The Peard Real Estate Group donated $5,000 towards the Rotary Club’s community project so they could construct the nearly four metre high dolphin wishing well which is located at the northern entrance to the marina.
Members of the public visiting Hillarys Marina can now raise money for the large number of local community projects supported by the Rotary Clubs of Hillarys and Wanneroo, by dropping coins into the dolphin wishing well or inserting $2 to see the dolphins rotate.
According to Robin Russell, the projects coordinator, this is believed to be the first such dolphin wishing well of its kind in the world.
"Our inspiration for the wishing well was the untimely death in 1999 of three popular dolphins at the marina, Rajah, Mila and Echo. Our Clubs thought the wishing well would be a very positive project to remember the dolphins while at the same time raise much needed funds for local community projects. Further information on how these dolphins have motivated the construction of the wishing well can be found at www.rotarydolphinshillarys.com.au
"The wishing well features a beautiful bronze sculpture of three dolphins. It was created by Joan Walsh-Smith and Charlie Smith at their studios in Gidgegannup. Both Joan and Charlie have completed a number of famous sculptures, such as the HMAS Sydney Memorial at Geraldton and the Kangaroos on the Terrace at Council House. DSM Consulting Engineers Pty. Ltd. of Willetton were the wishing well’s project engineers.
"We believe it is probably the only coin-operated wishing well in the world that combines significant public art by renowned sculptors with a 24/7 fund-raising capability. At a cost now exceeding $200,000, it is quite mechanically advanced, with overload, water filtration, well elevation and dolphin rotation, all computer controlled.
"This has been a major financial project and there is still a large deficit that our Clubs want to extinguish as soon as possible, so that ALL of the wishing wells' net income goes immediately to the local community. All donations of $2 will get a tax receipt while all donations of $2000 or more will be acknowledged on the wishing well and all major donors, such as PEARD, will have prominent plaques and website credits - for up to 25 years!
"The dolphin wishing well would not have been possible without the support of local businesses such as Peard as well as other sponsors such as LotteryWest, City of Joondalup and the State Government," he said.
Stuart Cox, M.D. of The Peard Real Estate Group said the company was delighted to support the world of the Hillarys and Wanneroo Rotary Clubs.
"Peard Real Estate Group has had a office in the Hillarys marina for over a decade and it is consistently one of the most successful real estate offices in Western Australia.
"As a company we believe it is important to put money back into the local community and this unique dolphin wishing well is a project which we have enthusiastically supported.
"We believe it will be an important community asset which will help generate large amounts of money over the coming years to financially assist less fortunate people in our local community," he said.