Community Projects
Akaroa Toy Library
In August, The Phoenix Lodge will present the Akaroa toy library with a Maxamec Construction Kit (large). This is a magnificent toy which will hours of joy and excitement to children. It's educational aspect is particularly important.
Du'vauchelle School
The Phoenix Lodge No.43 are pleased to make a small contribution to the School funds. This is a junior School serving the small community around Du'vauchelle's Bay.
Waitangi Day Celebrations
On Waitangi Day, Phoenix Lodge will man the gates for the Okains Bay Museum activities. Freemasons from around the district are pleased to assist the Museum Trust on this special occasion.
Akaroa Area School
Phoenix Lodge is pleased to sponsor an annual FREEMASONS’ AWARD FOR EFFORT AND ACHIEVEMENT at the Akaroa Area School. The award is a scholarship to support a worthy and deserving student in the following year at the school.
The Phoenix Lodge are pleased to confirm the continuing support for students at the School.
Akaroa Community & School Library
The Community Library facility at the Akaroa Area School has been shifted to make room for school expansion. This is a community project funded by the community. To assist The Phoenix Lodge No.43 held a very successful Art & Wine evening at the Gaiety Hall from which $11,000 was given to assist with the relocation. This was a major joint effort by the Lodge and the Community Library Relocation Committee.
International Lighthouse Day
The second International Lighthouse Day on 17th August 2003 successfully raised the profile of Lighthouses, Lightvessels and other Navigational Aids, promoting this rich aspect of our maritime heritage. Many visitors and locals used this opportunity to visit this historic building. More...
Pompallier House
Pompallier House Rest Home, a 24 hour quality care unit, is run by the Pompallier Village Trust to provide facilities for those in need. More...
Built in 1906-1907 it served as a convent until 1980 when it was opened as a rest home. More...
The Phoenix Lodge has pledged to support Pompellier House recently assisting with the supply of a new computer system. (See below for details.)
Benevolence
Local and national funds of benevolence are available to assist individuals in times of real need. In the past such help has included facilities for the Akaroa Hospital, the Akaroa Rescue Vehicle, Pompellier Home, local Plunket, YMCA at Wainui and towards the War Memorial Reserve.
Double Presentation at The Phoenix Lodge No 43.
At a special gathering at Phoenix Lodge on Friday 16th April, representatives from the Akaroa Freemasons and the Akaroa and Bays Lions Club presented Pompallier House with two cheques towards the purchase of new computer equipment. The two charitable organizations made donations to cover the cost of the equipment in recognition of the need to update current management systems at the residential home.
Receiving the donations on behalf of the Pompallier Village Trust Board, Chris Bleasdale said that a recent survey carried out to assess the demand for the Pompallier aged care facility had been very encouraging and that there was a clear indication from the community that Pompallier House was needed for the future. He added “the quality of accommodation provided was a key issue and that there are current plans to upgrade the rooms.” Mr Bleasdale thanked the Lions and Masonic charities for their generous support and said the computer equipment was of vital importance in achieving a more cost effective method of administration.
The second presentation of the evening was a documented history of Freemasonry
on the Banks Peninsula, which was presented to Mayor Bob Parker by the Master
of Phoenix Lodge, Terry Carrell. In accepting the history, Bob Parker said
that he had always regarded Phoenix Lodge as one of the great cornerstones
of the Akaroa community. He observed that the history of Freemasonry in the
area could be traced back to 1837, when Freemasons among the French colonists
and sailors sought to establish regular meetings here. Mayor Parker said that
he found it quite remarkable that the English and French were developing such
close connections through Freemasonry in New Zealand so soon after the battle
of Waterloo, at a time when there was virtually no dialogue between the two
countries at home.
