Philanthropy strengthens family ties
Multigenerational philanthropy provides the opportunity to bring family members together to support a common cause and create lasting change. To be successful and pass on a tradition of giving, families must work actively together to collectively build something of value.
The McKinney family know the importance of relationships. Their relationship with UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) started with the parents of the fourth-generation jeweller, Margot McKinney (pictured), who runs McKinney’s Jewellery (or The Green Door as it is often known).
She describes philanthropy as a community.
“Initially it was my parents who were attracted to QBI, close to 20 years ago now and we have simply continued the relationship,” said Margot.
“We want to keep the tradition and be as involved as we can with QBI and to make as much of a difference as we can.
“With so many people developing dementia, CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) and motor neurone disease, there seems to be such a prevalence of brain disorders.”
This fifth-generation business started by John McKinney in Toowoomba in 1884, has been one of the longest in Queensland’s retail history.
“It’s very unusual a business lasts five generations,” said Margot.
“Our business is all about connections, all about relationships and all about having wonderful partners and then matching it with quality.
“My grandfather started selling diamonds during the war, and back then you had to be licensed to sell diamonds in Australia, and he formed very strong relationships with diamond merchants and our families are still friends to this day.”
According to Margot, the family’s success has been very much about recognising opportunities and realising their potential but equally knowing when a business idea was no longer worthwhile.
“The work you are doing here at QBI is extraordinary and it’s right here in Brisbane, on our doorstep, doing revolutionary work.” – Margot McKinney
A vibrant history
Arriving empty-handed from the goldfields to Toowoomba, Margot’s great-grandfather, John, decided his fortune was better made in a barber shop which soon expanded into tobacco and personal items for anyone enroute to the goldfields.
His son, Kenneth, turned the shop into a thriving Darling Downs department store, diversifying the business into women’s fashion, furniture, electrical goods, sporting goods, haberdashery, and personal luxury items.
Margot’s father, John, moved the Toowoomba store to Indooroopilly Shoppingtown in the early 1970s, taking three floors to specialise in furniture, bedding, electrical, china, crystal, silverware, and jewellery.
“Initially the jewellery component was only a small section of the department and then it just kept moving down to be closer to the front of the store,” she said.
“I remember my father coming home one day and saying to my mother, ‘In this briefcase, I’ve got as much value in jewellery as I have in the whole store and two warehouses.’
“That was the turning point. He just became a jeweller.”
Margot’s nephew, Andrew McKinney-Welch, is the fifth generation McKinney to join the family business and is also personally invested in brain research after witnessing his grandfather's difficult and slow decline to dementia.
“My father’s mother had horrible dementia which lasted over a decade, she forgot who dad was sometimes,” said Andrew.
“It’s very tough to see that, when they forget your face.”
Caring for someone living with dementia is just one motivation for Margot and Andrew who have supported QBI through donating pieces of the exquisite McKinney’s range to support fundraising at many events including the Lexus Alzheimer’s Jazz Gala and the Ross Maclean MND Race Day over many years.
The partnership between QBI and McKinney’s Jewellers is a special one which is based on the mutual understanding of the importance of fundamental science to understand and treat brain diseases which are impacting our local and global communities.
On October 19, 2023, Andrew and Margot’s generosity was exemplified when they hosted a very special fundraising event, ‘Dining for Dementia’ in honour of QBI.
In one night they managed to raise $503,000 in funds for dementia research at QBI, carrying on a tradition to raise awareness and create lasting social impact that will endure for the generations to come.