Fighting prostate cancer

23 July 24

The brethren of Lodge Lake Macquarie worked hard in 2023 to raise $5,714.85 towards a very worthy cause in the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

It was a labour of love as this disease has directly impacted the lives of some our members. In excess of 24,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Australia.

RW Bro Gary Herrett is an ambassador for the Foundation and gave a very informative and sobering address to the brethren.

The money raised will go towards funding two nurses to be stationed at the Mater

Hospital in the Hunter Valley region to provide critical support to those impacted. Many thanks to Masonicare for the InterACTION grant which enabled us to boost the funds raised for this worthy cause.

In addition the brethren also held a Christmas Appeal to collect non-perishable foods and other goods to donate to Nova Women and Children, a local service that provides for the homeless and those affected by domestic violence. The results were magnificent and a large donation was made which was very gratefully received.

Nova made the following comments on their Facebook page: ‘Big thank you to all involved in this via the Lodge Lake Macquarie 243 from Toronto, which is part of the Freemasons in NSW and the ACT, for delivering all these beautiful gifts and essential and non-perishable food to us at our Charlestown Hub today.

This type of donation is super helpful, for Christmas and beyond, as our need (especially for food) rarely stops. Many families are struggling with the basic cost of living these days and after Christmas the bills don't stop.