More than 300 people attended the third annual Community
Awards of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, in Bessbrook
Orange Hall, on Saturday, January 19.
Grand Master Robert Saulters said it was the third year of
the awards and interest was growing throughout the Order.
"The Orange Institution is very good at organising large
outdoor events," he said.
"This is one of our biggest and most important indoor
events and I am delighted to see so many people here. We would
hope that it will continue to grow and our aim is to take
it around the province every year.
"There is an incredible amount of work done in the Orange
Institution - much of it unseen - and this is our chance to
pay tribute to those people who have made a difference to
their communities."
The awards were:
INCREASE IN LODGE MEMBERSHIP.
District returns were used to calculate the lodges with the
highest proportional increase in membership over the period
September 2006 to August 2007.
The top three lodges were Carrickfergus Temperance LOL 1537,
Co. Antrim, Clotworthy LOL 965, Co. Antrim and Lighthouse
LOL 579, Co. Londonderry.
The winning lodge, with an 86% increase in membership, was
Carrickfergus Temperance LOL 1537.
The award was sponsored by Woodside Furniture Ltd., Portadown.
BEST CHARITY FUND RAISING LODGE
Lodges raise thousands of pounds each year for various charities,
much of which goes unrecognised.
The nominations in this category were: Dungiven LOL 2036,
Co. Londonderry, which raised £2,700 for Meningitis
Research, and Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423,
which raised £4,300 for outreach work in Ghana, West
Africa, by carrying a lambeg drum to the top of the Mournes.
The award, sponsored by Nelson-Singleton Solicitors, was
won by Banbridge Bible and Crown Defenders LOL 423.
INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The nominations for this award were: Bruce Kidd, LOL 62, Dollingstown,
Kenneth Graham LOL 776, Clontibrit, Harry Whiteside, LOL 747,
Belfast, John Murray, LOL 697, Ballycarry. Jack Leetch, LOL
1214, Belfast. Lindsay Hanna, LOL 1662, Saintfield.
The award, sponsored by NC Engineering, Hamiltonsbawn, was
shared by Bruce Kidd LOL 62 and Harry Whiteside LOL 747.
MERIT AWARD
The nominations were: Andrew Scott, Omagh. Lindsay Hanna,
Saintfield, Wesley McCready, Belfast. Joseph Baird, Scarva,
Alexander Lowry, Bangor, Jack Leetch, Belfast, Derek Livinsgtone,
Bessbrook and John Nixon, Belfast.
Merit Awards, sponsored by S.D. Kells, were presented to
Wesley McCready, Belfast, Lindsay Hanna, Saintfield, and Andrew
Scott, Omagh.
A Special Merit Award, sponsored by Victor Stewart
Enterprises, was awarded to David Reid, St. Brendan's LOL
1982, Belfast, who has continued his work as secretary of
the local lodge despite serious illness.
LODGE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AWARD
Two Co. Tyrone lodges were nominated in this category, sponsored
by Grand Lodge. They were Moree Temperance LOL 195 and Gillygooley
LOL 339 with the award going to Moree Temperance.
BEST NEW BANNER
A number of banners were nominated in this category, sponsored
by Joseph Long and Son, Newtownards. They were: Aughlish Heroes
LOL 74, Scarva, Ballinmallard True Blues, Fermanagh, Ballyrobert
Victoria True Blues LOL 350, Holywood, Blackhill Royal True
Blues LOL 350, Coleraine, Craigywarren LOL 476, Ballymena,
Gransha Chosen Few LOL 1074, Dromara, Knox LOL 1841, Newtownbutler,
Waringstown LOL 83, Craigavon.
The winning banner, painted by John Jordan of Co. Tyrone,
was Knox LOL 1841, Newtownbutler.
Entertainment was provided during the evening by Rising Stour,
Lee Anderson, Corbet Accordion Band, Leonard Shields and Tullyvallen
Silver Band.
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