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Geoff Cain from the Riccarton Unity Freemasons Lodge presents Liam MacKechnie with his scholarship cheque. 
 
Photo by Alison Mason

Liam MacKechnie wins Freemasons scholarship

Alison Mason —

Freemasons support individuals and organisations in communities throughout NZ. There has been a Freemasons Unity Lodge here in Riccarton for nearly 100 years.

In recognition of their links to our community, the members of Unity Lodge considered that it would be a privilege to offer assistance to a young local person who is deserving of support, in particular, a young person who has decided to take up an apprenticeship. The scholarship awarded is for $1,000.00  and must be spent on either tools or equipment that the apprentice requires to do their job. The key criteria for this award is that the recipient must be active in his or her community, which can be in school, in sports or out in the wider community, as well as being well-known for demonstrating outstanding selflessness.

This year Riccarton High's Liam MacKechnie was the recipient of this scholarship. Liam has participated in the Dual Enrolment Carpentry Programme at SIT every Thursday and Friday, where he has made excellent progress and will complete NCEA Levels 2 and 3. During Terms 1 and 2 he worked with the students in our Kohanga Ako unit each week and was kind, patient, tolerant and always reliable. Liam also juggled playing rugby for Hillmorton this season, trialed for the Canterbury Representative Team whilst also working 10-15 hours per week at Subway, as well as assisting Mr Steeds around our school grounds. In volunteering his own time to help others, by working hard to develop his own talents and skills, by being an active participant in, and contributing to his community, Liam was selected as the worthy recipient of this first, and we hope annual, scholarship, awarded by Unity Freemasons Lodge.