The Dixon Guardian Trust: What’s Going On?
In recent correspondence with the Headmaster, he admitted something that struck me as odd.
When I raised questions about the Dixon Guardian Trust, he said:
"Your queries regarding the Dixon Guardian Trust are the same queries I had when I became more involved in the OSA as Headmaster. There isn’t a lot of information or preamble about the Trust for its purpose."
This seemed curious, especially given that the Dixon Guardian Trust is registered and fully compliant with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
The ACNC report on the Trust (ABN 48 612 827 281) provides more clarity than the Headmaster led on, including its purpose and board members.
Let’s break it down in simple terms:
Charity Name: Dixon Guardian Trust
Established: 13 November 2017
Address: The Southport School, Southport, QLD
Main Purpose: Raising philanthropic funds to support the education of boys, particularly those who are financially disadvantaged, from rural communities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
Despite the Headmaster’s suggestion that there’s little information available, the Trust has a clearly defined mission and up-to-date financial reporting. The most recent report, submitted in June 2024, confirms the Trust is operational and compliant with all regulatory guidelines.
Interestingly, the ACNC lists Andrew Hawkins as a board member—something not mentioned in previous discussions. The Headmaster either missed this or chose not to mention it, raising the question: why?
The Facts vs. The Headmaster’s Statements
While the Headmaster may have claimed that he had the same unanswered questions about the Trust’s purpose, the publicly available information paints a different picture. The charity’s focus on equal education opportunities is straightforward, and it’s fully compliant with regulations. It seems there is more information available than the Headmaster has acknowledged.
I managed to locate the "Trust Deed - Dixon Guardian Trust and Deed of Variation," appears to contain legal agreements related to the Dixon Guardian Trust. It outlines the terms, conditions, and modifications of the trust arrangement.
These kinds of deeds typically specify the roles and responsibilities of trustees, the beneficiaries, and the regulations governing the administration of the trust.
It appears the Dixon Guardian Trust has no links to what I previously assumed 'The Dixon Society'.
This Trust is most likely attached to Indigenous Scholarships.
Yalari is a non-profit organisation that provides educational scholarships for Indigenous children to attend leading Australian boarding schools.
Its goal is to empower Indigenous students through education and support their development as future leaders. The scholarships are funded by philanthropic bodies, corporate sponsors, private donors, and the Federal Government.
FYI - TSS, along with the majority of the previously listed ACSQ Schools, are known as Partner Schools
The Partner School Contribution section of the Yalari Scholarship outlines how Yalari's partner schools assist in making the scholarship more affordable for students. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
Partner Schools: Yalari collaborates with select schools across Australia. These schools are chosen because they align with Yalari’s vision, purpose, and values. They are also recognized for providing a caring and supportive environment for Indigenous students.
Contribution to Fees: The partner schools agree to offer discounted fees for Yalari students. This discount helps reduce the total cost of tuition and boarding for scholarship recipients, making the overall education expenses more manageable for Yalari and the students.
Purpose of the Contribution: The reduced fees from partner schools help bridge the financial gap between the full cost of attending the school (tuition and boarding) and the amount that is covered by ABSTUDY and Yalari.
In essence, the partner schools’ contribution is a financial partnership that lowers the overall cost of education.
Below are the figures that TSS last reported - as Charity Name: Dixon Guardian Trust
Income Statement (For the Year Ended 31 December 2018):
Income:
Donations/Bequests received:
2018: $2,500
2017: $7,050
Expenses:
None recorded in 2018 or 2017.
Net Surplus:
2018: $2,500
2017: $7,050
Accumulated Funds at the End of Financial Year:
2018: $2,500
2017: $7,050
Balance Sheet (As of 31 December 2018):
Assets:
Trade Receivables:
2018: $9,550
2017: $7,050
Net Assets:
2018: $9,550
2017: $7,050
Funds:
Accumulated Funds:
2018: $7,050
2017: None recorded.
Settled Sum:
2018: $2,500
2017: $7,050
Total Fund:
2018: $9,550
2017: $7,050
These figures summarise the key financial information regarding the trust's assets, income, and surplus for the years 2017 and 2018.
Coming up:
I will be discussing the below - which was published information in an OSA Review 2017 supports the info on TSS's former website.
I cannot get my head around why the Headmaster indicated that he didn't know the function of a Trust set up in accordance with an Indigenous Scholarship Program.
Stay tuned.....
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