Masons make $5,000 donation

[Sir.Mike]

The Freemasons of Parkes were pleased to present a Masonicare cheque
for $5,000 to the Parkes Men’s Shed Inc.

Masonicare is the charitable arm of the Freemasons of NSW and ACT.

Each year it makes grants of $10,000 to all of its 13 regions.

This year Parkes Men’s Shed and Orange Scouts were chosen.

These grants are usually split between two worthy organisations within
the region.

Each lodge is invited to make application for these grants annually,
but should an emergency occur in their region they are welcome to
apply for a special grant.

Indeed over the last five years Masonicare has donated in excess of
$2.75million in regional grants, interaction grants, benevolence
grants, disaster relief and various achievement awards.

Parkes is in District 91 and consists of lodges in Forbes, Peak Hill,
Condobolin and Tullamore.

Each of whom over the years have received substantial grants for
worthy projects such as Cancer Patients Assistance, pre-schools,
retirement villages and nursing homes.

Freemasonry has other special charitable organisations who serve
particular community needs.

These are Masonic Youth Welfare, Frank Whiddon Homes and the Royal
Freemasons Benevolence Institution all of which adds to the volume of
charitable work performed by Mason’s world wide.

Masonry has a long history world wide going back to the 12th century
starting with the Artisans who built castles, cathedrals and temples
in the middle ages.

They formed themselves into lodges or guilds in order to safe-guard
the secrets of their expertise in building.

Today’s Masons are not necessarily building tradesmen but are drawn
from all walks of life and number in the millions in every country in
the world.

Their stated aims are brotherly love, truth and charity.

The first Masonic lodge in Parkes was founded in 1875 and continues to
this day.