Background:
Originally formed in 1958 with the purpose of building Masonic Cottages for the Elderly in Dunedin, the Trust now acts as the principle administrator of Masonic Charitable funds in Otago. The Maryhill Masonic Cottages were officially opened in 1968, in association with the Dunedin City Council, and the Trust still has an active involvement with this complex.

However the impetus supplied by this project meant that other worthy causes were promoted, and since then the Trust has supported many different appeals and community organisations. To make best use of funds, the allocation of grants was formalised to one annual round of Applications. This continues today, however the Trust has also funded a number of special projects over an above Annual Grants.

The Trust is administered by a Board of Trustees, elected from the Lodges around the Otago Provincial area. The province is divided into four sub-Districts, being North, Central, South and Greater Dunedin, which are represented on the Board. As well, there are nominated representatives of the four Grand Lodges, New Zealand, Scottish, Irish and English on the Board, and elected Trustees.

Main Trust Activities:
The General Fund is used for the annual grants to community organisations and special ‘one of’ contributions; i.e. to the new Otago Community Hospice in 2000, the 1984 Southland Disaster Appeal, and the Chair of Geriatrics at the Auckland University.

Applications for the annual grants round are called for in February each year and these close on 31 March. Successful grants are then presented at functions in each sub-district in mid June.

As an example; in 2010 there were 68  Applications received,  from which 39 Grants were presented, totalling $71,368    (This included $3000 to local Foodbanks)

In total over the last 50 years the Trust has given more than $1,500,000 to Charity in Otago.

When the Port Chalmers Marine Lodge E.C. closed in 2005 a portion of the funds from the sale of the Lodgeroom were transferred into a Bursary Trust which is administered by the Otago Masonic Charitable Trust. This pays an annual bursary of $5000 to a school leaver who lives in Port Chalmers.

In 1992 the Trust received a bequest from the Estate of H L Boock to be used to allow elderly Masons to remain in their homes. Today this is administered to allow elderly masons, their widows and families, to maintain their quality of life, and each year a number of grants are made to worthy recipients.

The Youth Development Programme sub-committee oversees ways to help young people. Presently the OMCT sponsors the “Elwing” course. This is designed to assist young people develop useful skills that will help them when starting out on ‘life’s journey’.

In 2010, in association with Elwing Discoveries, the Trust adapted a one week outdoor education course to suit its goals. The Trust sponsors 10 young people, who have left Secondary School, on a week long course aboard the yacht ‘Elwing” at Stewart Island. The course is designed to develop teamwork, personal skills, and self confidence, as well as experiencing a unique part of New Zealand’s natural history. As part of the course, participants study both academically and practically for their NZ Coastguard ‘Day Skippers’ and ‘UHF Operators’ Certificates. Feedback from everyone involved has been tremendous.

The Otago Masonic Charitable Trust is an important part of the Masonic charitable activities in Otago, and is pleased to also support Lodges own benevolence and the various Grand Lodges benevolence activities where applicable.

For more details contact:
The Otago Masonic Charitable Trust
P O Box 315, Dunedin.   9054
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