About Rogers Charitable Trust

Rogers Charitable Trust was formed in 1995, following the bequeathment of a dairy farm owned by local Doctor Lindsay Rogers to Te Awamutu College.

The dairy farm was sold in 2023 and the proceeds from the sale are in a managed fund. Each year, interest generated from the fund is donated to Te Awamutu College for various projects including school buildings and facilities, furniture, vehicles, student prizes, scholarships and uniform subsidies.

Our Trustees

Our Trust Board is made up of four Te Awamutu College Board representatives and two community representatives.

Trustees

Tony Membery (since 9/11/2007) - Te Awamutu College Board Representative
Wade Bell (appointed 19/09/2022) - Chairperson, Te Awamutu College Board Representative
Jo Sheridan (appointed 26/09/2024) - Te Awamutu College Board Representative
Nick Hewlett (appointed 26/09/2024) - Te Awamutu College Board Representative
Murray Green (appointed 31/12/2020) - Community Representative
Regan McCorquindale (appointed 31/12/2020) - Community Representative

Some of our Past Trustees

Craig Yarndley
Jock Ellis
Noldy Rust
Eoin Fitzpatrick

Karina Belfield
Sara Jane Refoy
Susan Bethell

Amrit Singh-Kooner
James Mylchreest
Nicholas Palairet

Leandre Sharp
Jean Wilson
Trevor Hamilton

About Dr Lindsay Rogers

Dr Lindsay Rogers is a Te Awamutu Walk of Fame inductee, internationally recognised as the “Guerilla Surgeon” during World War II. He served with the Eighth Army in the desert war then volunteered for special service in S.O.E., before finding himself working as a surgeon among Yugoslav partisans. His war story is so interesting, there is a book about it called Guerilla Surgeon.

Post-World War II, Dr Rogers was regarded as a forward-thinking surgeon and travelled and worked extensively overseas. When he returned to New Zealand, he became the district doctor for the Te Awamutu area, working predominantly in rural areas and the Kāwhia coast among Māori. He was married to Isobel, but the couple had no biological children.

Dr Rogers took an active interest in secondary education in Te Awamutu and served on the Te Awamutu College Board of Governors from 1957-1958. The couple adopted two sons in 1960. Then tragically, Dr Rogers passed away unexpectedly in 1962.

When he died, his will stated: “That when his youngest son turns 21 the residual estate to be paid to the ‘Board of Governors of the Te Awamutu College’ to erect a hostel(s) or boarding establishment to provide accommodation for pupils attending the college (Clause 4) and that the ‘Board of Governors’ may modify the conditions in his will as long as the ‘general intention thereof be observed’.”

Dr Rogers had a concern for secondary students whose educational opportunities might be disadvantaged because they lived some distance from school and travel was an issue. His plan at the time was for the school to build a boarding hostel for these students, but it did not progress. This was the basis of his wishes for Te Awamutu College in his will.

His legacy lives on through Rogers Charitable Trust. Profits generated by the Trust fund are donated to Te Awamutu College and it's students, to honour Dr Rogers' wishes for generations to come.

Te Awamutu College, Waikato, view over playing fields and college next to North Street with housing, farmland beyond. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. 5 Apr 1955 Ref: WA-38839-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

The History of Rogers Charitable Trust

1962

Dr Lindsay Rogers passes away suddenly. His will states: “That when his youngest son turns 21, the residual estate to be paid to the ‘Board of Governors of the Te Awamutu College’ to erect a hostel(s) or boarding establishment to provide accommodation for pupils attending the college (Clause 4) and that the ‘Board of Governors’ may modify the conditions in his will as long as the ‘general intention thereof be observed’.”

1989

Dr Rogers' wife Isobel passes away. The couple's Will is contested and legal arguments are finally settled in 1994. The plaintiffs receive an equal share of 51 per cent value of the farm, raised by mortgage, while the Te Awamutu College Board of Trustees receives the farm and buildings as its 49 per cent share.

Early 1990's

Te Awamutu College seeks ways to honour Dr Rogers’ wishes, investigating building a hostel and using the Rogers farm to provide agricultural courses for students with accommodation. They conclude a hostel is impractical and that the farm is close enough to the school to be used for student courses. Operating the 58 ha (142 acre) farm at 2/2171 Cambridge Road will provide returns that can be used for other charitable purposes.

1995

Rogers Charitable Trust is formed

1996

A classroom is set up on the farm and a teacher is employed as Head of Agricultural Science.

2002

An Agricultural Academy is established and benefits from excellent staff and volunteer help from the community.

Te Awamutu College ran an Agricultural Academy from 2002-2016 headed by director Les Tuck, pictured in 2009 with the Academy's top 2008 student Sarah McGough on the Te Awamutu College Rogers Trust farm. Image: Te Awamutu Courier

Mid-
2010s

Diversification is being investigated as community commitment and support for the farming operation reduces and changing farming legislation and rising costs make the farm harder to operate.

2019

The Board commissions a wide-ranging review of the operation of the farm, with the original intentions of Dr Rogers as the criteria for measuring the effectiveness of the venture.