It’s not every day that the Beaudesert Masonic Centre is open to the public, but recently their doors were open for their annual open day, which included the launch of a state-wide awareness campaign focussed on improving men’s mental and physical health.
Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland and the local Freemasons ran an information session in partnership with CheckUP as part of the 2019 Men’s Health Matters awareness campaign. The community event was the first of up to 15 events to be held across Queensland from September 2019 – March 2020.
Hand Heart Pocket Chief Executive Officer Gary Mark said empowering people to lead better lives is at the heart of their work.
“Improving men’s mental and physical health is part of our long-term charitable focus, which is why we’ve partnered with CheckUP to deliver this initiative to communities across Queensland,” Gary said.
“We thank the local Freemasons for rallying their community and hosting this potentially life-changing initiative as part of their open day,” he said.
Our delivery partners CheckUP delivered the free information session which covered everything from nutrition and physical activity, early detection of cancer, important CheckUPs for men, diabetes and heart disease, mental health and wellbeing and relationships.
CheckUP CEO Ann Maree Liddy said the highly engaged group in Beaudesert proved that this format is the perfect vehicle to spread awareness about men’s health and wellbeing.
“It was great to see people taking an interest in their health in the Scenic Rim. Providing welcoming and non-judgemental spaces for men to talk about their physical and mental health is essential,” Ann Maree said.
“We are delighted to have formed this partnership with Hand Heart Pocket and Freemason Lodges throughout the state to deliver this campaign,” she said.
Beaudesert Freemason Len Undy said being able to align their Masonic Centre’s open day with the Men’s Health Matters event made the occasion even more special.
“Being a Freemason means having a responsibility to understand and respond to the needs of your community, so being able to explain our work while also offering such an important service was really meaningful,” Len said.
“From talking to some of the men who attended I can tell that the session really opened their eyes and got them thinking about how to better look after their bodies as well as their minds.
“That can only be good for them, their families and the broader community,” he said.
Photo: Beaudesert Masonic Lodge Secretary Len Undy, Session Facilitator Sam, CheckUP’s David Millichap, Beaudesert Masonic Lodge Master Nigel Booker and Lodge Member David Cowin.
