Sixteen years on from his murder, legacy of Geraldton’s Shortbread Man continues with Hollomby Foundation

It’s almost impossible to imagine a silver lining to come out of the brutal murder of a 94-year-old man in his own home. But in the case of Joe Hollomby — known affectionately as The Shortbread Man for baking sweet treats and selling them for charity, raising an incredible $1.3 million — a positive has come out of his horrific end, in the form of a foundation set up to continue his legacy. Friday marks 16 years since Eric Pedersen broke into Mr Hollomby’s Tarcoola Beach home and stabbed him to death during a confrontation. Pedersen, who had intended to steal a firearm he wanted to use to settle a drug debt, was sentenced to life in jail with a non-parole period of 19 years. That period expires in 2027. “It comes up every bloody year,” Mr Hollomby’s son Les said this week. “It was probably four months ago when I had quite bad nightmares about Dad, I’d never had that before. “Sometimes . . . I think about Dad and I can see him getting murdered, because I know exactly how he was murdered.” Knowing his father’s killer could be freed in three years adds to Les Hollomby’s burden. “The closer it gets to him getting out, the worse it is for me,” he said. But the Hollomby Foundation provides him much-needed comfort. “It shows that out of bad things, good things can come,” Les said. Set up in 2010, the driving forces behind the foundation included late real estate agent Ian Wheatland, along with Les, John and Beryl Rigter, Janette Brennan and Jason McCarthy. Over the last 14 years, it has awarded close to $900,000 in scholarships to local students studying at Geraldton Universities Centre. In its first year, it handed out $20,000. Earlier this year, that figure was $101,000. Students studying a degree course at GUC can apply for a scholarship to help them live, work and study locally. About 30 students benefit each year. One of those has been Jane Barndon, who praised the foundation’s work. “The Hollomby Foundation is a local initiative from a meaningful legacy. It has given me the feeling of not doing this alone, that I have support along the way,” she said. Foundation chair Yvonne Messina said the foundation supported a strong sense of community. “Students can continue with their sporting interests and other voluntary interests as well as continue with their jobs while they study,” she said. Ms Messina thanked all the sponsors — including businesses, organisations, shires, industries, politicians and community — who make the scholarship scheme possible. Applications for 2025 scholarships will be opening soon. For more information, visit the GUC website.