Masons lend a hand

Trevor Hickmott (second from right), flanked by Warwick Roberts and Don Seath, presented the cheque to Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup in 2022.

Trevor Hickmott (second from right), flanked by Warwick Roberts and Don Seath, presented the cheque to Rural Support Trust chair Neil Bateup.

Masons have given a $7000 helping hand to the Rural Support Trust.

Lodge Copernicus, which meets in Cambridge, initiated the fundraising and gained additional funds from Lodge Waikato and the Freemasons Charity Fund.

A number of Waikato Lodges have also opened up their Lodge rooms for use by the Rural Support Trust and provided other support.

Trevor Hickmott, Master of Lodge Copernicus, said the trust was providing a vital service to the rural community through its help line and a team of coordinators and facilitators.

The two organisations had much in common – “both organisations have as their guiding principles the need to help people less fortunate than themselves with tolerance, care, kindness, honesty and trust,” he said.

More Recent News

Community champions celebrated

From courts to classrooms, farms to playing fields, Waikato and King Country figures earn national recognition in the New Year’s Honours List, reports senior writer Mary Anne Gill. Cambridge recipients are Kevin Burgess and Judith…

On the wrong path

Update 18 December 2025 The Media Council has not upheld a complaint about this article noting the article fairly reported a community concern for the safety of pedestrians. The photograph was useful as it clearly…

Councils to the rescue?

Rescue boats and jet skis operated by Waikato councils could serve the region’s waterways. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) chief executive Kerry Gregory suggested Waikato councils apply for a maritime transport operator certificate after…

Councillor offers cultural safety advice

Waipā District Council staff are seeking cultural safety advice from Māori Ward councillor Dale-Maree Morgan. Morgan asked council people and capability operations manager Clark Collins for an update on cultural safety before sharing she had…