21 December, 2005

The benevolent activities of Freemasons New Zealand, expected to exceed $1 millionb this financial year, is in new hands.

Auckland lawyer Mark Winger has been announced the new President of the Board of
Benevolence for Freemasons New Zealand, the national body responsible for the
disbursement of these funds in the community.

Mark succeeds Terry Meekan, also of Auckland, who has retired after 5 years of service.

In announcing Mark Winger’s appointment, Grand Master for Freemasons New Zealand, David Mace, said “Benevolence is the cornerstone of Freemasonry everywhere, as well as being our public face. By far the majority of our giving is directed at non Masonic causes and needs. Mark’s role is of great importance because of the prominence and high value accorded to benevolent activities by Freemasons.”

Mr Winger, a senior partner at central city law firm Holmden Horrocks, and 30 years a Freemason said, “My first priority is the protection and growth of our income sources to enable the giving to continue well into the future. There is also a need for greater coordination of the millions of dollars given away each year by various Masonic groups all over the country. They all deserve better recognition.”

“Most of this money is given outside of Freemasons and their families for the betterment of society in general and distributed without fuss and little fanfare. It is time to move towards gaining a greater awareness of the good that the benevolence of Freemasons has done for a long time and which it will continue to do in future”

Freemasons New Zealand gave away over $740,000 in the last financial year and this figure is likely to exceed $1 million in the current financial year.

Some major activities of Freemasons New Zealand are:

· Helping individuals and families in need.

· Awarding each year 66 tertiary scholarships, totalling almost $250,000, to students at participating University’s.

· Supporting the Chair of Gerontology at Auckland University, the professor of which is Dr Martin Connolly who recently arrived from UK.

· Making grants each year to Otago University towards research into child
health, currently undertaken by Dr Phillipa Carter and Dr Nikki Kerruish,

· Professor Richard Faul at Auckland University is being supported in his research of Neurodegenerative disorders. Richard and his team have made amazing break throughs during 2005 and will further this, with support from Freemasons New Zealand in 2006.

· In association with the Royal Society for New Zealand, Freemasons New Zealand sponsor a Secondary Schools’ science orientated video competition with amazing travel prizes. The 2005 competition winners, from Kaitaia College and Fairfield College in Hamilton, travelled to the UK and to Europe. The 2006 winners will visit Antarctica and stay at Scott Base.

· Recently the Freemasons of New Zealand and Australia have pooled resources to help build an orphanage and vocational training centre in Sri Lanka.

Applications for funding from Freemasons New Zealand are considered whether the applicants are connected to Freemasonry or not, and irrespective of gender, nationality or religious persuasions. In the first instance, applicants should contact their local Freemasons Lodge which is listed in the white pages phone book under ‘Freemasons’.

ENDS

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