Trust to promote children’s safety

Press, 23 July 1987, Page 2

Trust to promote children’s safety

PA Napier A national $lOO,OOO trust to promote the safety and well-being of children was launched yesterday. The appeal was established by a group of Napier people concerned about the tragic killing a month ago of Teresa Cormack, aged six. It will be known as the Teresa Cormack Charitable Trust. A trust spokesman, Mr Lester Chisholm, a Napier * solicitor, said the 10 trustees wanted the positive and supportive moves that had happened since Teresa’s tragic death to be continued. “There has been a tremendous amount of public. concern over her death,” he said. “Because of this concern, a number of people decided to form the charitable trust.”

The group has received

the approval of the Inland Revenue Department as a charitable trust. It had set out its objectives of promoting the safety and well-being of children; supporting projects, programmes and schemes which influence the quality of life and the security of children; and supporting educational initiatives intended to reduce violence as it affects children.

He said that while the trust had a Hawke’s Bay emphasis, its benefits would extend far beyond the region. The trustees' seeking donations throughout New Zealand and would approach business houses, manufacturers, organisations and private groups for donations.

Mr Chisholm said it was difficult for the trustees to gauge the level of support for the appeal but the

initial aim was for $lOO,OOO. Other trustees include Mr Bruce Campbell, a Napier businessman; Mr Trevor Campbell, the headmaster of the Richmond Primary School; Ms Denyse Watkins, a community worker, who organised a march for human dignity and compassion through Napier streets two weeks ago; Detective Sergeant Murray Jefferies and Senior Constable Stan Simmonds; Mr Dave Pipe, a radio announcer; Mr Mark Biggs, a company manager; and two mothers, Mrs Penny Rakete and Mrs Clare Manning. Donations to the trust fund will be accepted by branches of trading banks nationally and all Eastern and Central Trust Bank branches, or can be sent direct to the trust at P.O. Box 1051, Napier.