The
attractions of the Druids Lodges were fourfold.
• They provided sickness and
funeral benefit to protect its members in times
when no welfare benefits existed. This benefit instilled
to major factors into the Society's philosophy benevolence
and mutual assistance.
• They provided a source of
entertainment for the members. Many lodges held
their meetings in hotels or licensed public halls.
They developed a sense of comradeship, loyalty and
pride among their members.
• They developed a reputation
for, and were acknowledged as, a civic-minded organisation
that promoted benevolence to their fellow Australians.
Members both native born and immigrants from around
the world became one body of Druids, determined
to help each other and help develop their fledgling
country into a great nation. The Comradeship developed,
we know that lodge members banded together to help
each other in times of need. They worked together
to build lodge halls and many Druids Halls appeared
both within the suburbs and country areas.
•Working together, caring for
each other in times of need and sharing joyous occasions,
helped forge the qualities of mateship that have
become so typically Australian.
History shows that great numbers of
young lodge members joined up together and went
off to fight during times of war. Honour Boards
list the many that went into battle, and sadly they
commemorate those that fell in battle and did not
return to the lodge rooms.
The Druids desire to help their fellow
Australians is well documented. The Society held
many functions and festivities to raise funds for
its members in need and for Charities in the wider
community. The Druids Galas became a well know feature
on Melbourne's activities calendar. A parade of
Druids marched up Swanston Street to the Exhibition
Buildings where fetes, amusements and activities
were held for all to enjoy. These marches and fetes
may have been building blocks to events such as
Moomba. The results of the fund raising efforts
built Druids wings and entire floors in many Victorian
hospitals. Countless charities received generous
grants and donations of much needed equipment was
given to many organisations.
In times of war the Druids were also
there, the result of several fund raising activities
saw three of the most modern equipped ambulances
donated to the Australian Army during the Second
World War. The Society's Funds were also put to
use and the majority of lodges invested their funds
in War Bonds to help fund the efforts made by our
gallant fighting members.
Times have changed and there
are so many forms of entertainment and activities
to occupy modern Australians. Those that join the
Druids however find that the Australian spirit of
comradeship, the compassionate sense of benevolence
and mutuality, still exist.
