Masons bring Christmas cheer

Exmouth families suffering financial hardship received a festive bonus this year, with Christmas hampers distributed to those who would benefit most.

The Shire of Exmouth teamed up with the Freemasons and Centacare Family Services to hold this year’s Christmas Hamper Appeal, with about 25 hampers handed out to those who needed them most.

Donation boxes were placed at both the town’s IGAs, at the wholesalers, the school office and under the Christmas tree in the Ningaloo Centre, with the Exmouth Freemasons collecting the donations and making up the hampers, while the staff at Centacare anonymously distributed them.

Shire president Matthew Niikkula said it never ceased to amaze him just how generous and caring Exmouth residents were when it came to making donations and lending a helping hand.

“There are plenty of wonderful families in our community that are doing it a bit tough and I am sure receiving a hamper full of goods will spread a bit of cheer to the holiday season,” he said.

An Exmouth Masonic Lodge member said freemasonry was all about charity.

“We were excited to take part in delivering hampers to those in need and are really proud of how the locals have supported this Christmas appeal,” he said.

“We were overwhelmed by the amount of goods donated and used money raised from our Cans for the Community aluminium recycling program to top up the hampers with the finishing touches.”