Eric Crawford: A Legacy of Quiet Generosity

Eric 'Ecka' Crawford was born in Sydney in April 1925. A veteran of the Second World War, he lived with a strong sense of duty - not only to his country, but to his community.

Throughout his life, Eric quietly supported organisations that helped people living with disability and vision impairment. When planning his estate, he made sure that support would continue long after he was gone.

Through GreaterGood, Eric established the Eric Crawford Memorial Fund - a lasting legacy that continues to change lives.

A Life Guided by Values

Eric's experiences shaped his compassion. Having lived through the challenges of war and health difficulties, he understood resilience and the importance of dignity for all people.

That understanding guided his decision to support:

• Cerebral Palsy Alliance
• Vision Australia

Rather than a one off gift, Eric chose to leave a bequest that would provide ongoing support, year after year.

Creating a Lasting Fund Through GreaterGood

In his will, Eric established a perpetual memorial fund with GreaterGood.

The fund distributes annually to both charities, giving them the stability they need to plan confidently and deliver long term outcomes for the people they serve.

Because the fund is perpetual, its impact continues, quietly and consistently, just as Eric intended.

The Difference Being Made

Eric Crawford's generosity continues to create real change:

• Cerebral Palsy Alliance - Support from the fund has contributed to research that helped reduce the incidence of cerebral palsy.
• Vision Australia - The fund has enabled essential paediatric services for 77 children and young people (aged 0–18) in the ACT region who did not have active NDIS support at the time of referral.

These outcomes are not momentary, they are sustained through long term, reliable funding.

Reflections from GreaterGood

"Mr Crawford's legacy is a beautiful example of how planned giving can reflect a lifetime of values. His memorial fund continues to empower organisations that make a real difference in people's lives."
Aimee Power, Executive Officer, GreaterGood

What the Fund Means to the Community

Vision Australia reflects on the importance of this kind of generosity:

"We are fortunate to be the recipients of generosity from Canberrans like Eric Crawford. Through their philanthropy and GreaterGood funds, we can forward plan our activities and ensure our clients living with low vision or blindness are fully supported to achieve their goals."
Ian Finlayson, General Manager Fundraising and Marketing, Vision Australia

A Living Legacy

Eric Crawford's story is a reminder that thoughtful giving can reflect who we are and what we value.

Through GreaterGood, his bequest continues to support the causes closest to his heart - quietly, consistently, and with lasting impact.

Learn more about how we support lasting community impact