Our history

FRRR has been connecting rural Australia and philanthropy since 2000.
L-R: Sarah and Baillieu Myer AC, Gina Fairfax AC and Tim Fairfax AC, Janet and John Calvert-Jones visiting some of the projects they supported through FRRR.

Our formation arose out of concern about economic and social decline in many rural areas and following discussions between Baillieu Myer AC and then Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson AC, a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation was considered at the National Regional Summit in 1999.

At that time, the Sidney Myer Fund was seeking a way to acknowledge the centenary of the arrival of their name-sake in Australia in a manner that would benefit country people, while the Government saw the Summit as a means to find ways that rural and regional Australia might address the decline, especially in the wake of one of the worst droughts in living memory.

One of the ideas that emerged was that philanthropy could play a strategic role in enhancing the assets – natural and human – in regional Australia’s economic and community development.

FRRR was incorporated and awarded charitable status in 1999, with the Sidney Myer Fund and Federal Government as members. Both of these entities nominate one Director to the Board. The Sidney Myer Fund gifted $1 million and, during the Summit, the Prime Minister, John Howard OM AC, pledged a $10.7 million grant to be awarded in 2000, with a further $3.8 million to be offered as an incentive to raise further capital. In addition, ANZ Trustees and The Pratt Foundation each donated $1 million.

The people who had been instrumental in the Foundation’s formation – the Honourable John Anderson, Baillieu Myer AC and Lady Marigold Southey became the inaugural Patrons, and some highly respected people from across philanthropy, Government and rural Australia joined the Board.

Early in its inaugural year, FRRR ran its first grant round, receiving more than 260 applications from across Australia. Among the projects funded in the first round were a number of feasibility studies for community foundations – a relatively new concept. Since then, focused support from FRRR and Philanthropy Australia has helped drive the movement forward.

The Foundation eventually set up its headquarters, appropriately, in the hometown of Sidney Myer’s first store – the regional Victorian city of Bendigo. It continues to operate from there and to follow the principles and ideals first set down at the Regional Australia Summit.

FRRR remains Australia’s only national philanthropic foundation dedicated to remote, rural and regional Australia.

FRRR is responsive to emerging and evolving community needs and the programs we offer reflect this. Sometimes programs run their course and are closed or put into hiatus – another need emerges, a donor partner moves on to funding something else or the issue or challenge the program was addressing is resolved.

“Over a long life I have been involved in many community activities. None have given me more pleasure than FRRR. I have been lucky to have been involved right from the start and am proud of FRRR’s achievements. FRRR is needed to put life back into Australia’s regions. They are suffering as every year more and more people keep drifting to the capital cities.  FRRR’s great achievement has been to survive and grow. FRRR has also given many Australians living in rural and remote communities new hope, encouragement and significant projects within their communities.”
Baillieu Myer AC

#FRRRis20in2020

“FRRR seemed to have come from an alignment of the stars…”

And Helen Morris AM would know, as she was there at the time. She explains the different roles that so many people played in FRRR’s formation. We remain grateful for the “shining star” of Baillieu Myer, Helen’s hard work and passion, as well as the support of the Sidney Myer Fund, the Myer family and the staff.

We love the way Helen tells the story of how FRRR came to be in this extract. Watch full story here.

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Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford has an extensive career in complex public policy and its intersection across government and communities.

Amy is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils across the nation. Amy holds over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. She has a deep understanding of federal government policies and structures, with over 10 years’ service in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has worked for the federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. Amy has shaped a wide range of policies and programs including regional development, telecommunications, immigration, emergency management, social policy and pandemic preparation.

Amy is a Board Director of Austroads and represents ALGA on the Public Skills Australia Industry Advisory Group, and the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. She is also a Board Director for the Canberra Youth Theatre which provides voice for Canberra’s youth through intelligent and challenging theatre.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Amy was appointed to the FRRR Board in January 2025.

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Kylie Hansen

Kylie brings leadership and management experience from across academic, corporate, not-for-profit, social enterprise and impact investment sectors, having deep dived into a myriad of specialisations and systems. Her six tertiary qualifications are equally as diverse and complimentary, covering commerce, politics, international development, community development, project management and law. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to draw on a number of disciplines and innovative ways of working and thinking, and she is well recognised as consistently delivering work and services of a high quality.

Kylie uses her strong background in sustainability, governance and impact measurement to support collaborative initiatives across sectors oriented at improving social outcomes, and to support socially conscientious businesses to articulate their social impact. As founder and director at Impact Seed she has been instrumental in developing the impact measurement, evaluation, learning and ESG practice which advises numerous corporates, and is passionate about supporting First Nations empowerment particularly in the context of regional economic development.

Kylie is also a Director of the WA Social Enterprise Council, a member of the B Council (B Lab Australia and New Zealand), and a Governor of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

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Hon. John Anderson AC

The Hon. John Anderson AC is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from NSW, who served in the Australian Parliament from 1989 to 2008.

