Age is no barrier to optimism for Dubbo members of one of the oldest lodges of the Freemasons NSW &ACT.
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Macquarie Lodge, formed in 1890, is celebrating its past as it works towards a "bright future".
On Thursday night five members of the lodge were presented with long-service medals at a well-attended function at the Masonic Temple at 10 Church Street.
Max Hennessy, Ernie Hennessy, Barry Mawbey and Leon Bourke, who joined Macquarie Lodge when Talbragar Lodge closed a few years ago, received 60-year medals and Lex Bramble a 50-year medal.
The event doubled as a belated 50th birthday party for the Masonic Temple, originally the Roxy Theatre. Macquarie Lodge bought the building before officially declaring its temple open in September 1968.
Freemasons NSW & ACT is a large fraternal organisation that promotes moral and personal development among its members. Its core values include caring for others, helping those in need and acting with honesty and integrity.
Macquarie Lodge spokesman Ernie Hennessy, 83, described the non-religious organisation as "part of my life" after receiving his medal.
"The lodges of Dubbo over the years have been involved in fundraising to assist many local charities, but the main idea of Masonary is to allow men to join in friendship each month," he said.
"These days however, we incorporate ladies a lot. We have social nights with our ladies and it involves them in Masonary."
Mr Hennessy said members of Macquarie Lodge continued to serve the community through the likes of hospital visits and checking on senior residents of the city to "make sure they are happy".
He tells of the lodge having 300 members three decades ago.
"Some lodges are struggling," Mr Hennessy said. "Macquarie Lodge has gone through a tough period in recent years but we are rebuilding our numbers with some younger people joining. I think Macquarie Lodge has a very bright future."
Mr Hennessy said men interested in joining Macquarie Lodge should call a telephone number displayed on the temple's gateway.
Freemasons NSW &ACT has about 9000 members ranging in age from 21 to 103.
The presentation of the long-service medals drew two representatives of the United Grand Lodge of NSW, formed in 1888.
