THE STU NICOL TRUST
The Founding Father
Stuart Malcolm Nicol - the stuff of legend
Stu joined the Marist Rugby Football Club in 1971 and was an active member until his death. He played in the front row of the Senior reserve grade, the highlight being on the Fiji tour in 1974. His attendance at many a Spillane Cup was highlighted by being 'boatrace champion' on many occasions.
In 2013, Stu Nicol passed away peacefully surrounded by a number of his Hamilton Marist "family".
In the weeks leading up to his death, Stu had arranged for his house to be bequeathed to the Hamilton Marist Club. Stu's incredible generosity came as no surprise to those who knew him. His commitment to the club was total.
Stu was a very generous man, and this was evidenced by support for young players in the Club, particularly out of towners. On many occasions Stu would go to the supermarket and get a box of food and take it around to the flats where the boys were living. He would leave it on the doorstep, ring the bell and disappear. The recipients may not ever have known it was Stu who was the benefactor.
Stu's vision was for the club to establish a fund that would grow with judicious investment and further bequests from other club members. Over time the fund will hopefully grow to the extent that whatever happens to other funding streams the club relies on, Marist will continue to thrive.
The fund was to sit outside the day-to-day operations of the club with income from the fund to be spent on special projects and scholarships for promising young rugby players and cricketers. Over the past decade numerous young players have benefited from scholarships awarded.
Stuart Malcolm Nicol was a big man, but he was a bigger Marist legend. His name will live on in the Marist Club. As Gapper said at his funeral there will be no more beersies for you Stu, but Marist people will continue to lift their glass and toast you Stu.
Mission
To focus on building appropriate infrastructure and facilities to support sport and physical activities so the associated benefits can be realised.
Vision
To help keep young people in sport to lead active, healthy and happy lives without the reliance on other funding streams.
What we do
Why invest donations? So your generosity can have impact for many, many years to come.
As per Stu’s vision, the Trust has created a fund with the intention it will become self-perpetuating to enable permanent funding streams to achieve long term Marist community transformation. Further donations will be invested so they can grow and provide long-term reliable sources of income. It is the interest earned that is used to support infrastructure projects; the gift itself remains protected so it can continue to benefit the Marist community for future generations.
The funds donated will be managed by the Trustees. An Investment Advisory Company, Craigs Investment Partners, has also been engaged to provide Fund Management and advice. The Trustees are:
Blair Currie
David Kneebone
Brian McNamara
Kevin O’Brien
Kevin Flynn
Past Projects
Three bay cricket training nets.
Cricket nets were completed in November 2022 due to a lack of nets available in the Hamilton area. This project also brings the cricket club closer to the mother club.
Artificial turf - field one.
Completed in 2024, the all-weather artificial turf provides a high-quality playing surface that can accommodate up to 50 hours of use each week across a wide range of sporting codes. The project also included upgraded floodlighting.
Artificial turf extension.
Completed in 2025, the half-field extension to the artificial turf increases capacity for junior games, training, and warm-up activities.
Current Project
Strength & Conditioning Centre
Strength and conditioning centre.
The future Strength & Conditioning Centre is already well advanced in the planning and design phase and will become a cornerstone of athlete development and community wellbeing at Marist Park.
Created to address the shortage of accessible, purpose-built training facilities in Hamilton and the wider Waikato, the centre will provide a modern space for strength and conditioning, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance training across a wide range of sports.
Designed as a flexible, multi-use facility, it will support schools, sports clubs, youth development programmes, and community initiatives while reinforcing Marist Park's role as a year-round hub for sport and recreation.
The facility will also accommodate sports medicine and allied health providers, giving athletes convenient access to specialist services while creating sustainable revenue streams to support the club's future.
Pipeline Infrastructure Plans
Covered courts.
The addition of two covered courts will expand opportunities for sport and recreation at Marist Park, providing much-needed indoor training and community space. Designed for flexible use, the courts will support athletes, clubs, schools, and community programmes year-round.
Club room extension.
The proposed expansion of the clubrooms will create a more welcoming and functional space for members and visitors. Featuring a covered outdoor deck, the development will support club growth, increase community use, and create new opportunities for events and sustainable revenue generation.
Upgrade existing HCC changing rooms.
Marist will advocate for the upgrade of the existing Hamilton City Council changing rooms through the Council's Long-Term Plan. Modern, gender-inclusive facilities will improve accessibility, support increased female participation, and better meet the needs of all users at Marist Park.
Become a supporter
Give now.
From one-off donations to yearly sponsorship, we welcome your support and can work with you to determine a level of involvement that will suit you. Every gift counts, big or small. It is about giving back in any way you can and inspiring others to do the same. All donations made qualify for a tax rebate of 33.3% up to the limit of your taxable income.
Give later.
When making a will many people want to give something back to their community by leaving a gift to a specific area of interest. You may consider leaving a percentage of your estate or a specified sum in your will, the choice is up to you.
Give your support.
Your support at our fundraising events where the proceedings go back to the Trust will be much appreciated. Keep an eye out for Marist golf days, Shamrock events, Te Rapa races.
Talk to us.
We’d love to talk to you about your giving needs. Please contact us for more information.
“Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, it has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to young people in a language they can understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair”
— Nelson Mandela