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Our People

Meet The Winchester
Foundation Board

The Winchester Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing financial assistance to students living in regional and rural areas. Our mission is to empower country children through education. It is hoped that many of these recipients return to regional areas when qualified.

We cannot achieve these goals without the assistance of our dedicated team whom we take pleasure in introducing to you below.

From left – John Formosa, Cliff Flor, John Smith, Richard Hughes

Our FOUNDER

The Late Beryl Neilsen OAM

Founder

Beryl Neilsen and her husband, John, lived at Winchester Downs in Moranbah. The Winchester Foundation was established, as Beryl wanted to give back to the rural communities they always loved.  

Her motivation was the difficulty experienced by rural and regional families in accessing suitable primary, secondary and tertiary education for their children, simply due to their geographic location. Recognising that location should not be a barrier to a good education in Australia.  

The Foundation assists with the financial resources these families need to board their children close to suitable educational facilities. The Winchester Foundation’s generous Winchester Scholarships alleviate the stress felt by these families and help their children receive the education they need to reach their unique potential. 

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Our Board Members

John Formosa

Chairman of the Winchester Foundation

John has been involved with the Winchester Foundation since its establishment in 2011. With a long and successful legal career assisting families in both rural and regional Queensland, he has seen firsthand the effect that droughts and downturns have on rural families. 

John is enthusiastic about every charitable endeavour undertaken by the Foundation. However, he is especially passionate about the Foundation’s continued involvement in the Whitsunday Voices Youth Literature Festival. 

John is committed to the future of the Foundation.

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Cliff Flor

FCPA, CA, AICD

Cliff practiced for many years as a Chartered Accountant gaining experience with various types of Business across Queensland. During that time, he held Directorships with a wide range of Companies and Foundations, Private and Public, some ongoing, in a diverse range of industries and charity works.

Appointed a Foundation Director of Winchester in 2010 and looks forward to continued growth in supporting Education Assistance of Regional Students at a disadvantage to those in cities.

Together with his family, he operates a Beef Cattle Stud, Genetics Supply and Farming operations. He oversees the distribution of charity needs through a Church Foundation to those in need in various overseas countries on a voluntary basis.

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Richard Hughes

Director

Richard joined the Winchester Foundation Board in October 2021 and is our newest member. Richard has extensive experience in the local and overseas beef cattle industry, and together with his family currently operates cattle properties in Central Queensland. 

Richard is on the board of Mort & Co, Australia’s largest feed lotting company.

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John Smith

Director

John owned and operated Tropicproof, a motor vehicle rust protection business for many years. However, since the Winchester Foundation was established by his sister, Beryl Neilsen, he now directs his efforts to continue the Foundation’s goals in supporting the education of rural and regional children.

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Judy Harris

Secretary

With many years’ experience as an Accounting Assistant/Client Relationship Manager, Judy is responsible for the financial, administrative and secretarial operations within the Foundation. Judy has been with the Foundation since its initial setup in 2011.

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Our Team Behind the Scenes

Hayley Jones

Administration Assistant

Ruth Bethel

Volunteer

Maggie Formosa

Volunteer

Leanne Fordyce

Volunteer

Kate Formosa

Volunteer
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Apply for a scholarship

The Winchester Scholarships are open to Primary through to Tertiary students who live in rural and regional areas. These scholarships assist with the costs of accessing suitable education.

Apply for an educational scholarship today!

For more information on applying for a scholarship or making a donation, please send us an email. We’d love to hear from you!

Apply now

Empowering Country
Children through Education

Events

  • Whitsunday Voices 2023
  • ICPA Qld Annual Conference - 6 & 7 June
  • Past Events

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