11 Jun 2021
The Ross Trust a long relationship with the Mornington Peninsula, granting an estimated $20 million to educational, community, health, Aboriginal and environmental projects across the region in the past 50 years.
From its first local grant in the early 1970s - $2000 to help the Mornington and District Intellectually Handicapped Persons Welfare Association with building costs – the Trust has been actively involved in the Mornington Peninsula community.
Over his lifetime, Ross Trust founder Roy Everard Ross built a portfolio of assets including shares, property and Hillview Quarries – the company established in 1968 to run an existing quarry at Dromana.
When Mr Ross died in 1970, he left a Will naming five Trustees and directing that the income in perpetuity from his estate go to charities or charitable purposes that his Trustees saw fit.Ross Trust Chief Executive Officer Sarah Hardy says a regular drumbeat of grants has reflected areas of need across the region in the past 50 years.
“The Trust has granted to the Mornington Peninsula Hospital and to different schools in the area, but also to the Frankston Arts Centre and the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association,” Ms Hardy says. “Through Hillview Quarries, we’ve also donated millions of dollars in rock and stone products to projects across the region, including supporting the CFA, local schools, the Coastguard and a variety of sporting clubs on the Peninsula.”
In 2020 the Ross Trust formalised its approach with a 10-year Mornington Peninsula grant-making strategy.
Through this strategy, the Trust aims to support vulnerable children and families on the Mornington Peninsula, particularly through educational equity.However, the Trust’s approach extends to other social services whose activities affect the opportunities for families, children and young people to access and thrive in education.
This includes supporting organisations working to address issues such as family violence, homelessness, alcohol and drug abuse, employment and mental health issues.
The Ross Trust’s involvement on the Mornington Peninsula extends beyond grant-making, with a community-led approach. Trust representatives take part in community roundtable discussions and partner with local organisations to ensure grants respond to community needs.
In the mid-1970s, the Ross Trust bought Parkdale Estates Pty Ltd – which included about 170 hectares on the north face of the Arthur’s Seat escarpment on the Mornington Peninsula – and Trustees foreshadowed their intention for this land to become the basis of a recreational park.
This started to become a reality in 1984, when the Trust gave the Parkdale Estates land to Trust for Nature.In 1988 the Arthur’s Seat State Park was created, made up of land including the then-Nepean State Park, the Parkdale Estates land donated to Trust for Nature and other land donated by the Ross Trust.
A snapshot of Ross Trust grants to the Mornington Peninsula
Fiscal Year | Organisation | Project Title | Grant amount |
1976 | Kankama Mornington & District Intellectually Handicapped Persons Welfare Association | Towards building costs | $2,000 |
1982 | Southern Peninsula Hospital Rosebud | Building appeal | $50,000 |
1983 | Foster Care Westernport | Towards foster care service | $5,000 |
1984 | Frankston Hospital | General support | $25,000 |
Trust for Nature | Purchase of Long Forest Mallee land | $50,000 | |
Somers Rural Fire Brigade | Towards new vehicle | $5,000 | |
1985 | Biala Peninsula | Towards purchase of property | $10,000 |
1986 | Disability Opportunities Victoria | Towards home in Rosebud | $10,000 |
1987 | Monterey Primary School | Towards Step in Time program | $500 |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards the construction of Interpretive Centre at The Briars, Mount Martha | $100,000 | |
Rotary and Lions Clubs of Dromana | Towards restoration of offices | $10,000 | |
1988 | Mornington Peninsula Arts Centre | Building appeal | $50,000 |
Frankston Hospital | Towards children’s ward | $100,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Care | For the Community Access Coach Service | $16,000 | |
1989 | Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad | Towards the squad | $100,000 |
Southern Peninsula Community Care | For the Access Coach Service | $20,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards construction of the Briars | $15,000 | |
1990 | Frankston Hospital | For Radiology Department | $25,000 |
1992 | Trust for Nature | Towards Towerhill Road National Park development linking the public park at Arthur’s Seat. | $100,000 |
Disability Opportunities Victoria | Funding to uplift facilities | $10,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards linking public part at Arthur’s Seat | $100,000 | |
Dromana Secondary College | Financial support for two major projects | $2,000 | |
1993 | Mornington Peninsula Hospital | Towards equipment to extend cardiology services | $23,000 |
Old Tin Shed Project | To enable re-build, renovate | $35,000 | |
The Bays Hospital Group | To establish one unit | $20,000 | |
1994 | Mornington Peninsula Hospital | Hospital building appeal | $25,000 |
Frankston Arts Centre | Towards the Cultural Centre to be part of the new Frankston Arts Centre | $250,000 over five years | |
Southern Peninsula Community Care | Towards the purchase of a building to centralise community operations | $25,000 | |
