Charity Work

A key part of belonging to the Order of the Eastern Star is giving back to the community and enriching the lives of others. We take great pride in our charitable work with donations to various organisations and assistance given to the victims of State and National disasters over the years.

Each year, in some of our Chapters, the Worthy Matron nominates a Charity which benefits from fund raising activities during her Term of Office.  Other Chapters choose to support the community as the need arises.  The raising of monies for Charity, and the distribution of it, is all bound by each State or Territory’s gaming rules and regulations as set out for Not-for-Profit Organisations.

Fundraising activities are fun and varied. Examples include:

  • Luncheons, Afternoon Teas, Picnics, Sausage Sizzles, Balls/Dances;
  • Games Afternoons/Evenings (Bingo, Trivia, Cards);
  • Charity Stalls/Trading Tables;
  • Competitions (Raffles, Guessing Competitions);
  • Harvest Festivals (the giving of food to those in need); and
  • Craftwork (Knitting, Crochet, Greeting Cards etc), for local Hospitals to sell or use.

In addition to the raising of funds, many Chapters provide support in other ways. for example:

  • The Laurels at Clemtom Park in Sydney, are owned by the Grand Chapter of NSW & ACT, and provide valuable services for the community with our dedicated member support.
  • Chapter Members knit squares to make rugs for “WRAPS with Love”, and in any two year period, can knit 28, 40 x 70 cm rugs. These rugs are sent to the underprivileged in far off places overseas.

Latest Charity Donations – July 2019 through December 2021

The Charity donation figures submitted by Chapters and Governing Levels for 2019 through 2021 are summarised below.  The total amount for this period was $2,616,998.  Some of the recipients were:

  • St George and Sunderland hospital equipment $500,000.
  • Australian War Widows $220,000
  • Guide/Integra Service Dogs $210.000
  • Care Groups/Benevolent Soc/Community groups $199,603
  • Children’s medical research//hospitals $151,320
  • Cancer research/various types $140,232
  • Special Schools $128,000
  • Homeless Women and Adults $126,000
  • Widdon Masonic Homes $95,857.
  • Fire Services/Equipment $93,415
  • Angel Flight/Flying Doctors/Care Flight $90,629
  • Victims of Crime $16,000.
  • Disaster Appeal Fire/Floods $41,550

Many other organisations received donations and the variety of charity donations was extremely varied across the board. The Order of The Eastern Star members devotes many hours of work and dedication to help raise these funds for very worthy causes and others less fortunate in the communities. They do not look for and sometimes do not receive recognition for all this, however it is part of the core of the Order of the Eastern Star and done with Charity and Love of their fellow man.