Freemasons give generously

THE Surf Coast Freemasons have again given back to the local community, handing over grants worth thousands of dollars to three groups at their annual presentation.

Grand Master of the Victorian Freemasons Don Reynolds was the special guest at the lunch held at the Torquay Hotel on Tuesday, and presented the cheques for between $1,500 and $3,800 to Torquay Food Aid, HeartBeat Geelong and Support After Suicide.

Funds raised locally are then added to by Freemasons Foundation Victoria.

Since 1985, the Surf Coast Freemasons have donated more than $135,000 to community groups.

Mr Reynolds said he always enjoyed visiting the lodges in the Surf Coast.

“Every time I come here, you guys have given to this, or given to that, you do a magnificent job – in fact, I will say that per capita, you probably punch above your weight compared to any lodge in Victoria, and I think you should be congratulated.”

He said Freemasons Foundation Victoria now looked after many Victorian charities to the tune of $2 million.

“I’ve personally handed over some pretty sizeable cheques. They do a damn good job of looking after the community, and a good job of looking after lodges.”

Mr Reynolds said the Freemasons movement was working hard to raise its profile.

“We are there in the community, we have been there in the community for 128 years, we’re still there in the community – the problem is we stopped telling the community. That’s one of the things we need to do.”

As well as the funds given on Tuesday, the Surf Coast Freemasons will donate another $3,000 through its Junior Citizenship Awards, which are given to a boy and a girl in Grade 6 in each of the six primary schools along the Surf Coast.

The $250 awards are to assist each student with their further education.