Darwin real estate agent Braden Menzies started giving back to the community to support his kid’s sporting clubs, but his strong sense of Territory pride has been driving it ever since.
Mr Menzies and the independently-owned agency Real Estate Central have contributed more than $1 million to local sporting clubs and charities across Darwin and the wider Northern Territory over the past decade or so.
“We’re a local brand with lots of local Territory people, and it’s one way we can help out the community and keep everything in the Territory,” he said.
In the early years, most of that support was directed toward junior sporting clubs, reflecting Mr Menzies’ family life and his desire to help the clubs his children were involved with.
“It was mostly boys’ sport because I have three boys, and in the early days they played a lot of cricket and football,” he said.
As his children grew older and moved on from junior sport, the agency expanded its community involvement into other areas and a wider range of clubs and causes.
“As my kids finished that stuff, we ventured into netball and other sports,” Mr Menzies said.
Real Estate Central director Braden Menzies (centre) says it’s important to support the local community. Picture: Supplied
The business has also supported broader charitable causes, including fundraising initiatives driven by staff members who raised money for causes close to their hearts.
“One of our agents raised a couple of hundred thousand dollars on his own bike rides for the Starlight Foundation,” Mr Menzies said.
Despite the scale of the contribution, Mr Menzies said the motivation for giving back had always been personal rather than driven by recognition or publicity.
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The Real Estate Central team has contributed to a range of local causes. Picture: Supplied
“My parents always told me it feels better to give than to receive, and I’m just happy to help out,” he said.
He said local sporting clubs and community organisations were facing increasing challenges, particularly when it came to securing volunteers and ongoing financial support.
“Clubs these days are struggling for volunteers and for money, and it’s just really good to be able to help,” he said.
As the agency has grown, Mr Menzies said its capacity to support local causes has continued to increase.
“We’re lucky we’re in the position where we can help out even more,” he said.
