Novacastria supports rural kids

The Backpack Venture mission is to give a backpack full of resources to as many school students as possible living in small rural towns in NSW, to make sure each child starts school confident and enthusiastic.

W Bro Joe Balasabas, the Worshipful Master of Lodge Novacastria, comments, ‘It all started after the repeated flooding in Northern NSW. As the WM-Elect of Lodge Novacastria I was thinking about what I could do to assist those who were affected, so I reached out to local businesses and associates asking for financial support. The result, our Lodge was able to raise $2,198 for the Grand Master’s Disaster Relief Fund, which I presented to the Grand Master at my installation.

‘This motivated me to continue to support my local community and by doing so to promote Freemasonry. We looked for an organisation we could support. My wife Gena and I were considering many local charities and The Backpack Venture stood out. We had grown up in a rural area of the Philippines and had experienced going to school without the essential resources that we needed. When we found out that this was also happening to many school children in Australia, particularly in the rural and remote communities, we were in absolute disbelief, so we decided to support The Backpack Venture.

‘At our 2022 Lodge Christmas party we invited representatives of The Backpack Venture to join us, and we donated $500 worth of school supplies. The success of the Christmas event convinced us to turn our social Ride or Drive Day into a fundraising event to raise more money for The Backpack Venture. The support we gathered for this was far greater than expected and we are still overwhelmed with the result. We have managed to raise and present $7,000 and six full backpacks donated by local businesses and other lodges and from donors throughout the Jurisdiction.’

Special thanks to our major sponsors, Sayas Ink Tattoo Clinic, SNC Apparel, Morpeth Antique Jewellery Gallery, and the Hunter Freemasons Association.

Lodge Novacastria will be making more appeals in the future, first to be able to reach out to those who need our help and second, to demonstrate one of the great principles of Freemasonry – charity! As the current theme of Lodge Novacastria puts it, TEAM – Together Everyone can Achieve More.

Lodge Pennant Hills No 905