1995 | Royal Botanic Gardens | Towards the purchase of land at Cranbourne | $100,000 |
Peninsula Special Developmental School | Purchase equipment and material | $10,000 | |
1996 | Southern Peninsula Community Fund | Funding to restore the capital base | $5,000 |
The Bays Hospital Group | Funding to upgrade nursing home | $8,000 | |
1997 | Disability Opportunities Vic | Funding for construction of building | $10,000 |
The Bays Hospital Group | Funding to upgrade nursing home | $2,000 | |
Balnarring Fire Brigade | General support | $1,000 | |
Dromana Fire Brigade | General support | $20,000 | |
1998 | Peninsula Special Development School | Purchase new bus | $25,000 |
Volunteer Marine Rescue | Funds to replace boat | $12,500 | |
Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad | Funds to purchase 2 new motors | $14,750 | |
1999 | Rosebud Secondary College | For the construction of two basketball courts | $50,000 |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Furnishing/equipment for building | $20,000 | |
2000 | Rosebud Secondary College | For the construction of two basketball courts | $50,000 |
Disability Opportunities Victoria | Towards the purchase of equipment | $10,000 | |
2001 | Kids Help Line | Towards expanding Peer Skills courses | $8,793 |
Lions Club of Rosebud | Towards construction of dialysis unit | $10,000 | |
Disability Opportunities Victoria | Towards multipurpose building | $10,000 | |
Don Bosco Camp | Towards redevelopment | $30,000 | |
Rosebud Secondary College | For construction of two basketball courts | $50,000 | |
2002 | Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $35,000 |
Andrew Kerr Frail & Aged Care Complex | Towards redevelopment of the aged care complex | $12,000 | |
Peninsula Support Services | Towards funding for the woodwork group | $11,740 | |
Fusion Mornington Peninsula | Towards the renovation of crisis accommodation | $15,000 | |
Volunteer Marine Rescue | The purchase of a new rescue vessel | $15,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Care | Towards building extensions and alterations | $25,000 | |
2003 | Disability Opportunities Victoria Inc (DOV) | Towards creation of an exercise facility | $1,753 |
Bays Hospital Group | Towards building of additional high care beds for nursing home in Hastings | $10,000 | |
Community Caring | Towards C.O.A.C.H. Community Mentoring Program | $97,500 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $35,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
2004 | Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $35,000 |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Bays Hospital Group | Towards building of additional high care beds for a nursing home in Hastings | $1,966 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $35,000 | |
2005 | Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards all-abilities playground in Hastings | $150,000 | |
Bays Christian Church | Towards purchase of a projector | $2,250 | |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards graphic design and printing costs for book 'Great Ideas to Make Your Community Project Successful’ | $9,600 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $38,500 | |
2006 | Disability Opportunities Victoria Inc | Towards renovations of the existing facility | $5,000 |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards the 'No Child Should Fail' project | $20,000 | |
Bays Christian Church | Towards the purchase of a portable data projector | $2,250 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $38,500 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre Inc. | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
2007 | Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Learning & Employment Network | Towards assisting young people to participate in sport and musical/performing arts | $15,000 |
Western Port Community Support | Towards material aid and emergency relief | $10,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards the purchase of a digital camera, printing costs, artwork and training for the i-Pen Project | $9,950 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $38,500 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $10,000 | |
2008 | Western Port Community Support | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Towards material aid and emergency relief | $10,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief | $40,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre Inc. | Towards emergency relief and material aid on the Mornington Peninsula | $10,000 | |
Balnarring Pre-school and Infant Welfare Association | Towards PE program | $4,582 | |
2009 | Naranga School | Towards subsidies for camps for students with a disability | $10,500 |
Balnarring Pre-School & Infant Welfare Association | Towards the Perceptual Motor Program | $4,582 | |
Western Port Community Support | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $40,000 | |
2010 | Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $40,000 |
Western Port Community Support | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
2011 | Peninsula GP Network | Towards CHAMPS Program | $25,000 |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $44,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $33,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $33,000 | |
2012 | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards the purchase and installation of feral exclusion fence sanctuary | $25,000 |
