In January 2011 three Freemasons worked around Gipps St tidying up and painting out graffiti.

In January 2012 more than 10 Freemasons turned up to clean, polish and paint.

Lots of odd jobs got done and made a big difference to the Centre.

Rags and polish were taken to the timber and metal in the lodge room and staircase. Paint was applied to metal work outside, but more importantly to water damage directly outside the lodge room. After roof repairs in early 2011, the wall was truly dried out but the damage unsightly.

Bro Drew led the charge to organize this years working bee, providing lunch and buying materials. Drew said he just got sick of looking at the damaged wall and wanted to do something about it, saying it created a bad impression, especially on candidates.

After consulting with the Committee of Management and gaining their approval for the works and to purchase materials, Drew got on the phone and started calling Devotion members. He didn’t get the chance to contact everyone – but the response was strong.

It is great to see Freemasons donate some of their time to tidy the Collingwood Masonic Centre, and it is a great example how one motivated person willing to put some time in can be the spark for change.

Drew is to be commended on organizing this initiative. On three subsequent evenings he returned with two other members in the final push which competed the job.

Special thanks to Lodge Devotion – every volunteer on this project is from that Lodge.