BUSHTRACKS 21/06/2024
Michael Bird's happy place
Where's your happy place in nature? For lifelong supporter Michael Bird it's among Albany’s coastal scrub.
Read MoreA Will gives you the power to choose how your life’s work and your assets will benefit your loved ones and the causes you care about most.
You have the power to help shape the future of Australia’s natural places – a future where our extraordinary landscapes and the plants and animals that they support remain safe.
Gifts in Wills account for about 25% of our annual income.
When you remember Bush Heritage in your Will and let us know about your decision, you’ll be giving us the financial security to commit to the kind of long-term, landscape-scale projects across Australia that will result in real, lasting change for the environment.
Gifts in Wills have played an important role in the history of Bush Heritage and are recognised on our gifts in Wills supporter honour board.
There are many ways to leave a gift to Bush Heritage in your Will, and it’s important to find the one that’s right for you.
Once you've considered which people and charities you'd like to remember, and who your executor will be, we recommend speaking with your solicitor to have your Will written.
If engaging a solicitor is not possible, or you would simply like to learn a little bit more about the types of things to consider, you may find Gathered Here’s free online Will tool helpful.
Note Bush Heritage does not provide legal advice. Any referral to an Online Will provider does not constitute legal advice, or an endorsement that an Online Will is suitable for your needs. Individuals using Online Wills should seek legal advice before making any changes or updates to their Wills.
You can leave your entire estate or any part of your estate to Bush Heritage.
A residual gift means once all specific gifts are distributed and your debts are paid, the remainder (or a proportion of the remainder) of your estate will be paid to Bush Heritage. This is a simple way to leave a gift that needn't interfere with any specific bequests to loved ones. It will also retain its value over time (unlike a specific cash gift that can reduce in value with inflation).
It can be difficult to choose a specific cash amount to leave when you don't know how much will be in your estate when the time comes. Making your gift a percentage of your estate, or of the residual of your estate, means no matter the value of your final estate, the proportion you intended for Bush Heritage stays the same.
You can leave any identifiable property as a bequest to Bush Heritage. A specific gift may include any sum of money, cash balances in a bank account, a residential house, commercial real estate or company shares.
If you're considering leaving real estate or shares to Bush Heritage, you may wish to consider leaving the gift in specie. This means it may be transferred directly to Bush Heritage and may save your estate paying capital gains tax on the sale of the asset. Seek appropriate legal advice to ensure this is suitable to your circumstance.
We highly recommend seeking independent, professional legal and tax advice when making or changing your Will to ensure your intentions are realised and the distributions to beneficiaries are maximised.
Having your Will professionally written shouldn't be expensive and provides peace of mind knowing your wishes are more likely to be upheld.
If you need a solicitor, the law society of your state or territory can refer you to one.
If engaging a solicitor is not possible, or you'd simply like to learn a little bit more about the types of things to consider, you may find Gathered Here's free online Will tool helpful.
Note Bush Heritage does not provide legal advice. Any referral to an Online Will provider does not constitute legal advice, or an endorsement that an Online Will is suitable for your needs. Individuals using Online Wills should seek legal advice before making any changes or updates to their Wills.
We're a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission. The Australian Taxation Office has endorsed us for charity tax concessions, including exemption from income tax, and has also endorsed our public fund, Bush Heritage Australia Fund, as a deductible gift recipient (which is listed on the Register of Environmental Organisations).
Once you've chosen the right type of bequest for you, speak with your solicitor to have your Will written. Please note the following wording is a guide only and subject to your solicitor’s advice.
“I give (insert one of the following)
to Bush Heritage Australia (ABN 78 053 639 115) to be applied towards conservation purposes in accordance with the Constitutional objectives of Bush Heritage Australia in its absolute discretion and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other authorised officer of Bush Heritage Australia shall be a sufficient discharge for my Trustees.”
You can, but superannuation and life insurance don't automatically form part of your Estate. We recommend speaking to a legal professional make appropriate arrangements.
This depends on a range of factors, so it's important to discuss your wishes with a member of our team if you're considering leaving a bequest of land to Bush Heritage.
It's up to you. We understand that making a Will can be a personal and private matter. Knowing we have such generous support allows us to personally thank our supporters and plan for the future. If you'd like to let us know about your bequest, reach out to our team via email, phone or via the confidential web form below.
Bush Heritage is unable to act as an executor. The costs of this would outweigh any potential benefits, as our staff are not experienced or trained in estate administration. There's also a risk of perceived undue influence if your Will is contested for any reason.
When you include a gift in your Will to Bush Heritage and tell us about it, you'll be invited to join the Bush Legacy Circle – a growing community of like-minded people connected by their commitment to the future of the Australian bush.
You and your loved ones will receive invitations to events featuring talks by our reserve managers and ecologists, guided trips to Bush Heritage reserves, and regular updates on our work. Fill out the form below to begin your journey, or to request more information.
If you’ve included Bush Heritage in your Will or are considering leaving us a gift, please fill in this form to let us know so we can welcome you to the Bush Legacy Circle – our growing group of gifts in Wills supporters. Knowing more about your support also gives us greater confidence to plan our long-term conservation projects across Australia’s magnificent landscapes.
Please note your information will be held securely in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Australian Privacy Law.
Our experienced Gifts in Wills team is here to support you in making the right decision for you and your loved ones. We understand that writing your Will is a very personal matter – any information you share with us will be kept in absolute confidence, in accordance with our privacy policy and Australian Privacy Law.
To get in touch with us, email [email protected], call 1300 628 873 or use the form above.