Goulburn Valley happily helps Freemasons to $20m milestone

By Murray Silby

Mar 6, 2024

**Helping hand:** Freemasons Foundation Victoria’s Rodney Lavin during the announcement of the purchase of a transperineal biopsy machine for GV Health. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Freemasons Foundation Victoria has marked a milestone, handing out $20 million to charitable causes since 2014, some of which has benefited Goulburn Valley residents.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

FFV chairman Garry James announced the milestone in Melbourne on Friday, March 1.

Mr James said the philanthropic contributions had positively impacted communities across Victoria.

“Our collective generosity has built stronger and healthier communities, supported individuals through access to education and aided Freemasons and their dependents in times of need,” he said.

The Goulburn Valley is one of the communities that has benefited.

In 2022, the foundation joined with the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch Shepparton, Male Bag Foundation, Honda Foundation and GV Health Foundation to contribute almost $200,000 to purchase a transperineal biopsy machine.

The Freemasons contributed $60,000 to the purchase, which means men from the region no longer have to travel to Melbourne to receive the best prostate diagnoses.

Speaking at the time of the donation, Rodney Lavin, from FFV, said local Shepparton Freemasons had prompted its contributions.

“I live in country Victoria myself, and I get it; it’s not fair that country blokes who have prostate cancer or are getting tested have to go all the way to Melbourne,” he said.

“Why shouldn’t they have facilities out here?”

Mr Lavin was also on hand last year to hand over $180,000 for the flood recovery efforts in Rochester and Shepparton.

The foundation said it had addressed critical needs, supported education, fostered health and wellbeing, and responded to emergencies through its various grant programs and initiatives.

“The $20 million granted by Freemasons Foundation Victoria has been a force for positive change and improvement to the lives and opportunities of Victorians and a source of support for those who need it most,” Mr James said.

“As a Freemason, I am very proud of being able to make this contribution to a better society, with a better quality of life and more opportunities for many.”