Sunita Somvanshi
Roy Thompson, who transformed from carpenter to developer and became one of the Sunshine Coast’s most influential philanthropists, died on August 7 at age 95. Eight days earlier, his wife of 69 years, Nola Thompson, passed away at 90. They left behind eight children, 15 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren, but their real legacy lies in the institutions they built across their community.
Roy didn’t start wealthy. In his early career, he worked as a carpenter, learning trades before moving into property development and hospitality. He and Nola built a life together, and over decades, they channelled success into supporting the causes that mattered to them. Their giving wasn’t scattered across one-off donations. It was strategic, creating lasting structures that continue without their involvement.
The Thompson Charitable Fund, structured through the Buderim Foundation, holds more than $5 million. The key detail: the foundation preserves the principal and distributes investment income as grants annually. That means the fund doesn’t shrink. It keeps generating money for community welfare, supporting causes that Roy and Nola identified as priorities.
Their connection to mental health was deep. The Thompson Brain & Mind Healthcare organisation identifies them as major supporters. At the University of the Sunshine Coast, the Thompson Excellence Scholarship and Thompson Study Support Scholarship bear their name, directly funding student education. UniSC also named its Thompson Institute after them—a dedicated research and clinical hub for mental health and brain disorders.
Beyond academia, they funded emergency services. Wishlist, the Sunshine Coast Health Foundation, received a $2 million gift toward hospital accommodation for families of emergency patients. A hospital stay for a child or relative puts families in crisis. Being able to sleep on-site, stay close to loved ones, and access support transforms that experience. The Roy and Nola Thompson Building at Wishlist Centre provides exactly that.
LifeFlight, the emergency helicopter rescue service, benefitted from their support through dedicated hangar infrastructure. When someone faces a medical crisis in remote areas, helicopter evacuation means the difference between life and death. The Thompsons funded the facility that keeps these operations running.
Eating disorder treatment received $1 million through their support of endED Queensland. The organisation provides residential treatment for people with eating disorders—intensive, specialised care that community services can’t always provide. A $1 million contribution directly expanded what’s possible.
Roy earned a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2018, recognising his community service. But the honour reflects what his life demonstrated: sustained commitment to building institutions, not just writing cheques.
What made their approach distinctive was longevity. They didn’t fund causes for a year or two. They established structures designed to outlast them. Universities, health foundations, mental health services, eating-disorder treatment, community hardship support, and rescue operations—their giving spanned education, emergency care, mental health, eating-disorder treatment, community hardship support, and rescue operations. That breadth shows they identified genuine needs across their community, then committed resources to address them.
Roy’s passing at 95 and Nola’s at 90, just eight days apart after 69 years together, closes a chapter for the Sunshine Coast. But the institutions they built—the scholarships, the research facilities, the accommodation centres, the treatment programs—continue operating. Their legacy isn’t measured in a single donation or a building dedication. It’s measured in thousands of lives touched by services they made possible.
—
