How gifts in Wills transform students' lives

Decie Denholm in Barr Smith Library

Decie Denholm

Alumna Mrs Decie Denholm (MA 1968), author andÌýSenior Tutor in History at the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog from 1970–1989,Ìýis fondly remembered by generations of former studentsÌýfor her commitment to teaching and for her quiet senseÌýof fun. Decie and her husband, Lawrence, were alsoÌýgreat music enthusiasts, and took immense pleasure inÌýattending concerts at the Elder Conservatorium.Ìý

With Lawrence’s passing, Decie decided to establish theÌýLF & D Denholm Scholarship in his memory and in honourÌýof the wonderful life they shared together.

It brought Decie great joy to see the impact of herÌýphilanthropy on students like Stephanie ThomsonÌýpictured below. So much so that Decie decided to leave a significant gift to the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog in her Will. Her legacy gift is to support scholarships across historyÌýand music, in perpetuity.

Her gift also proposes to endow an Elder Music Residency Fund to bring world-class musicians,Ìýto teach our students. Decie’s Elder Music Residency Fund will be funding celebrated maestroÌýPinchas Zukerman’s visit to Adelaide next year, in partnership with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Legacy gifts, like Decie’s, underpin the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog’s financial sustainability, contribute toÌýgroundbreaking research and help prepare our students to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Stephanie Thomson

Stephanie Thomson

Stephanie's story

Thanks to the LF & D Denholm Scholarship,ÌýStephanie was able to undertake research vitalÌýto her PhD thesis (women’s religious patronage inÌýReformation England), in the United Kingdom,Ìýand gain access to leading academics.

"The Denholm scholarship has been trulyÌýinvaluable. Over the course of this trip, IÌýcarried out the bulk of the archival researchÌýneeded for my thesis, visiting elevenÌýlibraries and archives across England.
I don’t think anything I can say wouldÌýadequately express my gratitude, but thankÌýyou; your generosity has made an immenseÌýdifference to my PhD experience, and I hopeÌýI can pay it forward someday." Stephanie Thomson, PhD – History candidateÌýand LF & D Denholm Scholarship recipient.

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For more information on creating a legacy and leaving a gift to the ×îÐÂÌÇÐÄVlog in your Will, please contact our Planned Giving Officer on +61Ìý8Ìý8313Ìý5800 or development@adelaide.edu.au.

Tagged in philanthrophy, impact of giving, scholarship, donor story, legacy giving