Donor Story: Eric & Queenie Miller

The Aoraki Foundation was established in 2009 but our story really begins in London, 1899, for that was where Queenie Tapson was born. Some eight years later Eric Miller was born in Croydon, Surrey. The Tapson and Miller families immigrated to New Zealand and while we are not sure how they met they were married in Dunedin in 1931

The couple lived modestly, even frugally, as they went through the Great Depression of the 30’s and then Eric drove trucks during World War II. In the 1950’s the Millers relocated to Timaru and established their rural transport business, Millers Transport. The business was situated at 97 King Street and they lived in a small house next door. The Millers had no children.

The Millers were heavily involved with the church, and through this they knew Allan Hubbard of South Canterbury Finance very well. As they didn’t have children, Allan motivated the Millers to leave their estate to the community of South Canterbury.

In the late 1950’s, Eric was loading a truck with a crane when a heavy bag struck him and fractured his back. The unfortunate event led to Eric being a paraplegic and using a wheelchair. Queenie took care of Eric for the rest of her life until, in December 1977, she sadly passed away at the age of 78.

Members of the local community stepped in to look after Eric. When he passed in 1992 at the age of 85, his estate was added to Queenie’s to form what would become the Miller Estate.

Allan Hubbard and Edward Sullivan were appointed trustees of the Miller Estate. They took care of it until the South Canterbury Finance collapse. To avoid the charitable estate getting caught up in the ongoing enquiry, the wise decision was made to transfer the funds to the Aoraki Foundation.

On 23rd December 2013 the Miller Estate, was entrusted to the Foundation as an ongoing giving endowment. Through strategic decisions and prudent management, the Miller General Impact Fund has grown over the years and continues to give back to the community. In 2021 alone we distributed over $63,000 from the Miller General Impact Fund to charitable projects and community organisations.

The first funds from Queenie were donated to the South Canterbury community in 1977. Almost half a century later, we have the privilege of continuing to pass on this sustainable funding to our community. Long may it continue — for another half-century and more!