He was a senior Cabinet minister in the government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), including six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the latter role, Mr Anderson played in important role in FRRR’s history, working closely with Baillieu Myer AC and others on a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation to benefit rural Australia. The concept was discussed at the National Regional Summit in 1999 and FRRR was established shortly thereafter.

Mr Anderson currently hosts a regular podcast, where he is in conversation with thought-leaders from around the world, and is a regular media commentator.

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Regina Cruickshank

Partnerships Specialist (WA)

Regina supports FRRR as the WA Partnerships Specialist. With over two decades of experience in partnerships and marketing, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia’s social impact landscape. She brings a strong passion for leveraging purpose-built networks to create positive change.

Regina previously worked with Playgroup WA and founded a Health Promotion Charity dedicated to supporting Social Emotional wellbeing for underserved communities. She’s excited about the opportunity to connect with partners and explore ways to make a meaningful difference in WA.

She lives in Perth with her family and enjoys mindful moments of connection to Country, whether on horseback, on foot or underwater.

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Ms Sam Mostyn AC

Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Patron in Chief

Ms Sam Mostyn AC was sworn in as Australia’s 28th Governor-General on 1 July 2024. 

A businesswoman and community leader, Ms Mostyn is known for her exceptional service to the Australian community. She has a long history in executive and governance roles across diverse sectors, including business, sport, climate change, the arts, policy and not-for-profit.

In 2024, Ms Mostyn was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service in the social justice, gender equity, sporting, cultural and business sectors, to reconciliation, and to environmental sustainability. She had previously been appointed an Officer of the Order in 2021.

For her continued contribution as an advocate for gender inclusion and equality, sustainability, and climate change action, Ms Mostyn was awarded the 2020 United Nations Day Honour Award and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the Australian National University in 2018.  

Most recently, Ms Mostyn chaired the boards of Aware Super, Centre for Policy Development, Beyond Blue, Australians Investing in Women, Foundation for Young Australians, Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) and The Climate Council. 

She has also served on the boards of some of Australia’s leading companies including Mirvac, Citi Australia, Transurban and Virgin Australia. 

She dedicated more than a decade to the boards of the GO Foundation and Climateworks Australia, during this time she also served on the boards of Tonic Media and Global Business & Sustainable Development Commission.

Ms Mostyn was a Commissioner with the Australian Football League for over a decade until 2017. 

She has also been a strong supporter of women in sport, and was an advocate for the creation of the AFL Women’s league and co-founded the Minerva Network, Australia’s only mentorship and development program dedicated to professional female athletes.

From 2013–2017, she was President of the Australian Council for International Development. 

Ms Mostyn became an inaugural commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission in 2012 and Deputy Chair of the Diversity Council of Australia in 2010. She served on the Australian faculty of the Cambridge University Business & Sustainability Leadership Program from 2010–2024. 

She has contributed to independent reviews for the betterment of the community as a member of the panel of the Crawford Sports Funding Review (2009), and Review of the Treatment of Women in the Australian Defence Force (2012). She chaired the NSW Government Women’s Economic Opportunities Review (2022), and Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce report (2023).

She also held membership to the boards of Reconciliation Australia and Australia Council for the Arts.

Before taking on non-executive roles, she held senior executive roles at Insurance Australia Group, Optus, and Cable & Wireless plc.

Ms Mostyn is married to Mr Simeon Beckett SC and they have an adult daughter, Lotte Beckett. Ms Mostyn is an avid Sydney Swans fan, and served on the board from 2017–2024. 

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Anna Palmer

People and Culture Manager

Based in Central Victoria, Anna is a senior Human Resources, Organisation Development and Industrial Relations professional, with significant private and public sector experience across every facet of people and culture leadership.

Her most recent roles have been with Don KR in Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council. She has also held senior HR roles with Victoria Legal Aid and the TAC among many others.

From Mildura originally, Anna has postgraduate qualifications in Change Management and a Masters in Organisation Dynamics.

Anna is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to balance her creative pursuits and work as an HR professional.

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Philippa Twaddle

Management Accountant

Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.

She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.

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Jai Allison

Insights & Impact Measurement Manager

Jai Allison has supported communities confronting change for more than 20 years in places ranging from remote Northern Territory homelands and the Blue Mountains to the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Jai learned much of what he knows about what makes communities tick through living in those communities and while volunteering and working with stakeholders from informal groups, civil society, through to tertiary education, industry and government. This experience has given Jai the nous to facilitate win-win outcomes and a humility to learn in public. As a reformed environmental engineer, plucky geographer and die-hard facilitator, Jai loves connecting people with existing strengths, skills, knowledges to learn, while doing by turning insights into action.

Jai grew up on and is now raising his family in the hinterland of Biripi country, on the Mid-North Coast of NSW, where they are busy regenerating an old timber mill on the banks of the beautiful Ellenbourgh River.