About Us

The Manning Foundation History

The Manning Foundation’s roots trace back to a simple act of kindness in 1987—a Christmas meal for those in need held at Rydalmere, the geographical heart of Sydney and approximately 5 minutes from Parramatta. This humble beginning sparked an annual tradition that grew in size and scope, eventually evolving into the formally established charitable Foundation in 2006. Named in honour of Stephen Manning, a driving force behind the early Christmas events, the Foundation expanded its reach to provide vital support to the Dundas/Telopea community and beyond.

The Early Years of the Foundation

Prior to the Foundation being formally established the group of individuals behind it operated an annual Christmas luncheon for the needy. The concept was fairly simple, it involved giving a Christmas experience to those who would otherwise not have one.

On the 12th of August 1987 James Patrick Ross passed away and was buried by the then Parish Priest of St. Bernadette’s Parish, Dundas Valley, Father Higgins. At the time his son, Peter Ross, asked the Father if there was anything that he could do to repay him for his caring and compassionate service. The Father knew Peter was in the food industry and responded “I will probably come lean on you come Christmas time”.

A few weeks before Christmas, Peter got the phone call he was expecting from Father Higgins. So through his network of work associates at Flemington Markets Peter collected fresh fruit and vegetables and delivered them to the local school hall where they were put amongst hampers going out for the needy for Christmas.

In 1988, with Christmas fast approaching Peter rang his old friend Stephen Manning (Steve) owned and operated a local hotel the Family Inn Hotel, Rydalmere. Peter also contacted Loraine Bonisoli who was at that time working with the St Vincent’s DePaul Society in the area to help coordinate the needy for this Christmas event.

On the second Tuesday of December 1988, the second Tuesday of the month, the first Christmas for the Needy was held. Just over 60 individuals from many of the local hospitals and nursing homes attended, and the success of the day motivated all involved to commit to the project the following year.

Support and Development

With a newly established need for a Christmas for the needy, Peter & Steve set about ensuring that there were adequate resources for the Foundation to operate each year. Peter owned and operated a food processing company in Auburn, and with his extensive contacts at the local markets ensured that fresh produce would always be available for the annual event. Meanwhile, Steve leveraged his industry and personal contacts to get packaged goods from Woolworths, beverages from Carlton United Breweries, and financial donations from friends.

A need for entertainment led to Peter’s long-term friend Col Joye being called to perform, ultimately resulting in Col being appointed the Patron of the Foundation.

Changing Locations

In 2000 Steve sold the Family Inn, where the Christmas Luncheons were being held, with the continued need to hold the event, a search for a new location was on. Thankfully Rydalmere Central Bowling Club was across the road from the Hotel and in 2001 the venue was first used. With the new venue came the ability to expand the capacity of those whom we served. From 70-90 people at the Family Inn to the newly expanded capacity of 230, lunch at Christmas would never be the same.

A Change of Name

The operation of our charitable Foundation continued purely for the purpose of the Christmas for the Needy until the passing of Steve on the 6th of June 2004. Shortly after his passing, his son James committed to the continual operation of the Foundation’s Christmas luncheon. Peter & Lorraine approached James with the idea of naming the Christmas luncheon in Steve’s name.

In the Christmas of 2004, the luncheon was entitled the “Steve Manning Christmas Lunch” in a year which saw over 200 guests attend. The disadvantaged were just as much in need of support in 2004 as ever.

Formal Inception

After reviewing the help that the Foundation was doing in 2005, and the greater needs of the local community, James, Lorraine and Peter decided that they should look into the formal incorporation of the Foundation. James contacted long-time lawyer & friend Chris Brown of Brown Wright Stein Lawyers (BWS). With the assistance of BWS, the foundation was formally incorporated by deed poll on the 8th of May 2006.

At this stage, the Foundation recognised that it would need additional support and skills to help run and operate the organisation. Long-term supporter and cousin of Steve, Mr. Christopher Bregenhoj (Chris), offered to lend assistance and became a Director of the newly incorporated Foundation. Both Peter and James both were appointed directors at the time of incorporation.

Links with the Communit

With a formal legal structure in place, the Foundation needed to ensure that it was being recognised in the community. Being focused on work with the Dundas/Telopea region initially, a formal relationship with the local parish was established. By utilising the requests for assistance that the parish was receiving the Foundation immediately started to provide assistance in the local area. By partnering and working with other community service organisations the Foundation quickly found itself an integral part of the local support network for the needy and disadvantaged.

