Norm Draper did a lot of research before he and his wife Pat established their Charitable Fund. Already retired, he wanted to set up a structured fund to ensure they could always support the causes they care about. “I looked at what was out there, and I settled on Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation; firstly because of the people; secondly because it was simple and low cost compared to what else was out there in the sector; and thirdly, having the option to determine where the money is distributed,” he said. They both value the exposure to ideas and people that they have had during the ten years since they established their fund with Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. “We are ordinary people,” says Pat, “but we’ve led a fortunate life. It is partly to do with the era we were born in. We’re Baby Boomers. We had less, expected less and ended up with more.” Norm left school at 15 and started as a trainee technician with the then PMG (now Telstra). With the pursuit of further studies and through a range of opportunities, Norm progressed in his career to the role of Director, Industrial Relations before he left in 1993. He then established his own small specialist consultancy before retiring 10 years later. Pat too, started working young. Firstly, for a major city law firm when she was 17 and later for local suburban lawyers. They both grew up, and brought up their family, in Melbourne's north-west and have made time for volunteering in their local community. Norm coached junior football when he was 19 and later, when their sons competed, he volunteered extensively in junior football and Little Athletics. Norm continues to be a long time, enthusiastic member and volunteer, at the Aberfeldie Bowls Club. Pat too has volunteered her time at a number of local community organisations and is a keen member of the Essendon Garden Club. Place and community have been a big part in their choice of charities they support too. The Royal Children's Hospital is “just down the road,” says Norm. Although their family have only needed the hospital services for the removal of a piece of Lego from a grandchild’s nostril, it is the impressive quality of RCH services for children overall that make it a regular recipient of Norm and Pat’s annual distributions. Australian Rotary Health too has special meaning to Norm because of his near 25 years of active membership of the Rotary Club of Keilor. “I support their funding of targeted medical research, and their funding of education scholarships - because that does a lot for regional and remote areas – for nursing, and for Indigenous health.” Other areas they support through their fund are youth and homelessness – for Pat, particularly older women and homelessness. When she joined a choir in Melbourne’s north, the diversity of experience of some of the women her age really resonated with her. “That could have been me,” she says. “If my life had turned out differently.” Norm plans to involve grandchildren in their giving – something he will progressively do, taking account of Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation recommendations of charities to which they can particularly relate. They might describe themselves as ordinary, but Norm and Pat are changemakers. Their generosity of giving through their Charitable Fund, just like their volunteering, helps shape community.