Bequests - leave a legacy in your Will

We have been fortunate in the generosity shown by our donors, who have left a gift in their Will to the University. Bequests have helped us to support major research at the University as well as providing scholars with an opportunity to study. By making a gift to the University in your Will, you can continue to support the important work of research and education well into the future.

A bequest is a gift imparted through your Will. Your bequest could be:

• A financial contribution of any amount
• A gift-in-kind (a non-monetary donation such as art, books, equipment etc)
• A proportion of your estate or the residue of it after other distributions have been made

Your bequest to the University can support or contribute to:

• An academic position in a nominated field, either in full or part
• Research Fellowships
• Specific or non-specific research
• Special projects
• Scholarships, prizes or other awards for students
• Building projects
• New facilities, equipment or technology
• Collections such as books or art.

Alternatively, you can make a general donation to support the University of Newcastle.

It’s your choice. It’s your dream.

The University of Newcastle takes your dream seriously. Whatever support you would like to give, the University of Newcastle Foundation can provide advice on how to design your gift in a way that best reflects your wishes. The University of Newcastle Foundation will also ensure that you and your donation are appropriately recognised.

There are many possibilities; please contact us for more information about how you can help.

Some of the legacies left to the University of Newcastle

The Light Memorial Trust

The Light Memorial Trust was set up by the bequest of Reta Light for the purpose of purchasing books, periodicals, microfilms and musical scores. Through her donation of $1.5 million to the Auchmuty Library, the Trust has acquired a fine collection of Australian Poetry, rare first editions of James Joyce, Thomas Hardy and titles in the history of Theatre. The Trust continues to acquire more in compliance with the goals of the bequest.

Read more about the Reta Light Trust here.

The Mary Patricia Rankin Bequest

The $10,000 bequest of Mary Patricia Rankin was a gift to the Faculty of Health for it to use in an area it saw most fit.

The Gladys M. Brawn Bequest

In 1985, Mr Leslie Harold Brawn began donating his possessions and money to the University in honour of his much loved wife, Gladys. His $5 million bequest in memory of his late wife, funds the Gladys M. Brawn Memorial Fellowship, and supports a variety of projects in Health. The bequest also funds the Gladys M. Brawn Senior Research Fellowship, supporting outstanding scientists with an international reputation in their field. The bequest has supported five Senior Brawn Fellows and 17 Postdoctoral Fellows, all conducting valuable research with the potential to change the lives of people around the world. The latest recipient of this Senior Research Fellowship is Professor Amanda Baker. Professor Baker is a Clinical Psychologist who has practiced in both the fields of mental health and alcohol and other drug treatments in the United Kingdom and Australia.

< Read more about the Gladys Brawn Bequest here.

The Dr Barbara Grahame Bequest

The bequest of Dr Barbara Grahame of $5,000 contributed towards the ‘Steele Douglas Prize in Pathology’ encouraging excellence in research in Health.

Margaret Senior Bequest

The legacy of Margaret Senior, one of Australia’s most prominent and respected wildlife illustrators, is continuing into the future thanks to a $50,000 gift left to the University of Newcastle. Margaret also left the copyright of her published work to the University, and gave a further $10,000 to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Her generous donations have allowed for the creation of the Margaret Senior Award, which recognises the outstanding work of an undergraduate student in the university’s unique Bachelor of Illustration (Natural History) program.

The Frank Maxwell Ledbury Bequest

With his bequest of $20,000 Frank Maxwell Ledbury was able to leave behind a gift for future generations through his contribution to research in microsurgery techniques.

Dr Beryl Collier Bequest

Dr Beryl Collier, an esteemed gynaecologist and obstetrician, understood the value of quality education. However she was conscious that many people, particular indigenous students, do not have the same opportunities to learn as she did.

Following Beryl’s death in 2009, a bequest of $300,000 was left to the University of Newcastle Foundation. The money established the Dr Beryl Collier Indigenous Education Scholarship, which offers its recipients $6,135 plus $5,000 for HECS fees - a blessing for financially struggling students.

The Hartley Bequest

One of the world’s most generous travelling scholarships, valued at $30,000, was made possible by a $2 million bequest from Kelver Hayward Hartley, the University’s Foundation Professor of French. He also donated the Hartley collection of rare books to the Auchmuty Library.

 

Laurence Charles Bogan Bequest

A generous bequest of $100,000 left to the University of Newcastle in 2002 by Mr Laurence Charles Bogan has funded the extension of the Jean Bogan Prize for Piano Composition. Laurie’s bequest breathed life into his original donation in 1989, when he created the prize as a memorial to his late wife Jean Bogan’s love for piano.

As a result, 2010 marked the inauguration of the Jean Bogan Youth Prize. Both prizes recognise original and outstanding solo compositions by Australian composers.

 

Norman Bushman Bequest

Norman Bushman's love of music and singing led him to leave a generous bequest of $2.8 million to the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music in the hope that it would attract aspiring young musicians to the Newcastle region.

After his death in 2010, Mr Bushman left his bequest with the Conservatorium where two scholarships worth approximately $50,000 are to be established. Mr Bushman hoped that the scholarships would help boost the institutions reputation as a leading music and education establishment in Australia.

Read more about the Norman Bushman Bequest here

Eric Sansom Bequest

Eric Sansom left a generous bequest of $350,000 to the University of Newcastle in 2011. After seeing his own son suffer with Diabetes, Mr Sansom requested that the money go towards supporting further research into the disease.

 Read More about the Eric Sansom Bequest here

 

More information

• For advice regarding wording of your will, please see our bequest brochure (PDF, 340KB).
• Leaving a Legacy - stories of the people behind the gifts (PDF)
• Why should I consider making a gift to the University of Newcastle in my Will? by Dr Bernie Curran, Executive Officer, University of Newcastle Foundation.