Masonic Villages Trust

Freemasons NZ invests in aged care sector with $50,000 grant

Marie Gillies, Chair, The Masonic Villages Trust Board

A new $50,000 grant by Freemason NZ is a gamechanger for The Masonic Villages Trust (MVT), enabling the professional development of its caregivers over the next 12 months. The Freemasons’ investment will facilitate training and the integration of roles between caregivers and nurses. “The grant will make a significant difference to our carers who are passionate about working in the aged care sector and providing professional, skilled support and care to older New Zealanders who need it,” General Manager Masonic Care, Anne McLean, says. “This grant means we can continue to develop and upskill our team which, in turn, will help with staff recruitment and retention. “In that respect it’s a real gamechanger and we’re very grateful.” New Zealand’s aged care sector is short 1,200 nurses – nearly 25 per cent of the nursing workforce. This shortage has significant implications for the viability of some care facilities around the country. It’s been driven by COVID-19, border closures and pay parity issues. Freemasons NZ Grand Master, Jim Watt, said the organisation is delighted to be able to make this grant to the Trust.

“There’s a close association between Freemasons NZ and the Masonic Villages Trust. “Our Brethren helped build some of the Trust’s early retirement villages and care facilities 60 years ago and we share a deep belief in the Masonic values of care, community and compassion. “By making this grant, we are supporting the Trust to support our elderly New Zealanders and I’m sure we can all appreciate the value in doing that.” Freemasons NZ is one of the largest charities in New Zealand. It supports a wide range of community and other organisations to the tune of over $5 million a year. While this grant is currently a one-off investment, it is hoped it will continue creating opportunities for staff and attracting people to the aged care workforce, not just from within New Zealand but also from offshore.

1,200

nurses short

25%

of the workforce

First pensioner flats under construction, Woburn, 1966

Stone laying attracts big audience at our newest village

The newly-elected Mayor of Lower Hutt, Campbell Barry, attended, along with the local electorate MP, Labour’s Ginny Anderson, and her list MP National Party colleague, Chris Bishop. They were joined by the Grand Master and Grand Master-elect of Freemasons NZ, Graham Wrigley and Jim Watt respectively, with a host of other senior Brethren. They, in turn, were supported by many, many happy village residents, who were in fine singing voice on the day, and staff from The Masonic Villages Trust. The occasion? The formal ceremony to mark the opening of the Wainuiomata Masonic Village on Saturday October 15, 2022. The ceremony itself revolved around a traditional laying of the Foundation Stone, complete with the Freemasons’ ritual, prayers and presentations that reflect Masonic morals and history. In keeping with the Trust’s vision, the Wainuiomata village provides the people of that Lower Hutt suburb with retirement living options within their own local community. This means that, like most residents of our 17 retirement villages around the North Island, they can enjoy their retirement years while remaining close to friends and family, and relaxing in a familiar environment. Grand Master Graham Wrigley and the Freemasons contingent attended to mark their organisation’s close association over many years with the Trust. In fact, it was Freemasons, back in the early 1960s, who helped build our first ever Masonic retirement village at Woburn, Lower Hutt. Our two organisations still share those Masonic values of community friendship and support. Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Wainuiomata village are now complete with a total of 43 villas. A further 29 are under construction, and when the village is complete it will offer 80 retirement villas.

MW Bro Graham Wrigley, Grand Master Freemasons NZ (second from the right) and the Freemasons