The Invergowrie Foundation – powering potential with the provision of grants for education and career development for girls and women in Victoria.
We are a public charitable trust made possible through the McPherson Family gift of 1933.
ABOUT
The primary focus of the Foundation is to advance the education of girls and women within Victoria.
The Foundation awards grants that make a significant impact enabling access, promoting excellence, advancing leadership, and supporting research.
W E McPherson (1899-1950)
1933
1973
1992
→ FORWARD
The Invergowrie Homecraft Hostel
OUR HISTORY
The McPherson Family has played a significant role in industry, public life, and philanthropy in Victoria for well over a century. “Nuts and Bolts”– A story of a family and a firm – by Barbara Hamer, daughter of W. E. McPherson provides an historical account of the McPherson family.
In 1933, Mr W. E. McPherson presented his beautiful home, Invergowrie, to the Headmistresses’ Association for use as a Homecraft Hostel. These large premises in Hawthorn made possible the education of 46 fulltime students (some of whom were in residence) each year. The Hostel was the first of its kind and provided a course of domestic training for girls, under conditions similar to those in the natural setting of the home. Over 2000 students graduated from the Invergowrie Homecraft Hostel before the Governors decided to close the Hostel in 1973.
OUR FORMATION
The Invergowrie Foundation
The Headmistresses’ Association became the Association of Heads of Independent Girls’ Schools of Victoria (AHIGSV) and, in 1992, with the sale of the Invergowrie property The Invergowrie Foundation was established.
The proceeds of that sale have been invested through a Trust and money is made available each year for educational purposes within Victoria.
The Foundation is administered by Trustees who are responsible for maintaining the assets and for the annual distribution of funds to advance the mission of the Foundation.
OUR PEOPLE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ms Meg Hansen
M.A.(Hons.), Dip.Tch., FACEL,
FACE, AICD
Former Principal, Westbourne
Grammar School
Ms Wendy Lewis OAM
Chair
B.Bus (Acc), Dip. Ed., M.Ed.,
MBA,
Grad. Cert. in Philanthropy
and Non Profit Studies,
CPA, GAICD, FAIM
Executive Officer,
Collier Charitable Fund
Ms Judith Potter
B.A., Grad.Dip.Ed., Grad.Dip.
Ed.Admin., M.Ed
Former Principal,
Loreto College Ballarat
Mrs Lisa Ronald
Diploma of Private
Secretarial Practice, R.M.I.T
Certificate 3 in Childcare
Studies
Dr. Anne Sarros
B.A, Dip.Ed., B.Ed., M.Ed.,
Ph.D., MACE
Former Principal,
Firbank Grammar School
Dr. Heather Schnagl AM
B.Sc.(Hons), Ph.D., Dip.Ed.,
M.Ed., D.Ed.(honoris causa),
FACE, FACEL, MAICD
Former Principal, Ivanhoe
Girls’ Grammar School