The First Op-Shop

The more work the Foundation did the greater the need for a physical presence in the community. In January 2007 the Foundation committed to opening its first Op-Shop which gave us both a retail outlet and a place to direct the needy. The opening occurred on the 23rd of March and was attended by local members from Parramatta City Council, representatives from the Department of Housing, and the Department of Community Services, as well as media and numerous well-wishers.

The Op-Shop has been a tremendous success for the Foundation. It provides the Foundation with a much-needed regular income through the sale of second-hand clothing. Donations from clothing quickly exceeded the storage capacity of the Op-Shop and members were suddenly storing stock in spare garage space at home. Finally in late 2008 after much searching for a suitable space, the Foundation leased a local and unused Scout Hall. The addition of storage took pressure off supporters to store clothes at home while making the Op-Shop operation more efficient.

Who Was Steve Manning

Stephen (Steve) Edward Manning was born on the 23rd of July 1953. He was adopted by Edward & June Manning shortly after his birth, at which stage he took the Manning name. The Manning family lived in King Street, Dundas, NSW, where Steve grew up. He originally attended Marist Brothers Eastwood, however after a disagreement with the school went to Macquarie Boys High to finish his schooling.

Steve’s business career started with a job at the Post Master General (PMG). After a year in the role he attempted the HSC equivalent again, and with better results he applied for and got a role with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). While at the ATO Steve completed formal training as an accountant, which would serve him well as his business career took off. Throughout the 25 years he spent with the ATO, Steve moved through various departments collecting friends and contacts which would go on to assist him in his business career. He partnered with associates whom he started property developments with, finally resulting with the purchase of his first hotel, the Family Inn in Rydalmere.

While owning and operating the Hotel, Steve in conjunction with his cousin Christopher Bregenhoj established First Equity Partners, and accounting firm specialising in boutique transactions and taxation. With a small but successful client base, Steve expanded his business interests, buying into existing retail businesses, additional hotels and other property development opportunities. In 2002 Steve was appointed a Director of Network Limited a specialist out-of-home media company listed on the ASX. Steve was a director up until his death in 2004; Network has since changed its name to oOh! Media Group Limited, however each year give an annual Diamond award for those in the business who challenge themselves the most.

Board of Directors

Christopher Bregenhoj

Australian – FCA, FAICD, FFin, FTIA, FAIBF, JP in NSW Executive Director – Corporate Strategy & HR

Chris Bregenhoj was educated in Australia where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He worked for 13 years in Hong Kong where he started his career as a practising accountant and became a partner in KMG and SGV Byrne. Subsequently, he joined Morgan Grenfell (Hong Kong) Limited as an associate director.

In 1988 he returned to Australia where he established First Equity Capital Ltd, a private investment banking and corporate advisory company which joined with Consortium Capital Limited and Gemini Investment Holdings Limited to form Gemini Capital Limited in 1996.

He was appointed as Chairman of Consortium Capital Group (formerly Human Therapeutics) in December 1999 when he led a consortium of investors to acquire Hoechst AG’s biotechnology business in Australia and has been an Executive Director of oOh!media Group Limited (ASX: $OOH) (formerly Network Limited) since its incorporation on 28 February 2000 as Pi2 Limited.

Chris is currently the Executive Director – Corporate Strategy and Human Resources for the oOh!media Group, Australia’s largest out-of-home media representation business and third largest large format outdoor billboard business with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

James Manning

Australian – B.Bus, GAICD

With over 22 years of experience in investments and wealth management, James Manning is a distinguished executive known for his leadership in organisational governance and commercial growth. His career spans various sectors including listed and unlisted investment spaces, asset management, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, and risk management. James is adept at building and scaling businesses and offers robust thought leadership in his field.

He currently serves as Chairman of Sharon AI, where he leads the development of AI infrastructure, and Chairman of Defender Asset Management Pty Ltd. He is also Managing Director at Vertua Limited and Chief Investment Officer at Manning Capital. James was the Founder of Mawson Infrastructure Group Inc., a pioneering digital asset company specialising in blockchain technologies.

James holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) from Australian Catholic University and is pursuing a Master of Finance at the University of Technology Sydney and a Master of Economics at the University of Sydney. His extensive board experience includes directorships at Cosmos Asset Management Pty Ltd, American Patriot Oil & Gas Ltd., and previous roles at Wize Pharma, Inc. and Fiducia Property Group.

