Benevolence
Benevolence, the desire to do good to others, and general charitableness, is at the very heart of the Orange Order NZ. As a fraternal organisation, we are very proud of the valuable work we do in our communities.
Orange Order Member Support
Prior to the introduction of Social Security, if a member was ill and unable to work life could become very difficult financially. Old minute books reveal many instances of members helping other members. It was quite common for a lodge to request Grand Lodge to organise an appeal for the widow of a deceased member, at the time there was no such thing as social security or benefits. During the depression, members rallied around and shared what they had with other members. Lodges would buy coal, meat, potatoes etc for a distressed member and individual members would make donations in kind. A farmer may give meat, a coal merchant in Ashburton gave bags of coal to a fellow member, there were so many acts of kindness. One of the Christchurch lodges had a member who was unable to work very much but was a skilled joiner. The lodge used to obtain their certificate frames from him. In the 1980s a nationwide appeal was launched for Sister Tracey Holmes a Junior member of Southland who was in need of a liver transplant. It was an operation which couldn’t be carried out in New Zealand so lodges throughout the country worked very hard to raise money to help Tracey. Her first transplant failed but the second one was successful and at the time of writing – 2024, she is still well.
Bursaries
The suggestion of bursaries to assist with the education of Junior and Intermediate members was first proposed by the members of the Christchurch Junior Lodge at the Junior biennial conference in 1969. It was approved by Grand Lodge and for many years was funded by the Auckland Orange Hall Society – a separate incorporated society which owns and administers the Auckland Orange Hall. The bursary was named for Bro. Alex Gear a notable member of the Order and when first awarded it was $100.00 and was for children of members only. In 2024 it is $1,500.00. In more recent years this has been funded by the Grand Orange Lodge of New Zealand. The first bursary was awarded in 1973 but the recipient then declined the award. Up to six bursaries are awarded each year for full time study over three years resulting in the completion and awarding of a degree by a recognised tertiary institution. This has now been extended to include members, spouses, children and grand children of active members or members who were active at the time of their death. It has helped a considerable number of youngsters over the years. It is interesting to see some of today’s recipients are children or grand children of recipients of yesteryear.
John & Ethan Trent - Orange Order New Zealand Bursary recipients
Charity
Supporting charities was most important to the Order, possibly one of the first Lodges to realise the importance of charitable work was the Christchurch Intermediate Lodge. Soon after its inception it began by collecting groceries for Mrs Miles and her children’s home known as Little Acre, first in Moorhouse Avenue, later in Huntsbury. For many years Grand Lodge has had a two year appeal for a specific charity nominated and voted for by the members. Over the years many charities have been supported including St. John Ambulance, Muscular Dystrophy, Rescue Helicopters, Coast Guard, Surf Life Saving, Cot Death Society, Car Seats for Babies, Ronald McDonald House, and many more. In addition to the two year appeal, lodges have supported other charities in their respective areas, some are Canterbury and Southland Charity Hospitals, Templeton Hospital and Training School, 0800 Hungry, Search and Rescue, Life Flight and Westpac Rescue Helicopters, Malaghan Institute in Wellington, Salvation Army in Wellington and many more, KidsCan.
