Foster Family Endowment Fund
Supporting the education and well-being of local students now and into the future.
Strategic giving; long term support for education
Rob and Robyn Foster created the Foster Family Endowment Fund at the end of 2025 to support the education, health and well-being of current and future students of both Mirboo North Primary and Secondary schools.
Rob, who lived with his sister and parents in Mirboo North from 1951 until he finished his schooling, now lives in Melbourne. Rob moved to Melbourne study at the Victorian College of Pharmacy where he met his wife, Robyn. They went on to own several pharmacies (at different times) over 44 years, during which time Rob became Vice President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Rob and Robyn have now, and Rob has become life-member of the Guild.
Through their parents, Clarrie and Pat Foster, Rob and his sister Julie learned the value of giving, whether as a volunteer in community activity or giving financially to support those less fortunate than themselves.
Rob and his wife,Robyn, have chosen to honour that legacy in a way that will assist local young people now and in the future, through a durable donor advised fund.
Their fund will earn around $8,000 a year in investment earnings, most of which will go back each year into enabling educational opportunities. Each year half will go to the Education Support Fund to support students transitioning to tertiary education and half will go to the Mirboo North schools for equipment.
"Through their parents Rob and Robyn learned the value of giving, whether as a volunteer or giving financially to support those less fortunate than themselves." - Ruth Rogan
“Growing up in Mirboo North, I had a good education at the primary and secondary schools, which enabled me to continue studying and establish my career. I am now in a position where I can give back and I am pleased to support both the existing and future students of the Mirboo North schools to achieve their potential.” - Robert Foster
Clarrie and Pat Foster
Clarence Percival Foster, known to everyone as Clarrie, was born on August 27, 1911 and Patricia (Pat) Doreen Kelly was born on December 10, 1915. They became much-loved members of the Mirboo North community over the many years they worked and lived their.
When he left school , Clarrie worked at Treadways in Chapel Street in Prahran. It was there he met Patricia Kelly whom he later married. They moved to Werribee in the late 1940s where Clarrie was the manager of the Deneys clothing store where he further developed his retailing and management skills.
In 1951 Clarrie and Pat made the move to Mirboo North with their children, Robert and Julie. They purchased the drapery business from Bert Drowley who had built the shop and dwelling in 1939 on land he had leased from the Railways. The first advertisement for C & P Foster, Drapers appeared in The Gippsland and Mirboo Times on May 7, 1951.
In the 1960s. Clarrie and Pat built a new shop in the main street with the business adding furniture, floor coverings and blinds to its range.
Community involvement
Clarrie soon discovered that he really enjoyed working in so many ways to help improve the community services, His organisational skills were exceptional. Pat supported him throughout the many years of his involvement.
In summary he was involved with the following community bodies in various roles (including Chairman or on the governing committees) over many years. He contributed in so many ways to so many projects that not everything has been fully documented:
Mirboo North Water Board (34 Years) (including Chairman for 12 years)
Mirboo North Rural Fire Brigade (20 Years and Life Membership)
Mirboo North Primary School (20 years) Mirboo North High School (30 years)
Mirboo North Schools- Pine Plantations projects State Schools District Association of South Gippsland (several years)
Mirboo NorthBush Nursing Hospital (involved in planning and building a new wing)
Mirboo North Golf Club (16 years) (Involved in extending the course from 9 to 18 holes and other improvements)
Mirboo North Agricultural and Pastoral Society (financial support)
Mirboo North Swimming Club ( and involved in the swimming pool construction)
Mirboo North Traders Annual Christmas Party for Children
Clarrie was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to his community in 1988.
Sport was another area that Clarrie excelled in. He played in the football team of Prarhan Technical School and cricket at Malvern Cricket Club where he was a wicket keeper and talented batsman in the Firsts.
When he moved to Mirboo North he joined the Cricket Club and won the batting average several times.
In later life Clarrie joined the golf club where he won many monthly events. He also was involved in the administration of the golf club as mentioned above.
But it was with lacrosse that Clarrie reached the highest level in a sport. He was a member of the Malvern Lacrosse Team when they won 8 out of 9 premierships in the main Victorian Competition during the 1930s. The Victorian Lacrosse team (of which Clarrie was a member) won three of the Australian Lacrosse Championship( held every four years) during that same period.
Support of the Mirboo North schools
In the Mirboo North Primary School and the Mirboo North High School Clarrie held various official positions during the many years that he served on their Councils.
In one major fund raising initiative Clarrie was involved in organising Pine Plantation projects over more than a thirty year period.starting in 1957.
Pupils of the schools were involved in planting of the pine trees and some maintenance of the plantations.
The financial income since the 1950s has progressively provided well in excess of $100,000.00 including $80,000.00 when the remainder of the crop from the various plantations will be harvested,
Over the years the monies have been shared between the schools and funded assistance in building projects such as a new assembly hall new toilet blocks, a computer centre and many other items.
Overall the project has helped to provide funding that gave financial security to the schools.
A legacy for this family to continue
Clarrie was involved in many other projects over his long association with the School Councils of both Primary and Secondary School.
Clarrie and Pat provided annual scholarships to the students of the Primary school and to the High school.
At times they also provided assistance to needy students in their private capacity.
The Primary School named a room in the new library building in his memory back in 2008. This room is still called “Clarrie Foster Room” in honour of his work and support for the schools and the students over so many years.
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