About Us

"The Mudgeeraba Foundation" (MF) is a private charitable trust fund established on 17 June 1999 by Dr Peter Ochsenbein who acts voluntarily as the sole director of its Trustee (company) "Mudg Pty Ltd". The activities supported by the Foundation include the areas 1) health and environment, 2) art and culture and 3) education and sport.

The MF supports by donations (tied grants) organizations, institutions or individuals active in these areas and may honour them with the "Mudgeeraba Foundation Award" (MFA). In rare cases the MF may provide interest free loans for projects within the defined scope. Since 2001 about $250,000 have been spent as donations and loans to more than 30 beneficiaries. Donations are normally handed out in December.

A main asset of the Foundation is the "Mudgeeraba Foundation Centre" (MFC) at 7 School St in the heart of old Mudgeeraba which was opened in February 2004. It contains a modern hall with foyer, an undercover car park (16 spaces) and a caretakers residence, and it is used by qualified organizations active in the above-mentioned 3 areas at least partialy in Mudgeeraba and environs (mainly Gold Coast). Voluntarily administrated by the director of the MF, it can now offer low fees due to the strict "no overhead and not-for-profit principle".

A special activity hosted by the MFC, during which the building is transformed into a gallery (MFCG), is the annual Art Exhibition "The d'Arcy Doyle Art Awards for Landscape" organized by Earle Hinschen. Its ranking is evident from the fact that it has been endorsed by the Arts Council of Australia. It is supported by 91.7 ABC Coast FM (Gold Coast). The MF acts as main sponsor (prize money). For this reason the annual donation ceremony of the Foundation has been combined with the opening ceremony of the art exhibition which takes place in the 2nd week of December and is a major community event.