More than $1000 was raised, with another $5000 to be presented, for a local children’s gift appeal, after Northern District Freemasons gathered on Saturday night (Dec. 15) for a Christmas Gift Appeal Dinner Ball.

Local Freemasons come from a variety of backgrounds including a bricklayer, a motor mechanic, two University students, an engineer, a teacher, a baker, a gardener, a real estate agent, a car sales executive, an accountant, and a cook. Across Victoria, 8000 Freemasons give more than $2 million to charity annually in Victoria. They will again collect for the Royal Children’s Hospital in the new year.

The Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge, with close ties to Yea, will be operating another Bunnings barbecue fundraiser at Northland in the New Year.