The idea to raise money for a local Medical Centres was born following a visit to the Health Centre in Fortrose by the Provincial Grand Master Bro. Iain Fraser, who had a discussion with the local Doctor regarding medical supplies and equipment for overseas Masonic Lodges. It was not very long before he began to realise there was a need for essential lifesaving equipment, which is not normally made available locally by NHS. After hearing the cost of such emergency equipment, he came up with the idea that the Masonic Lodges in the Province of Ross & Cromarty could help the situation by raising money for their own community and handing it over to their local health centre.

Before inviting RWM Hugh Patience to hand over the cheque, Bro Fraser made it abundantly clear that, while he would be very proud of their success, it was down to the hard work and dedication of the Tain Brethren. He concluded by telling them, "When retiring from office as PGM on 24th June I will be very satisfied with the entire operation". (To date over "20,000 has been raised across Ross-shire).

RWM Hugh Patience thanked Bro Fraser for his kind remarks and thanked the local brethren for taking up the challenge. In his opening speech he told them Lodge St. Duthus was founded in 1761 and membership was mainly landed gentry but nowadays things have changed and there is a greater community spirit surrounding the craft. He hoped the equipment would help those less fortunate in the community covered by Tain and Fearn Health Centre (which stretches from Edderton to Kildary, aswell as taking in all the Seaboard villages, and the farming communities through Nigg). Fund raising took the form of a sponsored slim, a sponsored walk, clay pigeon shoot, and a huge raffle plus a number of other activities.

Accepting the cheque on behalf of both Practices Dr Marion MacDonald, from the Tain practice, thanked the members for their marvellous help. "Help much needed in the community" she emphasised. then she went on to explain the benefits of the Spirometer they bought, which helps people with respiratory conditions. Dr Peter Graham, from the Fearn Practice, showed off a new ECG machine, which is used for patients with cardiac problems. One of the great features of the new machine is that it is a quarter of the size of the old one and can be used to fax results directly to the hospitals even from an ambulance. The balance of the cash will be used by the Community Multidiscipline Unit (Nurses, Physiotherepy etc.) to help reach a good number of people with items such as Ultra Sound machine, Tympanic thermometers, Carbon Monoxide Monitors, Syringe drivers - to name but a few items on their shopping list.