November 4th, 2026Daylesford Foundation celebrates 8 years
The Daylesford Foundation celebrated its eighth birthday last month following its biggest year of local giving to date.
In the 2025–26 financial year, the foundation distributed more than $320,000 to young people and families across Hepburn Shire, taking its total since 2018 to over $1.2 million across 10,000 instances of support.
It is a long way from where it began. In 2019, its first full year of giving, the foundation distributed just over $2500. Jim and Norma Foster, pictured, started the foundation in 2018 to give back to the community they had chosen to call home. Long-time donors, they moved to Daylesford and looked for a local charity with clear goals, strong governance, minimal overheads and the ability to respond quickly to people in need. When they couldn’t find one, they decided to build it themselves.
“It was never just about giving money; we had to deliver practical, timely and compassionate assistance to people in times of crisis,” Jim said.
To mark the milestone, partners, donors, scholarship recipients, school principals and community collaborators gathered at the Daylesford Hotel in October. The evening celebrated the foundation’s three pillars, Schools Support, Scholarships and Local Impact, and paid tribute to its partners on the ground, including CAFS, Central Highlands Rural Health, Good Grub Club, YouThrive Victoria and the school leaders who make sure no child goes without.
Ali McHalliwell, principal of Daylesford and Yandoit primary schools, spoke on the night. Daylesford Primary School was one of the first schools to approach the foundation about the hardship some of its students and families face. The foundation and Daylesford Primary School have now been working together for six years to make sure no child goes without glasses, lunch or a sports uniform when money is the barrier. “Its impact cannot be measured in dollars alone. It is seen in improved attendance and engagement, in stronger wellbeing, and in families who feel supported rather than judged,” she said.
Mary Christodulaki, Mental Health and Wellbeing coordinator at Central Highlands Rural Health, said the foundation’s work directly complements that of CHRH. “Together we have been able to reach community members who might otherwise fall through the gaps.”
Co-founder Jim Foster, formerly founder, managing owner and CEO of Victorian non-ferrous metal recycling company Associated Metals Pty Ltd, said the evening moved him.
“It was a rare kind of feeling, a lovely feeling, standing there, amongst our friends and collaborators who we have worked with tirelessly to build this from nothing. Listening to Mary and Ali sharing emotional stories of some of the young people we have helped, I couldn’t help getting a bit teary listening to them.”
Board chair Jane Westney said the year’s results reflected the strength of the community behind the foundation. “When I look back on the past year, it isn’t the numbers or the reports that stay with me. It’s the heart, the generosity, and the quiet resilience of our community. Every single day across the Hepburn Shire, we see neighbours showing up for neighbours.”
With the rising cost of living putting pressure on households across regional Victoria, Ms Westney said the foundation’s model was built to get help where it is needed, fast. “Our goal remains simple: keep operations lean so every available dollar goes straight to helping people.”
The evening also launched the foundation’s first printed Annual Report and Impact Review, and its ambition for the Forever Fund. The Forever Fund is the Foundation’s perpetual fund, held by the Australian Communities Foundation, and currently stands at $1.9 million. The goal is $5 million by 2030.
Link: www.thedaylesfordfoundation.org.au
