The Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund recipients with Buderim Foundation's Rick Woods and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli and the Thompson family cheer 1

Buderim Foundation’s Thompson Charitable Fund grants more than $450,000 to help those most in need

Published on: September 8, 2026Category: News

The Buderim Foundation is today awarding $450,300 in Thompson Charitable Fund grants to five organisations across the Sunshine Coast and Noosa regions, providing vital support for people facing homelessness, domestic and family violence, housing instability and financial hardship, and helping local families and individuals regain stability, hope and a path forward.

The Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund recipients with Buderim Foundation’s Rick Woods and Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli and the Thompson family.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli is joining Buderim Foundation chair Rick Woods, grant recipients, Foundation volunteers, and community champions at the event, which honours the generosity of Roy and Nola Thompson, who established the fund in 2021.

Mr Woods said this year’s Thompson Charitable Fund Grants Celebration was particularly poignant with the recent passing of both Roy and Nola Thompson. “We are proud to be continuing their legacy of philanthropy and generosity to help those in our communities doing it tough,” Mr Woods said.

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Buderim Foundation expanding reach to support communities throughout the Sunshine Coast

Published on: September 2, 2026Category: News

THE Buderim Foundation today announced the launch of the Sunshine Coast Community Fund — a new permanent investment fund that will provide grants to community organisations across the Sunshine Coast for generations to come.

Buderim Foundation chairman Rick Woods said the new fund expands the Foundation’s reach alongside the Buderim Community Fund and the Thompson Charitable Fund.

“Together these funds build on more than $10 million already invested by the Foundation. Since our first grants distribution in 2008, we’ve awarded more than $3.17 million to local organisations, and the new Sunshine Coast Community Fund will help us grow that impact across the region,” Mr Woods said.

Mr Woods said the new Sunshine Coast Community Fund enables tax-deductible donations and will provide grants that support local organisations and initiatives across the Sunshine Coast to access the support they need to thrive. He said the Thompson Charitable Fund grants will also continue to assist organisations which provide financial support to individuals in need throughout the region with emergency housing, food and other essentials.

Renowned ophthalmologist Dr Bill Glasson AO has worked tirerlessly to improve eye health in Australia and beyond

Renowned eye surgeon to share inspirational stories from his incredible career at special Buderim Foundation breakfast

Published on: May 26, 2026Category: News

Renowned ophthalmologist Dr Bill Glasson AO has shaped his career around the ethos of “take the services to the people” and he will be sharing stories from his life and career at a special Buderim Foundation Breakfast on Tuesday 9th June 2026.

From the early days of his childhood growing up on a sheep and cattle property outside Winton in Far West Queensland, Bill Glasson knew who his people were – the hard working, dedicated producers of the west. However, as he got older and returned home from boarding school during holidays to help on the property, through drought after drought, he knew he wasn’t destined for life on the land.

Instead, he set his sights on becoming an optometrist, thinking “most people need glasses” and then trained in Brisbane and London to become an ophthalmologist, settling in Brisbane with his wife Claire, who he met at medical school at the University of Queensland.

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Community organisations can now apply for Buderim Foundation grants of up to $15,000

Published on: May 12, 2026Category: News

The Buderim Foundation is thrilled to once again open the door to community-led impact through its 2026 Community Grants Round, offering grants of up to $15,000 each to help great local ideas come to life.

The Buderim Foundation has been distributing grants since 2008, having awarded a total of $1,137,059 to 110 community organisations supporting the Buderim region so far.

Buderim Foundation Chair Rick Woods said everyone involved in the Foundation was proud of the long-term impact of the grants to the community and was excited to once again be opening applications.

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Buderim Foundation breaks record for annual community grants with over $126,366 awarded

Published on: September 14, 2025Category: News

Community projects including animal rescue, youth development, emergency response and education are to share in more than $126,000 from the Buderim Foundation’s 2025 Community Grants Program.

The successful recipients will be announced at a special Grants Celebration to be held on Sunday, 14th September at the Buderim War Memorial Hall. The Grants Celebration is one of the most important days on the Foundation’s calendar.

Buderim Foundation Chair Rick Woods said the Foundation was pleased to this year be assisting 24 different community organisations supporting the people in the wider Buderim area in this year’s program.

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Buderim Community Carols to herald the beginning of the Christmas season

Published on: November 5, 2024Category: News

It’s only a few weeks until the Buderim Community Carols will once again herald the beginning of the Christmas session.

 

 

This year’s event presented by the Buderim War Memorial Community Association (BWMCA), with the support of the Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank, will be on Sunday, 8th December, from 5.30pm, at the Buderim Village Park, Church Street, Buderim and the BWMCA Carols Committee has been working for months, planning the event, which will be the best yet.

BWMCA Carols organiser Andrew Butterworth said last year’s event attracted over 3,000 people, with families coming from across the Coast to celebrate together.

“This year’s entertainment is once again directed by local entertainment professional Riley Cope, and we are delighted that Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli joining us again as MC.

Riley Cope said this year’s program would feature performers from Buderim Youth Theatre, Musical Theatre Holiday Intensive and Cope Creative.

“There will also be plenty of opportunities for the community to join in and sing together,” he said.

Mr Butterworth said more community organisations were also getting involved to offer a wide range of food for sale so families could really make a night of it, enjoying dinner or some treats while enjoying the Carols.

