Acting Nurse Unit Manager Kristy Long, District Masonicare Representative Owen Sandy, past Master of Port Macquarie Daylight Lodge Ken Hawks, Master of Lodge Star of Wauchope Andrew Garth, Master of the Order of the Secret Monitor Brian Hudson, Master of Port Macquarie Daylight Lodge Ray Posner, Regional Masonicare Manager Robert Drysdale, (front) Alicia Garth, Cath Prosner and Frances Drysdale with (back) MNCCI staff, including MNCCI Radiation Therapist and Freemason Luke Kerin (rear, right).

Freemasons continue their support of children with cancer

Dec 13, 2023

In a remarkable act of kindness and generosity, Freemasons from the Hastings Macleay region have donated $14,832 to the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute in support of children with cancer.

The Freemasons’ gift will help support young families when one or both parents are not working during their child’s cancer care and treatment.

This year’s donation brings the Freemasons’ support for the Paediatric Oncology Trust to an astonishing $92,832 this past decade.

Acting Nursing Unit Manager Kristy Long said the donation provided much-needed financial support to families during a highly emotional time, often made worse by the loss of income.

“Our oncology team at MNCCI is constantly in awe of our community, coming forward to generously support our patients, people they may never know or even meet,” Ms Long said.

“The masons from Port Macquarie Daylight Lodge, Lodge Star of Wauchope and the Hastings Macleay Freemasons Association, together with Masonicare, extend that helping hand time and again, ensuring we have the means to help families beyond the treatment of their child,” Ms Long said.

Masonicare Regional Manager Robert Drysdale said he was extremely proud of the efforts of local Freemasons and the difference they made in their communities.

“One of the main principles of Freemasonry is charity; through charity, we support our community where we can,” Mr Drysdale said.

“Masonicare, the official charity of Freemasons NSW and ACT, is dedicated to enhancing the lives and wellbeing of our community through the Interaction Grant Scheme.

“Lodges have the opportunity to raise funds of up to $3000, magnified by Masonicare’s matching grants, effectively enabling local lodges to donate up to $6000 per grant towards local, meaningful causes such as this.

“We are delighted to have been able to support local families of children with cancer this past decade.”

The donation included $3000 from Port Macquarie Daylight Lodge, $3000 from Lodge Star of Wauchope, and $1416 from Hastings Macleay Freemasons Association. The combined total was matched by Masonicare with a $7416 grant.

Mr Drysdale said the Hastings Macleay Freemasons Association donation was made possible by the actions of two masons – Andrew Garth of Lodge Star, who raised half of $1416 by cutting his hair for charity and Brian Hudson, Master of the Order of the Secret Monitor, who raised the other half.