Gosford Public School and Gosford High School have acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the Chapman Trust this year, both of which have received significant financial aid from the Trust.
Mr Alfred Chapman and his wife Mrs Ella Chapman were long-time residents of the Gosford and Wyong districts, with Mr Chapman an active member of the Gosford Primary School board since the early 1900s. In 1955 Mrs Chapman died, leaving her estate of approximately $19,000 to 11 charitable organisations and, when Mr Chapman passed away, he left the entirety of his estate to 10 organisations, including Gosford Public School and Gosford High School.
The schools P and C associations have continued to use the trust funds for the promotion and encouragement of education. “The Chapman Trust is very important to Gosford High School,” said Gosford High School P and C president Mr Gary Jackson. “In accordance with the trust requirements, the P and C use the trust funds to purchase educational resources and present annual Chapman Awards for students who demonstrate excellence across all areas of their schooling”.
Gosford Public School P and C Association president Mr Stephen Thomas said the Chapman fund had allowed students at Gosford Public School to engage in learning by using laptops, iPads, interactive whiteboards and other technologies. There is a commemorative piece which gives details of Gosford’s greatest individual benefactor in the foyer of Gosford High School and in the Chapman room of the recently relocated Gosford Public School. Mr and Mrs Chapman’s trust continues to play a large role in educating generations of children far beyond their own lifetimes.
Email, 25 Jun 2014
Lea Colwell, Gosford
High School