Youth and Family Education Resources | Towards the YFER Connection Communities Project | $15,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $44,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $33,000 | |
Western Port Secondary College | Towards Engaging the Disengaged program | $27,200 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Care | Towards Medical Appointment Services | $10,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Towards emergency relief and material aid | $33,000 | |
2013 | Cardinia Shire Council | Gift of Hillview Bushland Reserve | N/A |
Family Life | Towards Southern Peninsula Festival of Healthy Living | $15,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Towards assisting clients | $44,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Towards assisting people | $33,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Towards assisting people | $33,000 | |
Peninsula GP Network | Towards CHAMPS program | $25,000 | |
YSAS | Towards TimeBank Frankston | $20,000 | |
Western Port Secondary College | Towards Engaging the Disengaged Program | $18,200 | |
2014 | Mornington Peninsula Shire Council | Towards the Briars wildlife sanctuary | $20,000 |
SecondBite | Towards salary for driver | $20,000 | |
Peninsula Mindfulness Association | Towards Mindfulness in schools project | $11,250 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Community Support Frankston | Emergency relief and material aid | $15,000 | |
Family Life | Towards Lifelong Learning project | $10,000 and $8,160 | |
Family Life | Towards Southern Peninsula Festival of Healthy Living | $15,000 | |
Western Port Secondary College | Towards Engaging the Disengaged Program | $18,200 | |
2015 | Willum Warrain | Towards Gathering place co-ordinator | $14,400 |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Eastbourne Primary School | Towards 3a Project | $30,000 | |
Community Support Frankston | Emergency relief and material aid | $15,000 | |
SecondBite | Towards salary for driver | $15,000 | |
Peninsula Mindfulness Association | Towards Mindfulness in schools project | $11,280 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Family Life | Towards Lifelong Learning project | $10,000 | |
2016 | Willum Warrain | Towards Gathering place co-ordinator | $14,400 |
Salvation Army | Tools for the trade | $23,000 | |
Rosebud Secondary College | Wellness program | $27,119 | |
SecondBite | Towards salary for driver | $10,000 | |
Peninsula Mindfulness Association | Towards Mindfulness in schools project | $6,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
Community Support Frankstson | Emergency relief and material aid | $15,000 | |
Eastbourne Primary School | Towards 3A project | $30,000 | |
Peninsula Mindfulness Association | Towards mindfulness in schools project | $6000 | |
Salvation Army | Tools for the trade | $23,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $30,000 | |
2017 | Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Family case management project | $30,000 |
Willum Warrain | Towards Gathering place co-ordinator | $30,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Salvation Army | Tools for the trade | $23,000 | |
Rosebud Secondary College | Wellness program | $15,195 | |
2018 | Rosebud West Early Literacy Project | $60,000 | |
Willum Warrain | Gathering place co-ordinator | $30,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Foundation | $40,000 | ||
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Family case management project | $30,000 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Launch Housing | Young Parents Foyer | $30,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network | Dunns Creek biolink | $30,000 | |
Willum Warrain | Employment of executive officer | $40,000 | |
Wallaroo Primary School | Canteen renovation | $10,000 | |
2019 | Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Family case management project | $30,000 |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Mornington Community Information and Support Centre | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief and material aid | $25,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Foundation | No Limits to Learning | $40,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network | Dunns Creek biolink | $30,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Foundation | Primary to Secondary transition | $200,000 | |
Trust for Nature | Bringing back lost reefs | $143,612 | |
2020 | Western Port Secondary College | For MyTech program | $300,000 over three years |
Learning Guarantee Project | To help students transition from primary to secondary school | $200,000 | |
Willum Warrain | Pun Pun Restoration and walkway | $36,151 | |
Southern Peninsula Community Support and Information Centre | Emergency relief COVID-19 | $25,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Foundation | No Limits to Learning | $40,000 | |
Western Port Community Support | Emergency relief COVID-19 | $25,000 | |
Mornington Peninsula Landcare Network | Dunns Creek biolink | $25,215 | |
Rosebud Secondary College | Community Coffee Van | $40,000 | |
2021 | Mornington Peninsula Foundation | No Limits to Learning | $40,000 |
Trust for Nature The Nature Conservancy | Bringing back lost reefs | $143,612 | |
Western Port Community Support | Family support caseworker program | $35,000 |
