Established in 1977 by distinguished alumni Robert Albert and Lloyd Waddy, the St Paul’s College Foundation was born from a shared vision to support the future of the College through philanthropy. With the help of a broad network of friends and fellow Paulines, they raised an impressive $78,584 by the time of the Foundation’s first Annual General Meeting in December 1978. At that time, with around 1,000 living alumni, over 300 had already contributed—including 22 who became Life Donors. This remarkable early success reflected the deep affection and enduring loyalty that Paulines held for their College.
Today, the Foundation remains the principal channel for philanthropic support to St Paul’s. All donations are carefully stewarded in an endowment fund, ensuring that the generosity of today’s donors continues to benefit future generations.
From its earliest days, St Paul’s College aspired to build a lasting endowment—one that would support scholarships, fellowships, and, in the words of founder Sir Alfred Stephen, “all the paraphernalia of intellectual enterprise.” The gold rush of the 1850s briefly stirred hopes of such a fund, but the collapse of that era’s fortunes brought those early dreams to a halt.
Over the decades, many sought to revive the vision. Warden Arthur Garnsey, along with College parents Frank Albert and Sir Hugh Denison, made earnest efforts. Yet, through world wars and economic downturns, the momentum was repeatedly stalled.
In the 1950s, W.J. Southy Wilson, a devoted Old Pauline, launched an ambitious subscription campaign to fund much-needed building works. Within two years, he had rallied 250 subscribers—a remarkable achievement. Still, a true endowment remained elusive.
The turning point came in the 1970s. A group of passionate Old Paulines—led by Lloyd Waddy, Robert Albert, and John Lehane—had the vision, energy, and means to finally bring the dream to life. Together with Neville Menlove*, Richard (Michael) McCredie, James Bell, and soon after, John Booth, John Currie, Angelo Hatsatouris*, and Michael (Mick) Swinburn, they laid the groundwork for what would become the St Paul’s College Foundation. With wise investment stewardship from Geoff Newman and Robert Maple-Brown, the Foundation took its first confident steps.
Established in June 1977, the Foundation was conceived as a perpetual fund—ensuring that every gift would support the College not only in the present, but for generations to come. As Lloyd Waddy often reminded donors:
“A gift to the Foundation will work for the College forever.”
The Foundation’s funds are held in trust to safeguard the future of St Paul’s College. In accordance with its Trust Deed, the Trustees of the Foundation are the Warden and Fellows of the College, ensuring that the Foundation remains closely aligned with the College’s mission and values.
While oversight rests with the College, day-to-day management is entrusted to the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Their core responsibilities are twofold: to raise funds through appeals and initiatives, and to manage the endowment so that every dollar donated is added to the capital base—ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.
In addition to growing the capital, the Board carefully stewards the income generated from investments. This income is used to support future students through scholarships and other forms of financial assistance, and to preserve the heritage fabric of the College. In doing so, the Foundation helps ensure that St Paul’s remains a place of academic excellence and historic significance for generations to come.
The Foundation plays a vital role in supporting an extensive scholarship program at St Paul’s. In 2025, it increased its annual grant to the College from $825,000 in 2024 to $900,000—directly assisting more than 100 students through full, half, and quarter scholarships, as well as bursaries. This support ensures that financial need is never a barrier to a Pauline education.
Beyond scholarships, the Foundation contributes significantly to the preservation of the College’s historic sandstone buildings and other heritage assets. It provides a dedicated annual maintenance budget, helping to reduce the impact of these costs on student fees and ensuring the long-term conservation of the College’s architectural legacy.
When needed, the Foundation also funds the development of state-of-the-art student facilities. Major initiatives have included the Ivan Head and McMillan Buildings (2018) and, more recently, the Waddy Performance Centre (2024)—projects that reflect the Foundation’s commitment to enhancing the student experience and supporting the College’s future.
Every donation to the Foundation becomes part of a lasting legacy. Through twice-yearly appeals, the Foundation invites the broader Pauline community to contribute in ways that are meaningful and manageable for them.
Over the past four decades, the Foundation has been fortunate to receive several major gifts and bequests. However, the strength of its endowment has been built largely through the steady generosity of many. Most donors give modestly each year, gradually building their contributions to a level that qualifies them for Life Donor recognition—a testament to the enduring spirit of giving that defines the St Paul’s community.
The Foundation has been very grateful to significant donors some of whom have given over $100,000. The Foundation has also been the beneficiary of several bequests over the last 45 years.
Your contribution is truly life changing!
The 2024 Mid-Year Appeal for support can be found by clicking HERE.
For the list of 2023/24 donors CLICK HERE
For the list of Foundation Life Donors CLICK HERE
For the 2024 Foundation AGM Notice CLICK HERE
The Foundation’s Board members are:
Thank you again to all our donors for your continued support.
