Noosa’s Helena Wylie speaks to Noosa Today about the Dalwood-Wylie Charitable Foundation.
Tell us about yourself.
I am a solicitor by profession and have been in the philanthropy sector since 2004. I’ve always adored the arts and would have been an actor myself if I had been sufficiently talented and in those year’s been born in Los Angeles rather than Cape Town in South Africa.
When did you move to Noosa and why?
We have been here since January 2017 having relocated from Sydney seeking a more relaxed lifestyle for myself and my family.
Can you tell us about the Dalwood-Wylie Charitable Foundation?
Beryl Dalwood was an adorable old lady who loved art and was quite a talented artist herself. She was my client for several years and we became close over those years discussing travel, cooking and various art forms. Her Will left a large portion of her estate for charitable purposes with me as her trustee.
What are the core values of the Dalwood-Wylie Charitable foundation?
To help and assist and support animals, the arts, those with a disability and aged care.
The Foundation has jumped on board in partnership with NOOSA alive. What inspired this association?
My foundation, the Dalwood-Wylie Charitable Foundation, was involved with Noosa alive! for the first time last year as Presenting Patron of a delightful one woman play called Hold the Pickle. I had become aware of Noosa Alive a little earlier in the year of 2017 and was thrilled and excited at the amount, standard and calibre of cultural events and entertainment that would be arriving in Noosa for 10 days. Loving the arts and entertainment, I was inspired to get involved both by attending as many events as possible as well as providing financial support as I am fully aware of the cost of the production of fantastic cultural and artistic events anywhere in the world. My husband and I are supporting as presenting patrons the Duck Waddle, a progressive lunch where you sit with interesting people at different top Hasting Street restaurants. Its exciting and reminds me of progressive dinners when I was a student but now in a real upmarket way.My husband and I especially enjoyed the spectacular events on Noosa Main Beach and went to each and every event on the beach. I was moved to tears about being on the most beautiful beach in the entire world with lots of violins playing and at time listening to two white grand pianos in gorgeous and comfortable marques. I was on a total high by being embraced by two of some of the most important things in my life – nature (especially the ocean) and the arts. There was something special almost magical about the experience.
What would you like to see happen in the future with NOOSA alive?
I would like to see the continuation of delivering excellent Culture to Community that Noosa alive is renowned for. And the perpetuation of the world class artists and performers that come to town during the festival each year for seventeen years.
I would like to see even more support, nurture and showcase of the abundance of local talent we have here on the Sunshine Coast. Most of all, I would like to see the return of the incredible and amazing beach events.
Would you advise other people to take up philanthropy?
The interest to help others comes from within – a place of compassion and empathy. With respect to Noosa Alive if local people want the area in which they live to succeed in terms of employment, the economy and the future they need to understand they have to contribute to make magic events like Noosa Alive work well for the now and for the future. These events build relationships and bond the community. It also brings a sense of pride and joy to the local community. I love the quote “Joy is not in things, it is in us.” Richard Wagner.
What else does the foundation support?
A lot of funding goes to animal welfare, to farm animals, to rescue dogs, to the ocean and to orangutans. The RSPCA got a trailer. It was specially built so the animals can drive away in comfort. Another rescue organisation, Precious Paws look after the large dogs and not so cute dogs. It’s all done through foster carers until they find adoptive families. We provide them with food. And we support the Orangutan Project.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation we have supported for the longest amount of time because of the wonderful work they do. Mrs Dalwood realised that if it wasn’t for her extreme good fortune financially she wouldn’t have been able to live on in her own home. The foundation supports the Humour Foundation which believes in the therapeutic benefits of humour in improving the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people and provides entertainment such as Clown Doctors and Elder Clowns. I believe entertainment and humour is good for health and for one’s soul.
