The Montessori Children’s Foundation has received a large bequest from the estate of Leslie Charles (Bob) Masterman.  The Masterman family wished to see their father’s legacy fulfilled and realise his conviction that Montessori education was a way forward to improve life opportunities for Indigenous Australians.

The bequest was settled in 2007 with over $3,800,000 donated to the Montessori Children’s Foundation to establish the Masterman Montessori Indigenous Children’s Trust.

The objects of the Masterman Montessori Indigenous Children’s Trust are to further the education of Indigenous Children in the Cape Area (the region of Queensland north of and including Cairns) through the application of the Montessori educational philosophy and method.

Work is underway with various communities in Torres Strait (Tagai State College and preschool centres on several islands) and Cape York (where we are nearing agreement in negotiations to start birth to age six programmes.

The terms of the settlement provide for operations from investments thereby keeping the fund intact and ensuring it can support communities in perpetuity.  The long-term commitment, stability and innate cultural sensitivity of the Montessori approach have engendered trust within the various Indigenous communities.

See Update 6 June 2008 - Masterman Family Honoured

See Update 6 June 2008 - History of Masterman Bequest by Ardyn Masterman

See Update 9 July 2007 - Masterman Bequest Settled