Food and refreshments available for purchase will include a sausage sizzle from the Buderim Scout Group, hamburgers from the Buderim Rotary Club and hot dogs from the Buderim Lions Club as well as fairy floss from the Buderim Foundation. These volunteer organisations will be raising funds for their local charities. Entry to Carols is by gold coin donation, and safeflame candles and other fun products will also be available for purchase, with funds raised going to the BWMCA to help fund the event.

“We hope the Buderim community will join in on the spirit of peace and goodwill as we head into Christmas, and we would love to invite families from communities throughout the Coast to join us,” Mr Butterworth said.

“So bring your chairs or picnic rugs and come and celebrate together.”

The new Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank branch manager James Gibson said the Carols would once again be a great way to welcome in the festive season and come together as a community.

“This will be my first Buderim Community Carols, but definitely not the first for our bank. We are so fortunate to have such a talented line-up of performers. It will be a very special event and one which the Bank again is very proud to support,” Mr Gibson said.

Mayor Rosanna Natoli said she was looking forward to sharing the event with the people of Buderim.

“I simply adore Christmas and carols in particular. It’s not often we can come together as a community to celebrate something as pure, universal and heartfelt as the joy of sharing time with family and friends at this time of year.

“I love singing and candlelight – so to be able to combine them for an evening is simply heaven for me!”, Mayor Natoli said.

The event is made possible through the generous support of event partners including major sponsor Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank and proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program, Hopkins Manttan Solicitors, the Rotary Club of Buderim, Reflected Image PRoductions, Cope Creative, JPG Print and Design, Fenwicks Fruit Emporium, and 104.9 Sunshine FM.

Like last year, in addition to printed programs, there will also be electronic programs available via QR code so you can get Carol lyrics on your phone or mobile device. Grab the QR code from the BWMCA Facebook page – it will be posted a couple of days prior to Carols or ask one of the volunteers at the event.

Parking close to the Buderim Village Park is available at the Buderim Mountain State School, Main Street, Buderim and will be operated by Buderim Lions. $2 donation on entry.To keep up to date with weather conditions in the lead-up to the event, stay tuned to 104.9 Sunshine FM and the BWMCA Facebook page – www.facebook.com/buderimwarmemorialcommunityassociation. In the event of severe weather, the show will go on in the Buderim War Memorial Hall next to the park. Numbers attending will be limited to the hall capacity.

BF Thompson Charitable Fund grant October 2024 - Lily House's Jo Higgins, Buderim Foundatioin chair Rod McKinnon, Aus Living Suppoort's Leanne & Ian Harrison, Dessi Mitzeva and Kent Roberts

Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund provides more than $80,000 in funding to support people in crisis

Published on: October 23, 2024Category: News

Sunshine Coast families in need, and those affected by domestic violence, will receive vital food and rental assistance thanks to new grants from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund, totaling more than $80,000.

Lily House’s Jo Higgins, Buderim Foundatioin chair Rod McKinnon, Aus Living Suppoort’s Leanne and Ian Harrison, Dessi Mitzeva and Kent Roberts

The grants to two local community organisations will be announced today at a morning tea at Courtyard Kitchen in Buderim at 11.00am.

Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund was proud to be providing further funding to Aus Living Support and Lily House.

“Many in our community are doing it tough in the current economic climate and we are pleased to be able to provide this support to these organisations who do such vital work,” Mr McKinnon said.

The grants details include:

  • $50,000 to Aus Living Support for their rental supplement program to assist 200 vulnerable Sunshine Coast residents find more permanent housing
  • $36,040 to Lily House to provide support those fleeing domestic violence including food, linen, toys, emergency provisions, and to pay for household utilities and vehicle expenses
The 100 year celebrations of Buderim War Memorial Hall will include vintage cars and period dress

Huge weekend celebration to commemorate 100 years of Buderim War Memorial Hall

Published on: October 17, 2024Category: News

A historical reenactment, variety concert, vintage car procession and a supper dance are just some of the huge plans to celebrate 100 years of the Buderim War Memorial Hall on Friday and Saturday, 8-9th November.

BWMCA President Errol Richardson said the celebrations were very special, commemorating the establishment of the memorial to those who served and died to defend our values and way of life, as well as the 100 years of community events and activities held since it was built.

“The Buderim War Memorial Hall is very special – it’s at the heart of the BWMCA and the Buderim community so we have huge plans for our celebration and we hope everyone will get involved across the weekend,” Mr Richardson said.

The Buderim Foundation 2024 Community Grants recipients-crop

Buderim Foundation grants provide over $110,000 for community projects

Published on: September 16, 2024Category: News

Community projects including emergency response, disability surfing, youth development and theatre are to share in more than $110,000 from the Buderim Foundation’s 2024 Community Grants Program.

The Buderim Foundation 2024 Community Grant recipients. Photo by Cheryl Nonmus.

The successful recipients will be announced at a special Grants Celebration to be held on Sunday, 15th September at the Buderim War Memorial Hall.  The Grants Celebration is one of the most important days on the Foundation’s calendar.

Buderim Foundation Chair Rod McKinnon said the Foundation was pleased to be assisting 22 different community organisations supporting the people in the wider Buderim area in this year’s program.

Mr McKinnon said the grants were at the heart of what the local Community Foundation provided, with the grants coming from the earnings made from the Foundation’s investment funds.

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