Following the passing of his father, Stephen Manning, James assumed leadership of several family business ventures, including those in media, property, investments, and retail. He has continued to build on this legacy, actively engaging in various board roles and making significant contributions to the Foundation’s initiatives since its formation.

Peter Ross

Australian

Semi-retired Peter Ross served as a Police Officer from 1964 to 1972 where upon resigning purchased a contract with Hymix a concrete company based in Sydney as a subcontractor. During that period of time, he established a concrete pool spraying business and at its peak installed some 405 pools in one year.

In 1980, he sold his concrete contract with Hymix along with his pool spraying business and purchased a small food processing business. At the time the business was only processing around 26 tonnes of potatoes per week and employed 5 staff.

For the next 30 years, he developed this business employing some 26 staff and processing 180 tonnes of potato products per week along the way introduced processed pumpkin, onions, and carrots adding a further 40 tonnes per week to the business. By the time Peter sold the business in 2007, he had expanded the customer base to include airlines, restaurants, cafes, providing agents, bistros, hospitals, defence establishments, prison complexes as well as a string of takeaway food bars, and fish and chicken shops.

Peter has served on the committee of sporting clubs in his spare time for the past 22 years and during that time served as President for the New South Wales Ski Racing Division and was the event organiser for the World Water Ski Racing Championships here in New South Wales in 1997. He also serves on a community watch program as an adviser on matters of security and liaises with the Commander of the Castle Hill Police Area on matters of concern.

Patron

Col Joye

Order of Australia (AM)

Following sell-out performances at rock dances, pubs and clubs he began sharing the stage with the world’s greatest performers. Col Joye is one of Australia’s greatest entertainment icons.

Capturing Australian audiences with an impact equalled by only a few. Col drew huge crowds to his personal appearances before he even signed a recording contract. He was a member of the original Brian Henderson’s Bandstand family, and as a result, was a continuous face on television for over fourteen years.

Col was the first Australian Pop Artist ever to have a No.1 record nationally, with’ Bye Bye Baby’ and he was the first Australian to have a record on the American Billboard charts. He followed his initial success with successive number-one hits and chart records with lists of hits including,’ Oh Yeah Uh Huh’, ‘Rockin’ Rollin’ Clementine’ and ‘Yes Sir That’s My Baby’ ‘ Heaven Is My Woman’s Love’. Col was the first person to have three consecutive hit records and had no less than 7 in the Top 10 of the Charts.

Col Joye was the first recording artist to be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. Further awards and achievements include:

3 times Logie Award Winner
2 times ARIA Award Winner
Numerous Gold and Platinum Record Awards
Golden Guitar Award
3 Variety Club Heart Awards
4 Mo Awards
2 Gold Mo Awards
Many other industry awards plus recognition for his charity involvement

Col was awarded the Order of Australia in 1983 for Excellence in the Entertainment Industry and his charitable involvements. He has been an Australia Day Ambassador since its inception in 1983. Col was honoured with the release of his own Australian stamp which paid tribute to Australian music. A tribute night “A Life In Music” honoured Col Joye and raised in excess of $500,000.00 for the Diabetes Foundation.

Col was proud to have been chosen to run as an Olympic torch bearer in the lead-up to the Sydney Olympic Games. Col has been performing at the Manning Foundation’s “Christmas for Needy” functions for over 20 years. When the foundation was formally established, Col was appointed the Patron of the Foundation.

Legal

Legal Structure & Advisors

The Manning Foundation was established by deed poll on the 8th of May 2004. The foundation was established for the benefit of the needy & disadvantaged.

The foundation has a corporate trustee the Manning Foundation Pty Limited, an Australian registered Proprietary Limited company with the Australian Company Number (ACN 114 634 990). The Directors of the company are responsible for the oversight and management of the foundation.

The directors have appointed advisors to the Foundation

The Foundation’s ABN is

72 390 311 376

Endorsements

The Foundation has applied and received endorsement from the Australian Taxation Office as a Public Benevolent Institution. It’s Australian Business Number (ABN) is 72 390 311 376

It holds the following tax concessions:

The Australian Taxation Office oversees the granting of tax concessions for charitable organisations, and this is tracked by the ABN.

To confirm or check the status of the Foundations endorsements please click here.

The Manning Foundation has authority from the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing to undertake fund raising activities in NSW.