Masons chip in for Head to Head

THE Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Graham Ashton AM, together with the Secretary of the Police Association Sergeant Wayne Gatt, are on a mission to raise awareness and funds for police mental health.

The Head to Head project is aimed at police veterans who are unable to access the same level of support as those still serving.

Chief Comm. Ashton and a team being led by Mr Gatt will come together from opposite sides of Victoria, covering a combined 1,000 km on foot to raise awareness.

At the same time they are also hoping to raise $500,000 in support of this project.

Over three weeks in October they will walk the roads with a range of co-workers, former police, and the community, meeting ‘head to head’ in Wangaratta. Along the way they will visit police stations and participate in events with local communities.

The No. 23 Masonic Social Committee is supporting this project with a $1500 donation.

The donation consists of a $500 donation from the committee and an additional $1000 community grant from the Freemasons Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable arm of Freemasons Victoria, and each year it provides in excess of $2 million in funding to community groups throughout the state of Victoria.

The donation was presented to Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton on Police Remembrance Day, Saturday 29th September, a couple of days prior to the commencement of the walk. The presentation was made in conjunction with another Masonic organisation, the Police Unanimity Fidelity Club. In total $3500 was donated by both groups to the Head to Head appeal.

The No. 23 Masonic Social Committee has for many years operated an annual fruit sale to raise funds for charity, and in excess of $50,000 has been distributed to many local groups and organisations since 1999.

The fruit is collected direct from the grower in Shepparton and transported to Ballarat using a truck generously provided by Hewitt & Whitty. They also provide the use of their premises for the lodge members to re-package the fruit into 5kg lots for purchase at the annual charity fruit sale.

The No. 23 Masonic Social Committee is a sub-committee of the Sturt-Buninyong United Lodge which meets each month at its lodge rooms in Warrenheip Street, Buninyong. The lodge was formed in Buninyong in 1858, and has been meeting at its current premises in Buninyong since 1906.