A donation of two defibrillators was made to two Mackay organisations thanks to Mackay District Freemasons last week.
Mackay District Senior Citizens Club and MADEC were the beneficiaries of the defibrillators, a donation coordinated by Alan Hutchison.
RW Bro Chris Devine CSM PAGM of the Grand Lodge in Brisbane made the trip to Mackay to present the defibrillators, saying the program came after rolling out defibrillators to all Masonic centres in Queensland and Papua New Guinea.
“I suggested that we order several units in excess of what the requirements were in order to create a bit of activity in the community for Freemasonry,” said Mr Devine.
“With that in mind, we ordered 10 or a dozen extra units.”
Freemasons donated units to organisations in Dalby, Maryborough, Kingaroy and Beerburrum before Mr Hutchison suggested to Mr Devine that Mackay District Senior Citizens Club and MADEC could benefit from the program.
Mackay District Senior Citizens Club President Charlie Symons says defibrillators will make a huge difference.
“It’s something that was brought up about five or six years ago … how many more lives could be saved by having a defibrillator rather than just the use of CPR?” he said.
“It’s something that is needed, and I can’t thank Alan enough.”
MADEC Community Development Manager Karen Bonham says that, as an NDIS registered disability support service, the NDIS covers staff hours and basic equipment.
“What’s missing from that is extended items like defibrillators which providers need to come up with themselves,” she said.
“This will make a significant difference to psychological safety for our clients.”
Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson also spoke at the presentation, saying the Freemasons have been contributing to the community for quite some time.
“The demonstration of this today is just an example of what the brethren of the Masonic fraternity in our community have been doing … quite unsung in our community.”
Mr Williamson also assisted in demonstrating the correct use of defibrillators, presented by Professor Manjit Pawar.
Mr Devine said coordinating the donation and presentation has taken seven months and it’s all thanks to the work of Mr Hutchison.
“It does my heart good to know that we’re having some effect in the community and that Freemasonry isn’t really a secret society with funny rituals and devil worshippers which we’ve been blamed for in the past,” said Mr Devine.
“We’re an organisation that likes to build better men and show
L-R Chris and Maria Devine, Rob Lucas, Charlie Symons, Alan Hutchison, Karen Bonham and Greg Williamson showing off the new defibrillators presented to Mackay District Senior Citizens Club and MADEC
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