For many years the Surf Life Saving movement has been the recipient of Masonic benevolence. The local surf clubs at Pambula Beach and Tathra Beach have also been the recipients of surf lifesaving equipment from the local Masonic Lodges at Pambula and Bega.
On this occasion the five Lodges in the Far South East corner of NSW have combined to raise sufficient money to enable each club to be presented with a beach going wheelchair, which will enable wheelchair-bound people to enjoy a dip in the surf, basically unaided. A situation, which in the past has been impossible in this area. The charity arm of the United Grand Lodge of NSW and ACT, Masonicare, has matched the funds contributed by the five lodges and this has enabled the purchase of two chairs, one for each club.
The chairs are manufactured in France by Vipamat and are imported into Australia by Northcott Industries, Sydney, who retail them at a cost of $5,300 each. The chairs, which have been designed to be propelled across sand by the user and with the ability to be pushed or pulled by another. They are made of marine grade stainless steel and will not rust. They also float when empty enabling the user to get off the chair and with the aid of a rope, retrieve it to return to the beach.
About nine months ago at a combined district BBQ at which the Tathra surf club was present to instruct children in water safety, the Club Captain was asked if they had a wish list for club equipment. He replied that something they would really appreciate but could not afford was a beach going wheelchair. Enquiries revealed that the Pambula surf club would also have a great use for this piece of equipment especially for their special nippers program.
Some nine months later two chairs arrived which met the clubs’ specifications and these were presented by the District Grand Inspector of Workings, Charles de Rochefort on 17th and 19th November 2006 respectively at each club. The Regional Grand Councillor, RW Bro Bob Nairn, masonic brethren from the various lodges, RW Bro John le Mesurier, PAGM, from Masonicare, and numerous surf club members attended one or the other presentations.
In addition to the chairs, each club has also been presented with a metal plaque bearing the names of the donor lodges namely:-Lodge Bega Remembrance, Lodge Cooma-Monaro, The Mountain Lodge, Bombala, Lodge Baddeley, Pambula and Lodge Pambula Daylight, and Masonicare.
Presentation at Pambula Beach - Sunday 19th November 2006
by VW Bro Charles de Rochefort, DGIW, to Donald Hay, Club President
in the presence of three district Masters, brethren and club members.
A Nipper tries out the chair on the beach........
...........and in the water.
Presentation at the Tathra Surf Club 17th November 2006.
Putting the chair together
Almost there.
Plaque for tathra club house wall.
RGC, DGIW and others discussing the chair.
EPILOGUE
This project is probably the first of this magnitude undertaken by the Lodges in this District. The end result has been one of great satisfaction to the members of the five lodges but also to the members of both Surf Lifesaving Clubs. Handicapped people will now be able to not only get to the water but will be able to submerse themselves and enjoy the ocean. The main force behind the project has been Rob Armstrong of the Tathra Club, pictured above on the right, whose enthusiasm for the project and tireless efforts in making sure the chair met all his and the Club's requirements made sure we ended up with a product that would work. Our former DGIW, VW Bro Russell Yelds must also share some of the limelight as it was his driving force that ensured the project went ahead to completion.
In all, a most satisfactory conclusion.
Article from the Bega News............
(Errata: Rob Lawrence should read Rob Armstrong)
