Winifred West Schools Foundation
Building a legacy of excellence and opportunity.
Frensham Schools is committed to providing an exceptional education that inspires students to live with integrity, compassion, leadership, and a dedication to service. The Winifred West Schools Foundation stands as a vital partner in this mission, ensuring that generations of students can benefit from the School’s enduring values and opportunities.
Through its work, the Foundation supports a culture of philanthropy that transforms lives, strengthens traditions, and safeguards the future of Frensham Schools. At Frensham, philanthropy goes beyond fundraising, it nurtures a spirit of generosity and shared purpose, creating a vibrant and connected community.
However important the staff and the girls may be, the School is more comprehensive: it is more intangible, more lasting, more impersonal than a collection of individuals. It has its own soul, its own lift, and we hope this will continue in years to come, when individuals are no longer here, an influence making itself felt in the world.
Impact of Giving Magazine
The Impact of Giving is an annual publication showcasing the stories and outcomes of the Winifred West Schools Foundation’s work. The 2024 edition is available to read digitally via the image below.
For a printed copy, please contact the Foundation Office at foundation@frensham.nsw.edu.au or on 02 4860 2000.
Read the Impact of Giving 2023Read the Impact of Giving 2022Read the Impact of Giving 2021Philanthropic Priorities
1. People and programs
By channelling community support into innovative initiatives, Winifred West Schools Foundation ensures that Frensham Schools remains at the forefront of educational excellence. Each generous contribution helps us develop enriching programs that inspire, challenge, and support our students and educators, creating an environment where potential knows no bounds.
Bursary Fund
The Bursary Fund is a pivotal philanthropic initiative dedicated to expanding educational opportunities.
By providing bursaries to students who might otherwise be unable to attend Frensham, we break down financial barriers and enable talented young people to access exceptional education. Our commitment extends beyond students to supporting staff professional development, ensuring that every investment enriches the entire school community.
The Iris Art Fund
The Iris Art Fund upholds Frensham Schools longstanding tradition of visual arts. The fund creates creative opportunities that inspire and nurture artistic growth at our School.
2. Living and learning
By preserving our historic spaces and enhancing them with state-of-the-art facilities, Foundation helps to create an environment where tradition and innovation work together. Thoughtfully designed learning and living spaces inspire curiosity, collaboration, and a deep connection to place—ensuring Frensham Schools continues to prepare students for life beyond the classroom.
Building Fund
The Building Fund works to transform our learning environments, enabling us to invest strategically to create inspiring spaces that empower and support the educational journey of each student.
The Library Fund
Books and knowledge form the backbone of learning. The Library Fund supports Frensham’s libraries to remain vibrant hubs of discovery, supporting the intellectual growth of students.
Endowment Fund
This fund creates a sustainable source of income for the Schools, addressing specific needs beyond immediate budgets. It is an investment in the School’s longevity and capacity to adapt to future challenges.
Ways to give
How to Support Frensham Schools
Your support helps preserve Frensham Schools’ legacy and provides transformative opportunities for students. Whether through a bequest, major gift, annual giving, or the Livestock Enterprise, every contribution strengthens our community and future.
Bequests
A bequest is a powerful and lasting gift that ensures Frensham Schools is strengthened for future generations, without affecting your financial situation during your lifetime. For more information, please refer to the following section.
Major Gifts
Major gifts at Frensham create a lasting legacy, funding bursaries and scholarships, preserving our rich heritage, and transforming our facilities.
Your generosity enables us to provide life-changing opportunities for students and enhance the Frensham Schools experience for generations to come.
Annual Giving
Through the collective generosity of the Frensham Schools community, our tradition of educational excellence has flourished for 112 years.
An annual gift is a powerful way to sustain this tradition, directly supporting the students and programs that make Frensham Schools exceptional.
The Livestock Enterprise
Through the dedication of our farming community, the Livestock Enterprise transforms agricultural stewardship into life-changing educational opportunities.
Managed on behalf of the Foundation, livestock sales directly support the Bursary Fund, ensuring that rural students can access a Frensham education.
By supporting the Livestock Enterprise, you help create pathways for rural students.
The Winifred West Legacy
Frensham Schools has a strong history, much of which has been enabled by the far-sighted generosity of others.
The Winifred West Legacy is Frensham Schools’ bequest group, honouring the long history of bequest gifts and formalising this generosity by bringing supporters together. Named after Winifred West, the Legacy reflects her values of compassion, generosity, integrity, and leadership.
The group provides an opportunity for Old Girls, families, and friends to contribute to the School’s future, becoming ‘Custodians’ of The Winifred West Legacy and helping to strengthen Frensham for generations to come.
Philanthropic Leadership
Winifred West Schools Foundation Board
Jennifer Cordingley (Chair)
Jennifer has served as a Director of the Foundation Board since 2024. Jennifer is the Executive Officer at Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes, the peak body representing 17 NSW medical research institutes. Previous to this Jennifer worked in Strategy at St Vincent’s Health Australia and has worked in the social services and homelessness sectors. Jennifer is the parent of two Old Girls and a current student.
Crista Beckhaus (Director)
Crista has served as a Director of the Foundation Board since 2025. With a background in marketing, communications and stakeholder management, Crista most recently led marketing and customer engagement for global logistics organisation, DHL Supply Chain.
Crista has been part of the Frensham Schools community for over 10 years, previously serving as Chair and Secretary of Frensham Junior School Advisory. She has children at both Frensham Junior School and Frensham.
Lucy Meagher (Director)
Sam Paradice (Director)
Sam is a part owner and branch manager of Morgans Scone a stockbroking and investment business based in Scone NSW. He has worked in the finance industry for 27 years training as a banking credit analyst at BNP Paribas and then investment adviser with Macquarie Bank. Sam’s mother, sister and wife attended Frensham. He is the parent of three Old Girls, and thus has had a lifelong association with the School.
Charlotte Warner (Director)
Caroline Walters (Director)
Caroline is a Director of the Foundation and Managing Director of Prodigy People, with over 20 years’ experience in Australian recruitment. She leads a skilled team placing candidates across Retail, FMCG, and Aged Care industries, and is a current parent with two daughters at Frensham.
Foundation Membership
Frensham community members who generously donate a minimum of $5,000, whether as a single pledge, through a series of smaller gifts, or through as a parent through the annual Building Fund Donation, are invited to become a member of the Frensham Foundation.
News from Winifred West Schools Foundation
Invest in the future
Become part of our efforts to ensure the longterm future and success of Frensham Schools.