Directors, scholars, alumni and staff pay tribute to the life of Darvell Hutchinson AM and his unique contribution to the creation of the Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation Ltd (MSRF) now known as The Rural Foundation Ltd, trading as Youthrive Victoria.

In 2008, as the Global Financial Crisis deepened and the Millennium Drought created increasing hardship in rural Victoria, Darvell Hutchinson AM, along with other Helen Macpherson Smith Trust trustees, Frances Awcock AM and Winsome McCaughey AO, oversaw the creation of MSRF as a response to these profound challenges. The purpose of the organisation was to provide scholarships, mentoring and leadership opportunities for young rural people, so they would become future leaders in their rural communities.

Since 2011, Darvell’s vision has resulted in the awarding of 100 university and vocational scholarships valued at $2,000,000; over 350 mentoring pairs and 500 young rural Victorian participants in the Young Rural Leaders Program.

We honour Darvell’s contribution to philanthropy in Australia, his exceptional stewardship of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and his contribution to all whose lives have been enriched by association with the Macpherson Smith Rural Foundation/ Youthrive Victoria.

Dr Maryann Brown

CEO