News from the OMCT

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2023 Grant Awards

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For photos of the 2023 OMCT Grant Awards click here.

 

 

The 2022 Grant Awards

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For photos of the 2022 OMCT Grant Awards click here.

 
 
 

The 2021 Community Grants.

In February 2021 Applications opened for community organisations to apply for financial assistance to purchase items to help them operate. 74 Applications were received by 31 March, and in early June four presentation functions were held to present the funds to the successful applicants. These were in Oamaru, Tapanui, Alexandra and Dunedin.

Other sponsorships such as the Youth Development participants were also recognised.
As well in Dunedin the University of Otago Freemasons Scholarships and Fellowships were acknowledged, as was the continuing sponsorship of the Chair of Paediatrics at the Dunedin medical School.

Speaking at the Dunedin Presentation, the Grand Master of Freemasons New Zealand, Graham Wrigley, congratulated the Trust on its contributions in Otago, and spoke of the continued support by Freemasons for both medical research and local community projects, such as seen at the presentation functions.


He also highlighted the fact that Freemasons NZ has confirmed an exciting sponsorship of this year’s Special Olympics New Zealand National Summer Games that will be held in Hamilton in December. (Since postponed)

OMCT DONATIONS IN 2021

Community Grants   (All of Otago)  45 organisations      
Youth Development Programme  (Elwing) 9 Participants.
The Port Chalmers Marine Lodge Bursary                      
Dunedin School of Art   (Fred Staub Open Art) ”               
Boock Estate Grants to the elderly   (to date)                 
Lake Ohau Village Restoration                                              

2021 TOTAL

$64,918
$10,000
$5,000
$10,000
$4,212
$1,000

$95,130 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 2021

Grant Presenters : Munro Doran, Christine Garey, Graham Wrigley (Grand Master), Grant Watson and Prof. Ben Wheeler

 

June 2021

Christine Garey (Dunedin's Deputy Mayor) with grant recipient Chloe Hawkins from Bellyful, Dunedin

 

 
 

June 2021

Jim Watt (Deputy Grand Master) with Freemasons Scholarships recipients, Megan Taylor and Gemma Ballantyne

 

Masonic University Scholarships

May 2019

Conrad Goodhew, Shannon Tumataroa, Anna Charles-Jones and Dayle Keown celebrate their Masonic scholarships

Each year some of the country's top students are awarded Masonic University Scholarships.

For further information click here.

 

 
 


The Freemasons Oncology Fellowship

2019

John Dennison (OMCT with the Oncology Fellowship Committee : Les Bresnell (Secretary), John Steele (Chairman) and Alistair Cowan (Tresurer) with Fellowship recipient Dr Melanie Grant.

For further information click here.

 

 

 

 

 

OMCT Donates to Foodbanks

The tireless voluntary workers at the Dunedin Salvation Army's Foodbank are grateful for any and all assistance they can get during the Covid-19 pandemic so a $6000 donation from the OMCT was a welcome surprise.

For further information click here.

 

 

Rt.W.Bro John Dennison JGW

 

It is with immeasurable sadness that the Trustees of the OMCT and the many members of Masonic Lodges in the region, learned of the unexpected passing of Rt.W.Bro. John Dennison JGW on Tuesday, 14 April 2020, following a short illness.  W.Bro. John Wren-Potter shares with us a personal overview of the life of this extraordinarily gifted, exceptionally generous and humble gentleman: husband to Ann, father to Sarah, and truly outstanding Freemason.

 

For further information click here.


OMCT Grants 2019

For details of the 2019 Grants Awards Ceremony click here.

 

 


Freemasons Scholaships Recipients

June 2019


Recipients from the University of Otago. Prof Glenn Summerhayes (Committee), Jarad Monk, Hetal Shukla, Georgina Cook, Brin Ryder and John Dennison (OMCT Chairman)

 

View a video of the 2018 Freemasons Scholaships Presentation 40th Anniversary

 

The 2016 Grants Awards

For photos of the 2016 OMCT Grant Awards click here.

 
   
 

Camp Quality South

 

The 2022 Grant Awards

For photos of the 2022 OMCT Grant Awards click here.

 
The presentation is being made in Oamaru as that is where the Volunteer fundraiser for Camp Quality South resides, but this Grant is a little different than many as the funding is being split 3 ways between,
The Midland District Charitable Trust based in South Canterbury, tThe Southland Masonic Trust and The Otago Masonic Charitable Trust. This is because the Life Vests and Wetsuits being funded, will be used in Camps, and by Children, from South of Ashburton.

Camp Quality is a very special organisation operating right around New Zealand. Camp Quality South, obviously, is the branch in Southern New Zealand.

Their Vision is; To bring fun, hope and happiness to children living with cancer.

Their Logo is a ‘Hot Air Balloon’ to symbolise the ability to rise above life's challenges.

Camp Quality Campers are children, 5 to 16 years of age, who have been diagnosed with cancer, and are well enough to attend camp. The programmes provide a stress-free and caring environment for the children where fun and friendship are combined with achievable challenges - allowing the children to “just be kids”. They get a sense of normality and independence and focus on the positive aspects of their lives.

Camp Quality passionately believes in the power of fun to help children and their families overcome the challenges that living with cancer can bring. Each year Camp Quality programmes cater for around 300 children at various locations around the country.

In the South, our Summer Camp is based near Queenstown at the Frankton Lakeland Camp, and the children participate and visit several places for fun activities, such as the Playground, Highlands Motor Park, Frankton swimming Pool, Lake day activities, and the good old water slide at Camp! We also have had various entertainers come into camp - e.g.: Wonky Donkey (Craig Smith) Suzy Cato and Pippity Pop.

In 2021, 31 children attended the camp with over 50 volunteers including medical support workers.
Covid has obviously influenced numbers, but in a normal year there are also shorter camps, activity days, and reunions.

Through Camp Quality, families get a much-needed break and the opportunity to spend time with other siblings while their child is at camp. They do so with the assurance that Camp Quality has the finest programmes, staff, Companions, medical care, and safety procedures in place.

Across New Zealand more than 300 children attend various camps.

The 3 Masonic Trusts in the south are really pleased we can help such a worthy organisation in this small way.
 
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