The Rod & Pam Wells Community Fund

Shortly after the establishment of the Rod and Pamela Wells Community Fund in September 2002, over a twelve day period, Pamela Wells lost her husband, her father died and her finances suffered a severe setback. She is sure she survived this due to the very loving, stable and fortunate life she enjoyed as a child, the wise advice and high principles with which her parents had guided her family, and her belief that anything can be survived if you have faith in your own abilities and strengths. After these events, Pamela was even more committed to their charitable fund in order to ensure that something positive would result from this gloomy period in her life. 

In establishing the fund, Pamela and Rod determined that the money they could put into a charitable fund needed to be safe from manipulation, and so chose the Melbourne Community Foundation. They also thought it would be satisfying to establish the fund during their lifetime so that they could see the results their donations achieved, rather than leaving a bequest.

At the outset, their aims were fairly straightforward - they wanted to give to those people or organisations that need financial support, with a focus on children, particularly those from the Goulburn region of Victoria, who didn't have a stable family life.

They also wanted to set up something that, since they had no children, they would be remembered by.  However, when they thought about this more deeply, the reasons were a little more complex. Pamela recognized that both she and her husband had lived privileged lives, being encouraged by their parents to remain at school, pursue tertiary education and become actively involved in satisfying careers. They were clear they wanted to see others benefit as a result of their good fortune.

Since its establishment Melbourne Community Foundation has distributed a number of grants from the Rod & Pam Wells Community Fund.  These include the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Goulburn Valley Community Fund, which will use the money for children and families in the City of Greater Shepparton.