Donate

About Us

The Foundation is a registered charity, established by local residents, Don and Barbara Kirk and their family in 2008.

To date, the Foundation has distributed more than $500,000 to children, with particular focus on health, education and sport.

Our Mission

To nurture the potential of the children and young people of Queanbeyan, Palerang and Yass.

Our Vision

A Community that:

  • Encourges effort and aspiration.
  • Embraces talent in many forms.
  • Extends opportunities to children of all backgrounds, including children with special needs and children from disadvantaged backgrounds .

 

Our Objective

  • To promote and provide opportunities for the education, training and general development of underprivileged children and adolescents in Queanbeyan, Palerang and Yass local government areas.
  • To promote and support the needs of underprivileged children and adolescents in Queanbeyan and surrounding regions.
  • To provide access to education, training and general facilities.
  • To do all things necessary and desirable to achieve any of the above objectives.

 

Our Values

  • We value diversity.  We welcome children and young people of all abilities and backgrounds.
  • We value determination and commitment.  We help children to strive to be the best they can be.
  • We value our community.  We are proud to invest in the next generation.

 

Our Strengths

The strength of the Foundation lies in its reputation in action at a high standard.  As a result of its past achievements the Kirk Family Foundation can be relied on for creating real opportunities to our youth.

 

Sponsors

Our website hosting and maintenance is proudly sponsored by Endure Web Studios. If you’d like to become a sponsor, get in touch with us. 

Endure Web Studios

Board of directors

Each member of the Board volunteers their time.  Board meetings are held regularly to enable quality discussions for individual applicants.  Board members also meet with applicants to discuss their requests and enable a further understanding of their needs.
Karen Fogarty

Karen Fogarty

Chairperson

I am a Managing Partner of Colquhoun Murphy Lawyers and have been a keen supporter of the Kirk Family Foundation from its inception. I bring to the Foundation a background of legal knowledge and broad experience gained from serving on numerous boards and committees including as president of the ACT Tourism Awards Association, Chair of the ACT Chief Minister’s Women’s Consultative Committee and as a director of ACTTAB Limited.

Tania Donohue

Tania Donohue

Director

I was born in Queanbeyan and am a proud long-term resident of the Queanbeyan-Palerang area and work as an Office Manager in a local family-owned business.

I am proud to be involved with the Kirk Family Foundation and the valuable work that it does in the local community.  With extensive experience in administration, I enjoy bringing my skills to assist with the day-to-day running of the Foundation.

Trudi Kirk

Trudi Kirk

Director/Treasurer

I work in the Property Industry and enjoy contributing my time to assist the Kirk Family Foundation. Being a mother and living in Queanbeyan, it is a privilege to be involved with a Foundation that gives so much to disadvantaged children. It is inspirational to see the positive outcomes that have touched so many youths in our community. I find the Kirk Family Foundation a very inspiring and rewarding charity to be a part of and am very proud of my parents who started it.
Debra Bowles

Debra Bowles

Director

I was born and raised in Queanbeyan and maintain an active interest in the local community.  My working life was in the field of children’s services, both as a preschool teacher and as an early intervention teacher.  It is an honour to be involved with the Kirk Family Foundation which makes a difference to so many lives.
Peter Lindbeck

Peter Lindbeck

Director

I am Peter Lindbeck, born and bred in Queanbeyan. Married to Ruth, 5 children, 12 grand children. I am the owner of Lindbeck’s Butchery in Queanbeyan where I have worked for 34 years. I am on the Board because I strongly believe in being an active and contributing member of the community.
Jenny Cooper

Jenny Cooper

Director

I am a proud wife, mother and grandmother. I have lived in Queanbeyan most of my life and have been married over 36 years. Together with my husband, we have been the owners of an award winning family run business in Queanbeyan for nearly 30 years and enjoy being active in our local Queanbeyan community specifically the Kirk Family Foundation.
Paula van de Heide

Paula van de Heide

Director

I’ve  lived in the Queanbeyan Palerang area for the last 36 years, and I love it! During that time, I’ve worked mostly across the Education and Retail sectors. I see my position on the Kirk Family Foundation Board as an opportunity to give back to  this terrific community!

Sue Whelan OAM

Sue Whelan OAM

Director

Sue Whelan OAM is a wife, mother and grandmother. Sue is a former Queanbeyan City Councillor having served for her community for 33 years, six of which as Deputy Mayor.

Sue sees her role with the Kirk Foundation as an extension of her community service. ‘’The Kirk Foundation fills a need that has been lacking in our community’’ she says “”and I am honoured to be part of the Foundation.”

Sue moved to Queanbeyan in 1974 after meeting her husband John who is a Queanbeyan local and together they have raised 3 daughters and now have added to their family with three grandchildren.

What people are saying

Hear from some of the families who have see the work of the Kirk Family Foundation.

“Thank you so much for the support you have given my family by purchasing a Seizure Monitor for my little girl. This life saving device has given my some much needed peace of mind and some extra sleep to help me look for answers for my little girl.”

Courtney

“We truly appreciate that there are people like yourselves in our society dedicated to assisting children and particularly children like our son. Thank you again.”
Nicky Foote

Gundaroo

“Thank you so much Deb and to the Kirk Family Foundation, so very much appreciated.  Thank you for all of your ongoing help and support for Ethan and myself.  You really have changed our lives more than I could ever have imagined.”

Amanda

Queanbeyan

“I have been involved with the Kirk Family Foundation for many years and have witnessed the mass amount of families the Foundation has helped out with such positive outcomes.”

Mason Kon

Jerrabomberra

If you or your community organisation need assistance

Apply now!

Fill out the form below to help us know more about your organisation and work out if we can help you to achieve your goals.