read more about Named Endowment Funds

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