Tasmanians are a philanthropic bunch.
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From putting loose coins into the shaking tin at the weekend sport match and making regular donations to specific charities, to donating time through volunteering or leaving substantial bequests, Tasmanians cover the philanthropic spectrum.
Tasmanian philanthropic pursuits span both social and economic factors, with the state's residents eager to help others through donations of money and time.
Australian Bureau of Statistics research shows philanthropy and altruism make up one part of social capital, with other themes encompassing social networks and support structures, community participation, civic and political involvement, trust in people and social institutions and tolerance of diversity.
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The ABS considers "social capital as an important facilitator of social cohesion and, thus, social and economic participation in society".
Author Dr Alison Alexander wrote about philanthropy in Tasmania in the book The Companion to Tasmanian History.
"Philanthropy has always been present in Tasmania, in that people have helped family, friends and neighbours in times of stress," Dr Alexander said.
"Tasmania has never been wealthy, and didn't have things like the gold rush, so places like soup kitchens provided relief, particularly during the depression.
"Different people like different things, and people have pet projects, but when there's a catastrophe people like to help," she said.
Philanthropy has always been present in Tasmania, in that people have helped family, friends and neighbours in times of stress.
- Dr Alison Alexander
Philanthropic societies were established in the major cities Launceston and Hobart and some regional towns from the 1820s.
These organisations included Benevolent Societies set up in Launceston in 1834, Longford in 1838 and Evandale in 1850 and Launceston's City Mission in 1854.
Organised philanthropy took off within the state in the 1880s as the mineral boom brought more wealth and the convict system disappeared.
During this decade The Salvation Army and St John Ambulance were established here, followed by St Vincent de Paul in 1898, The Examiner's Empty Stocking Appeal in 1908 and Red Cross in 1914.
Sisters Elizabeth Fall and Catherine Hartnoll left about £60,000 in their wills to more than 40 charitable and public institutions, resulting in the Fall-Hartnoll Wing of the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery.
Through her large investment portfolio, Winifred Booth donated generously to the Clifford Craig Medical Research Trust and the Empty Stocking Fund.
JBWere Philanthropic Services team's John McLeod, who wrote The Cause Report - 20 years of (r)evolution in the not for profit sector, said corporate and structured philanthropy and bequests continued to grow into the 21st century, with its value being recognised.
ABS data shows 2016 donations and sponsorships combined was more than $2.24 billion, which "shows the growing importance philanthropy", Mr McLeod said.
He believes the relationship between the non-for-profit sector and business is stronger we realise.
"There should be more recognition that the philanthropic dollar is different to the government or the self-earned dollar."
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