The following Charity Report was presented at the 10th Biennial Session of the United Grand Chapter of Australia, held in Canberra, 8th - 11th June 2005. These charity donations were for the Biennium 1st January 2003 to 31st December 2004.

I thank the Chapters that sent their statistics at the request of the Worthy Grand Secretary, but regret that one in New South Wales, twenty three in Queensland and eight in Victoria did not respond to the request. It would seen that we may have given at least $375,000.

State by State Figures.

New South Wales		$188,237
Queensland		$95,357
Victoria		$5,343
South Australia		$9,357
Western Australia		$10,453
Tasmania		$5.075
Collective Charity Amount		$314,804

Included in New South Wales is the figures for Bankstown, Wyong and Kogarah St George Chapters who also have given an amount of $10,000 to New South Wales Steering Committee to start Sister Lios Allen with her fund raising for the Sessions which will be held in Sydney in 2009. This amount plus the following:- Donations of TWO special bikes for a Special School, Wyong and Kogarah St George Chapters both gave donations to Mayfield and Mortdale Chapters, which have their own halls. These amounts are not included in the overall New South Wales figure above.

The Main Recipients were:

O.E.S.Homes Fund		$18,780
Star Homes Queensland		$95,357
Special Projects Tthrough United Grand Chapter		$2,915
Hospitals Australia wide		$57,245
Cancer Research Programs		$43,390
Children's Charities :- Camp Quality, Local Schools and Eisteddfords		$26,569
Masonic Homes for the Aged		$22,210
Deaf and Blind Associations		$14,560
National Heart Foundation		$9.900
Diabetes Australia		$9,678
Motor Neurone Research		$4,800
Bush Fire Services		$3,526
Queensland Chapters were thoughtful towards our Drought troubled Men & women on the land		$3,250
Other Charities		$49,400

Unfortunately during these two years we had Mascot Chapter who sold their Hall and went into dormancy and we should feel very proud of the decisions they made. As they looked to the future with a large portion of their donations being made to Children's much needed Charities. They gave $25,000 to each of these :-

Children's Cancer	Northcott Society	Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre
Youth off the Streets	Ted Noff's Foundation	Bear Cottage
Odyssey House	Camp Quality	Multiple Sclerosis
Diabetes Australia	Australian Blood Bank	Garvan Institute
Aging Alzheimers	Windgap School	Fred Hollowes Foundation
Maroubra Life Saving	Kids Safe Prevention	Starlight
Red Cross Botany	Lucas Special School	Glaucome Association
Ronald McDonald House	Children's Medical Research

New Born and Paediatric Emergency Transport

Sclerodma Association (skin disorder}

Lifeline Macarthur - which built a new building for their needs and in the Councelling Room furnished by Mascot Chapter it has an Order of the Eastern Star sign on the door.

It seems each member chose one charity. Also $40,000 to the Laurels for kichen renovations, $10,000 each to Scouts Association, Girl Guides Association, New Born Cottage Hospital and Rainbow for Girls $5,000.

Speaking on behalf of their generous donations to eleven Chapters which own their halls.

Bathurst Chapter which was able to renovate the front of thair hall, they love to be able to raise money for the      fence too as one laughs at the other.

Goulburn Chapter - Tuck Pointed their hall and painted roof, windows and doors and put heaters in the back hall.

Holroyd Chapter were able to renovate their kitchen.

Lakemba Chapter which put in air conditioning.

Mount Beulah Chapter has a nice foyer once again with painting and new lights to make it brighter, and side      doors repaired.

Lidcombe Chapter who did the front of their hall and painting all around the outside, electrical work, refrigerator      etc.

Mayfield Chapter new roof, finished their cladding and new ladies toilets and carpet on floor.

Mortdale Chapter hall painted and electrical update, fans, lino for kitchen.

Wentworthville Chapter painted the outside of the hall.

Wollongong Chapter who also air conditioned.

Woonona Chapter had all new windows and painted the inside of their hall.

What a marvellous gesture to those Chapters who always have to struggle to do renovations, as one of them our greatful THANKS to all Mascot members for your UN - Solicited and Spontaneous Generosity.

So with all the donations added together it amounts to $1,160,000 Million Dollars to outside charities, for which on behalf of them I say THANK YOU. As without charity donations such as ours the communities would be poorer, as Charity Dollars are hard to obtain in these selfish times. I get a lot of satisfaction for working for my local hospital as all money raised goes to equipment for our community.

Most Worthy Grand Matrit has been apleasure to collate the figures once again and hopefully I will be able to obtain some publicity for our Order.

May I just say a personal thank you tomy friend Joanna Gash, Federal Member for Gilmore for re arranging her schedule to be with us today.

To all members "THANK YOU for YOUR GENEROUSITY and HARD WORK", and may we continue to do so for may years into the future, THANK YOU MOST WORTHY GRAND MATRON

Sister Narelle Ober
Session Co-ordinator.