Gary & Ann Dennison

Dennison Family Fund

For Ann and Gary Dennison, giving back has never been a one-off act it’s simply how they’ve lived their lives.

Their story stretches across the globe, shaped by Gary’s career in international aviation and Ann’s determination to make a difference wherever they landed. From East Africa to Asia and the Middle East, they saw communities facing real hardship and chose to get involved rather than look the other way.

Ann says volunteering started early. As a teenager in Kenya, she helped her mother with Red Cross work, packing medical supplies and spending time with children with disabilities. That experience stuck. “It showed me how much small actions can matter,” she says.

As Gary’s work took them into countries impacted by conflict and poverty, Ann found her own way to contribute. She supported health programmes in Uganda, worked with women’s groups in Bangkok, and helped families and children through community organisations in Singapore. Whether it was fundraising, organising events, or simply lending a hand, she focused on bringing people together and creating opportunities for others.

Gary shares that same practical approach to service. Alongside his global career, he has been deeply involved in Rotary projects, helping deliver clean water, maternal health programmes, education initiatives and community support in places like Mongolia, Nepal and Cambodia.

When the Dennison’s returned to Waimate in 2007, they didn’t slow down they simply shifted their focus closer to home. Both quickly became involved in local groups, and in 2019 they took a significant step by placing their 90-hectare hill block into conservation, creating the predator fenced Point Bush Ecosanctuary.

Today, the sanctuary is thriving, with thousands of native trees planted and birdlife returning. It’s a place the community can enjoy and a reflection of the couple’s long-standing belief in leaving things better than they found them.

For both Ann and Gary, the motivation is simple. “Giving connects you to people and purpose,” Ann says. “It reminds you to appreciate what you have and to do what you can to help others.”

It’s a philosophy that has guided a lifetime for the Dennison’s and one that will continue to make a difference for generations to come with the establishment of the Dennison Family Fund through the Aoraki Foundation.

Ann & Gary Dennison