In the heart of Canberra, a quiet revolution in generosity has been unfolding for more than two decades, led by a man who shuns the spotlight. Roger Tall, the unassuming co-founder of the Capital Chemist pharmacy chain, has personally given away an estimated $15 million to $20 million to charitable causes, all while maintaining a fiercely private profile.
The Accidental Philanthropist
Tall's remarkable journey of giving was recently brought into public view when he was presented with the 2025 Canberra Philanthropy Award by the community organisation Hands Across Canberra. For a man who prefers to operate in the background, the recognition was a double-edged sword. "I was a bit dubious at first about accepting it, because I like to keep a low profile," Tall admitted. "But if it makes other people donate as well, it's a good thing."
Tall, 77, and his wife Maxeme, well-known as the former owner of the iconic Paperchain book store in Manuka, are both originally from Tasmania. They moved to Canberra over fifty years ago after Maxeme secured a job in Treasury. Roger followed, working initially as a pharmacist locum before he and fellow pharmacist Gary Cairns launched the first Capital Chemist in the early 1970s in the Canberra suburbs of Wanniassa and Kambah.
The business, built on a unique partnership model rather than a franchise, flourished. "It grew like topsy after that," Tall recalled, noting the scarcity of young pharmacists in the capital at the time. Today, the chain boasts more than 50 pharmacies across the ACT, New South Wales, and Tasmania. While Tall no longer holds a financial stake, he remains an active mentor to young pharmacists within the network.
A Systematic Approach to Giving Back
Tall's philosophy on philanthropy is as pragmatic as his business approach. His giving is channelled through two main avenues. The first is the Capital Chemist Community Programme, established about thirty years ago to formalise the business's support for local causes. This programme distributes roughly $400,000 in grants annually to not-for-profit organisations.
The second, and far more substantial, channel is the Tall Foundation, a charitable trust Tall set up over twenty years ago. It focuses squarely on health, education, and social equity, with a distinctly local flavour. "I preferred to help small to medium organisations that often attract little or no government funding," Tall explained. "Occasionally, I supported larger organisations but only on the condition that any donations from me were spent locally. All very parochial, but that's the way I liked it."
His donations have funded a diverse range of initiatives, from university scholarships for students from regional areas to conservation efforts for the endangered Tasmanian devil. The foundation now distributes approximately $800,000 per year, with Tall aiming to increase that to a million dollars soon.
"How Much Money Do You Need?"
Living in a self-built home in Kingston, with additional properties in Hobart and on the South Coast, the Talls enjoy a comfortable life—a life they are keen to share. "How much money do you need?" Tall posed the rhetorical question, attributing his success to hard work and a touch of luck. "It's the old expression, 'The harder you work, the luckier you get'. I've put in a lot of long, hard hours over the years."
He is openly inspired by the work of Canberra's Snow Foundation and hopes his own story will encourage other financially successful Canberrans to embrace philanthropy. His message to them is simple and direct: "Do it, do it. People underestimate the value of giving, sharing. I think giving is inherent in human behaviour. You've just got to scratch someone, sometimes to make it happen."
The couple, who have no children, believe this circumstance further motivated their charitable pursuits. "Nature conspired against us. But it was one of those things - one door closes, another one opens," Tall reflected.
Despite a quadruple bypass surgery 18 months ago, which he says "slowed me down a bit," Tall remains active and convinced of the restorative power of giving. "There's immense satisfaction. It's a wonderful thing," he said. "It's not just giving money away, it's helping people in genuine need."
After more than half a century calling it home, Tall is a passionate advocate for Canberra, declaring it "the best place in Australia, I reckon....Maybe, apart from Hobart." And while he is honoured by the recent award, his ultimate goal remains unchanged: to inspire a wave of local generosity, all while quietly getting on with the business of making a difference.
