While the rest of Australia was reflecting upon Queen Elizabeth’s legacy, Merle and John Anderson decided to find a practical way to pay tribute to Her Majesty and help future generations – by donating $1000 for every year she was on the throne to research
The Andersons have been long-term supports of Children’s Medical Research Institute and could not think of a better way to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign than to donate $70,000 to help children.
In 1996 when Merle and John lost a five-year-old family member to cardiomyopathy. They decided they wanted to start donating to medical research and they’ve been donating to CMRI ever since. When they lost their own daughter at the age of 18, it became more important to donate.
“Communication is a very large part of why we still donate,’’ Mrs Anderson said. “Some places you donate to, you never hear from again. I love reading all the updates. The updates we get are extremely impressive.’’
“I think also, the fact that CMRI isn’t guaranteed any government funding, is a big motivation.’’
Mrs Anderson described Queen Elizabeth as a warrior, and she felt compelled to honour her.
“We had saved up money that we’d normally spend on holidays, but then covid happened, so I said to John ‘what do you think about donating to CMRI and he said, just go for it’.
“One day I just know this money will go towards something really fantastic that will benefit a lot of people.’’
Mr Anderson said together the couple had built up a successful business as horse breeders, from not much, and it was important to them to give back.
“The thing I like the most about CMRI is that they keep us abreast of what is happening,’’ Mr Anderson said. “To think that people are benefit from this work is very reassuring. We know people who have had cancer and recovered. That’s when it really hits home, the importance of research.’’
Mrs Anderson said giving back was very satisfying.
“Whatever we’ve given, we’ve got back tenfold I’ve always believed in that. I know that this money will do so much good.’’