Younger past pupils join Motueka High School Trust
From left, John Prestidge, Emma Ryder, Geoff Milnes, Lynley Worsley, and Glenn Stringer now make up the board of the Motueka High School Trust. Photo: Fiona Nelson.
The granddaughter of Motueka High School’s first principal has now joined the trust that was set up to honour her grandfather’s contribution.
The A M Miller Trust was established in 1991 by past pupils of Motueka High School (MHS) - Geoff Milnes, Hilary Goodman and Ian Hampton and Joan Taylor – the daughter of Motueka High School’s first principal, Mac Millar.
“It was established primarily to recognize the contribution made to Motueka High by Mac Miller, our first principal, and also to ensure the continuity of the then very active Past Pupils Association,” says Geoff.
The trust’s original capital came mainly from generous donations from the Goodman and Talley families. It has been invested with NBS and, to date, an annual interest income of over $174,000 has been donated to MHS.
Geoff, the remaining original trustee, says, after the resignation of Joan, he is delighted to now be joined by a younger brigade of past pupils – Emma Ryder, Glenn Stringer, current MHS principal, John Prestidge and Joan’s daughter, Lynley Worsley.
“With the possible fourth generation involvement of Lynley’s son, Hamish, joining the board this coming year,” Geoff says.
The trustees meet once a year to consider requests from the school’s department heads for funding, and then allocate the annual interest income ensuring the trust’s capital remains intact.
The trustees see the continuity of the trust as important due to the ability of a registered charitable trust to provide an independent home for future donations or legacies received by MHS.