H In Banya Street Has A New Shed.

Bribie’s first-ever community organisation Toc. H in Banya Street has a new shed.

The Bribie Masonic Lodge made this storage shed possible through a grant that is only one of the numerous grants to local organisations in recent times Bribie Masons have made. Done in the spirit of the Masonic principle of assisting worthwhile groups with their work in the community.

The picture shown is of the Lodges Master Ray Sweatman, formally handing over the shed to Toc. H Chairman Ray Geise, who upon receiving them thanked the lodge and praised the newly appointed caretakers Paul and Sarndra for their work preparing the site.

Bribie Masons have recently become a daytime lodge, meeting in the Caboolture Masonic Centre on the second Tuesday of the month at 9 am and welcoming new and existing Masons who may have recently come to live at Bribie or nearby.

A Bit About Toc.h

Naoum and Emily Coungeau built their Bribie retirement home in 1916. The couple ran a successful restaurant for 30 years in Queen Street, Brisbane and their commercial success allowed them to become significant patrons of the arts and contributors to charity.

Emily at the age of 50 became a celebrated poet and lyricist, writing the words for Auster, the first Australian opera ever performed by a professional theatre company. Naoum and Emily, in 1936, left their home on Bribie Island to the Church of England as a rest home for Clergy. Coungeau House was sold by the Church to Toc H in 1967.

After extensive fundraising by the Bribie and Brisbane Toc H communities, renovations were finished in 1974 and the house (with an attached dormitory) was opened to provide holiday accommodation for people with disabilities and people in need. The spacious Hall built under the house has been a meeting place for many organisations on Bribie Island as well as a venue for concerts and other community gatherings. Community organisations needing a place to meet are welcome to contact Toch H Bribie who will be happy to assist.

Toc H members enjoy serving the community in practical, worthwhile activities. They are, in effect, 'People caring for people'. Their motto is “Service is the rent we pay for our room on Earth”. Combine that with Mason’s values of commitment to developing your own potential, to values that see all humankind as equal, and to help others in our community, and you have a fantastic blend of awesome people out to make the world a better place to live in!