The Dyson Bequest - Bruce and Jane Dyson

The Dyson Bequest was established by Jane and Bruce Dyson in 2000 as the next phase of their commitment to community service and to increase their philanthropic impact in Victoria. Along with their lifetime passion for skiing, both Bruce and Jane staunchly believed in giving back.

For Bruce, a key element of this was his time as an active director and president of the Arthritis Foundation from 1991-2002, as well as his compassion for those who needed housing while he lived in the UK.

For Jane, during the years the family lived in Gippsland she worked tirelessly in the community to encourage good education and in their later years in Melbourne she volunteered weekly at a local special needs home for children. Bruce and Jane always looked to help others, being supportive and generous to those who were sick or in need.

To this day The Dyson Bequest lives up to Bruce’s lifelong philosophy of having a positive mental attitude. The Dyson Bequest also honours Jane’s character of giving her time, energy, and expertise to making a real difference to their family, friends and community.

The next chapter of The Dyson Bequest has been led with much care, commitment and inquisitiveness by Jane’s daughter Rose Gilder, and Bruce’s nephew John Dyson. Rose’s care of Bruce in his last years and John’s steady support for Bruce and Jane in navigating difficult times at the end of their lifetime, allowed them to become the natural stewards of Bruce and Jane’s giving. John and Rose felt privileged to spend quality time with them in their last years, understanding and helping execute their philanthropy through the Dyson Bequest before Jane’s passing in 2004.

To this day, Rose and John continue to focus on and draw out the innovative essence and entrepreneurial enthusiasm that characterised Bruce’s business career, by supporting a range of pioneering approaches addressing social issues and leveraging their giving for greater impact through collaborative philanthropic responses to contemporary community needs.

Rose and John as well as the third-generation family members Hope and Annabel, all feel tremendous privilege and responsibility to continue Bruce and Janie’s legacy and importantly their impact. They want to do their forebears proud and continue to demonstrate good and effective family-based philanthropy for future generations.

Find out more A family that lives on through the generations