Queensland Masonic Lodge’s Ian De Villiers was recently awarded the prestigious Order of Service to Benevolence Jewel, the highest benevolence honour, for his tireless efforts towards improving the financial and physical security of women within his community.
Ian has been a Freemason for almost 35 years. For at least ten of those years, Ian has devoted his time to supporting victims of domestic violence by fundraising for the Women’s Crisis Support Service Inc. which operates the Ipswich Women’s Shelter.
In the last five years alone, with the help of Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland, his Lodge, under his leadership, has donated close to $20,000 towards the shelter’s resettlement program to help hundreds of vulnerable women and their children to get back on their feet.
Similarly, in 2018 he successfully championed the work of the Shelter to secure a $10,000 Grassroots Community Grant from Hand Heart Pocket.
Congratulations on your award Ian and for your tireless efforts to make a difference in your community.
Photo: Queensland Masonic Lodge Worshipful Master Tom Lane and Order of Service to Benevolence Jewel recipient Ian De Villiers.
