The compassion and financial support you gave nearly 20 years ago to two tots left without a father after he was killed by a falling tree, while fighting a bushfire in the Royal National Park, has paid off.

You donated nearly $80,000 to make sure Tim Rendell and his little sister Belinda got a good education as they made their way through life without their father Alan, a deputy captain of the Illawong Bush Fire Brigade.

He was inside the brigade's tanker when a huge gum tree, weakened by a fire eating out its base, came crashing down.

At the time Alan, along with other firefighters Bob Newnham, Peter Fardell and Bob's son Marshall, were putting in a backburn along Lady Carrington Walk to prevent the bushfire sweeping back towards homes in Heathcote and Engadine.

As a consequence of the tragedy the then editor of the Leader, Michael Gardner, began a community appeal to support Tim and Belinda and ease the burden on their mother Robyn.

The response was amazing and within a few weeks close to $80,000 was raised.

Mr Gardner asked Joe Weston, then secretary of St George Bank, if the bank would form a trust and act as an administrator for the donated monies. Mr Weston agreed to set up the trust to be known as the Rendell Education Trust.

Four trustees were appointed: Ken Scully, the Rendell family solicitor; Mr Gardner; Graham Davis, then president of the Illawong brigade but also a Leader journalist; and Mr Weston.

At their first meeting the four decided to retain a small amount of the donated money in an operational account with the bulk going to buy shares in St George Bank.

Dividends and the operational account monies were to have been used to provide the educational needs of the children, such as fees, books, uniforms, study excursions and computers...and indeed they have been.

Tim was able to attend The Scots College, while Belinda was educated at Hurstville's Danebank Anglican School for Girls.

Tim has since moved to Melbourne and is now at university.

Belinda also attends university studying biomedical engineering. Each will complete their studies in December.

"I would not have been able to provide the education for Tim and Belinda without the donations made in 1988,'' Robyn Rendell said.

"I would like to thank those who donated so many years ago.

"I would also like to thank the Illawong brigade, Mr Scully, Mr Gardner, Mr Davis and Mr Michael Bowan, who is now the secretary of St George Bank following the death of Mr Weston some years ago.

"On behalf of Tim and Belinda, I say: "thank you very much'.''

The charter of the trust called for its termination last month (April) and the dispersion of any monies and shares to Tim, now 22 and Belinda, now 21.

Documents relating to the dispersion were formally handed to the Rendell children during a morning tea in the Leader boardroom on Tuesday.