Long time Townsville residents and business owners, Kaye and Brad Matheson, love nothing more than to give back to the community that has been so good to them.
For 28 years the couple has run their real estate agency in the regional city on Queensland’s north-eastern coast, including the past 10 years under the McGrath banner.
To celebrate the decade milestone they recently held a cocktail event for staff and clients, where they also donated $27,000 to local charities as part of McGrath’s Community Giveback Program.
“We’ve owned the business for 28 years now and Townsville has been good to us, so we just like to give a little bit back,” Mr Matheson said.
He said the agency supported more than 100 different charities, from local sporting organisations and schools, to others like local pet rescue organisation Angel Paws, Guide Dogs Townsville and wider reaching groups such as Food Relief Northern Queensland and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.
“What we do is we keep a portion ($250) out of every sale, out of every commission, and we ask the seller if they have a charity, a school or a sporting club that’s local, that they want to donate some of our commission to,” Mr Matheson said.
“The most recent donations totalled $27,000 but overall we’ve donated $112,000.”
Mr Matheson said the McGrath Townsville selling agents didn’t use the charity donations as part of their sales pitches or listing presentations, but as a genuine pleasant surprise one they’d won the listing.
“The owners do feel good about it at the end of the day,” he said.
“Sometimes they’re leaving town, they’ve sold and they’re moving on, but they can give a little bit back to the local community before they go.”
Mr Matheson said the charities the agency supported were also always incredibly appreciative for their support.
“They are, even if it’s only $1000, $1500 or $500, because it’s so hard for them to be out there raising money,” he said.
“They have to put a lot of hard work in to raise donations and to keep their organisations running and working well.
“So they’re just over the moon to get donations.
“Townsville is a great community and it’s doing well but there’s still people out there struggling, so it’s just great to be able to give back a little bit.”
