Guiding Star Lodge’s charitable donations in the Ballarat community

2023 Contributions

Freemasons Victoria and Freemasons Foundation
Local Freemasons Assist in Flood Recovery Program.
July 2023

Ballarat District Freemasons were instrumental in arranging
and financing the delivery of blankets to the Rochester Flood
Recovery Centre on 30th June.

The 300 blankets worth over $26,000, were part of the
Freemasons Foundation Victoria and Freemasons Victoria
$700,000 commitment to assist freemasons, community
residents and organisations affected by the Victorian 2022
floods. They have also financially supported groups to enable
on-going emergency relief programs.

The blankets were distributed to displaced community
members living in caravans at the Elmore Field Day site.
It’s a tangible form of support to the directly affected, and the
blankets will continue to be useful when these people get back
into new accommodation.

The blankets from Creswick Woolen Mill were loaded by
Peter Bond-Guiding Star Lodge, Eddie Koene –St Johns Lodge
and Ron Fleming –Sturt Buninyong Lodge who also drove the
truck to Rochester.

Photo: A team effort by Peter Bond, Eddie Koene and
Ron Fleming as they complete loading the 50 boxes of Creswick Woollen Mill blankets destined for Rochester.

2022 Contributions

Sebastopol Primary School
9th December 2022

Each year Guiding Star Lodge and the Freemasons Foundation Victoria donate $500 each to support 5 grade 6 students who are moving onto high school. This money assists in providing school books.

Present in photo from left: W. Bro Chris Davis and W. Bro. Matt Salter, and the 5 students who received $200 each and the Grade 6 teacher, Sally.

Ballarat Legacy
December 2022

We pledged for 5 years to donate $1,500 to Ballarat Legacy in memory and to honour our passed brother, Worshipfil Brother Robin Watson.

Ballarat Legacy
December 2022

Between Guiding Star Lodge and the Freemasons Foundation Victoria, we donated $5,000 to Legacy Ballarat.

2021 Contributions

Sebastopol Primary School
December 2021

Each year Guiding Star Lodge and the Freemasons Foundation Victoria donate $500 each to support 5 grade 6 students who are moving onto high school. This money assists in providing school books.

Due to Covid, no photo is available.

2020 Contributions

Sebastopol Primary School
December 2020

Each year Guiding Star Lodge and the Freemasons Foundation Victoria donate $500 each to support 5 grade 6 students who are moving onto high school. This money assists in providing school books.

Due to Covid , no photo is available.

Ballarat Legacy
December 2020

We pledged for 5 years to donate $1,000 to Ballarat Legacy in memory and to honour our passed brother, Worshipfil Brother Robin Watson.

Australian Bush fires
8th January 2020

Guiding Star Lodge has donated $1,000 to go towards the Freemasons Foundation Victoria Disaster Relief fund.

As of 10th of January 2020 the fund was sitting on $556,000.

2019 Contributions

Sebastopol Primary School
18th December 2019

Each year Guiding Star Lodge and the Freemasons Foundation Victoria donate $500 each to support 5 grade 6 students who are moving onto high school. This money assists in providing school books.

Present in photo from left: Bro. Victor Nagbe, 3 out of 5 students who received $200 each, W.Bro Matt Salter and W.Bro Chris Davis.

Ballarat Legacy
22nd November 2019

We pledged for 5 years to donate $1,000 Ballarat Legacy in memory and to honour our passed brother, Worshipful Brother Robin Watson.

Present in photo from left: W.Bro Matt Salter, Legatee Peta Gillespie and W.Bro Barry Parker.

Sebastopol Primary School Piano
9th May 2019

Money raised from the Bunnings BBQ Fundraiser, together with the Freemasons Foundation Victoria we raised enough money to purchase a weighted Piano for the Sebastopol Primary School Choir. This has enabled the choir to practice with an actual piano and to further student learning.

Present in photo from left: W.Bro Matt Salter, Music teach Kelly and students.

Ballarat Legacy
December 2018

We pledged for 5 years to donate $1,000 to Ballarat Legacy in memory and to honour our passed brother, Worshipfil Brother Robin Watson.

Headspace Ballarat
26th November 2018

The members of Guiding Star hosted a Trivia night to raise money for Headspace Ballarat with a specific focus on youth suicide prevention.
The night raised $2,500 and with the generosity of the Freemasons Foundation Victoria they matched it with another $2,500. Together we were able to donate $5,000 to Headspace Ballarat.

Present in photo from left: Bro. Chris Borchers, Bro. Aaron Crump, Carynda Harman, W.Bro Matt Salter, Head Space Director Janelle Johnson and W.Bro Barry Parker.

1st Wendouree Scouts – Scouts Victoria
20th December 2017

Guiding Star Lodge and Freemasons Foundation Victoria recently had the pleasure of presenting a cheque to 1st Wendouree, Scouts Victoria to help them complete the renovations on their kitchen.

Pictured from left: Bro. Basil Bowman who has also dedicated his life to scouts and holds the highest award you can receive in Scouts Australia which is the silver kangaroo. On the right is our Worshipful Master, Wor. Bro. Barry Parker who is also a past scout leader.

We hope our continued involvement in the Ballarat community makes a different to young lives.

Present in photo from left: Bro. Basil Bowman, Freemason and recipient of the Silver Kangaroo in Scouts which is the highest award for adult leaders in Scouts Australia and W.Bro Barry Parker with some of the scouts demonstrating different knots.

Ballarat Legacy
December 2017

We pledged for 5 years to donate $1,000 to Ballarat Legacy in memory and to honour our passed brother, Worshipful Brother Robin Watson.