Parkestone Foundation
Supporting our LGBTQIA+ community
Since 1980
About us
The Parkestone Foundation was initially constituted as an Association in 1980 following a generous bequest by an Adelaide gay man, Peter Nation which enabled the establishment of a Trust Fund. It became a Foundation in 2016 and is managed by a committee of honorary Trustees who ensure that the Trust Fund is used for its intended purpose which is to support LGBTIQA+ community projects consistent with its objectives. Since its inception, the Foundation has allocated over $50,000 to support 72 LGBTIQA+ community projects in South Australia.
How We Help
Providing grants to benefit our community
Grants and Funding
Helping The LGBTQIA+ Community
A capital sum is invested with a reputable financial institution. Approximately half of the yearly interest is made available for grants, while the other half is reinvested to maintain the value of the capital sum.
Individuals or groups may apply for grants which are limited to $1000 and priority will be given to requests for the purchase of equipment or the production of materials of a permanent nature that will benefit the LGBTIQA+ community.
Applications are open annually, from June to July and are only available to individuals, community groups and organisations based in South Australia. The application needs to be completed online, please click 'Apply' to make an application.
Grant Application Process
Targeted Assistance
The Trustees meet in early August to discuss the applications and agree on where to distribute the funds, which are usually available by mid-August.
All successful applicants are required to sign a funding agreement to support the aims and objectives of the Foundation and acknowledge the support of the Foundation on any promotional material. All projects must be completed by June 30 of the following year and a short report detailing the outcomes of the project also needs to be submitted to the Foundation as part of the funding agreement.
Meet our Trustees
Peter Burke (He/Him)
Parkestone Committee Chair
Peter Burke has been a Parkstone Trustee since 2009 and is currently serving as Chair of the Parkestone Committee.
After studies in Arts and Social Work in Melbourne, Peter was appointed as Social Worker at St Mark's Anglican Church Fitzroy in 1981, helping to establish St Mark's Community Centre, providing emergency assistance and a community lounge for financially disadvantaged and isolated people.
Peter then worked from 1984 to 1990 for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne in a parish community development role; then from 1991 to 1997 for Ecumenical Housing through the Victorian Council of Churches.
During these years, Peter also completed a Bachelor of Theology in 1997, after which he moved to Adelaide to become the Manager of The Magdalene Centre, Adelaide.
Peter was an employee of AnglicareSA from 1998 to March 2023, working in various roles including Chaplaincy and Parish Community Development.
Peter is newly retired and living in Clapham with his partner Ian of 34 years. Peter is co-convenor of the Anglican Rainbow Network.
William Sergeant OAM (He/Him)
Foundation Treasurer
Will is an out, proud gay man in his seventies. Now retired, his working life was varied and included accountancy, general and mental health nursing and industrial relations. He was an activist in the early 1970s Adelaide gay liberation movement and participated in the first Gay Pride Week and Proud Parade in 1973.
He is also a 78er, having marched in the first Mardi Gras parade in 1978 while living in Sydney. Returning to Adelaide in the late 1980s Will has been involved in many rainbow cultural, artistic and political activities. He served as President of The AIDS Council of South Australia in the 1990s. His alter-ego, Dr Gertrude Glossip, has won acclaim for her Rainbow History Walks and is a published author. Will was named 2021 South Australian Historian of the Year for his contribution to queer Adelaide history.
Jennifer Scott (She/Her)
Foundation Trustee
Jenny is a trans woman who has been advocating for the LGBTIQA+ community since she transitioned in 1993. She has volunteered in numerous community advocacy roles and in 2017 her name was added to the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll for her work as a “passionate activist for the LGBTIQ community”.
Skye Davis (She/Her)
Technology and Communications Manager
Skye is a recent addition to the Parkestone Trustees. Working in cyber-security, Skye brings a wealth of knowledge around technology solutions and has provided a website re-design in her first year with the foundation.
Skye engages closely with the transgender community to provide her expertise (often pro-bono) to help the community with various projects.
Zac Cannell (He/They)
Foundation Trustee
Zac is an out and proud bi+, trans masculine person known for his advocacy, group work, and support roles.
Professionally, Zac works in therapeutic and education roles with a strong focus on sexual health, LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing across the lifespan, kink and BDSM, neurodiversity, and mental health.
In their down time Zac is a cat dad (if you ask about his cat be prepared for photo spam), video gamer, and Lego enthusiast.
