Grand Lodge

Quarterly Communication

Wednesday 15th June 2005

Return to Reports 2005

Reported by Pedro

“We came, we walked around, we talked, we performed…and we opened some minds” 

The ‘three talking heads’ i.e. Pedro, Chris, and Matt performed the travelling V.M.M.A. roadshow at 300 Albert Street, for the Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication.

Motorcycles Parked at entrance to United Grand Lodge of Victoria.

Our attendance at this event all started way back last year when I wrote to Barry Reaper (the Grand Secretary) asking if V.M.M.A. could have a slot at the quarterly in June.

His letter in October 2004 confirmed this, and I then conveniently forgot all about it until 3 weeks before the event when Barry rang me to remind me of it.

It was then that the ‘three talking heads’ went into panic mode; well Chris and I did anyway.

Nothing seems to faze Matt, so he just went along with the flow.

Try as I might I couldn’t cancel our presentation as Barry had sent out the notice papers with the V.M.M.A. name on it.

So, feeling obligated we threw together some ideas and got stuck in to preparing our talk.

Most of the work was done by Chris in preparing the Power Point show, with Matt’s assistance.

I might add at this stage that there were plenty of distractions to our presentation preparation, and we really only came up with the final ‘spiel’ on the morning of the event, whilst sitting at Matt’s place having lunch.

Some of the V.M.M.A. members at the Q.C.

Arriving at U.G.L.V. at 1300 we were given a comprehensive orientation by Geoff Becker (Grand Lodge - Manager of Dallas Brooks Convention and Function Centre) as to the dais layout and the IT facilities.

After a quick rehearsal we departed as the Grand Lodge team were due to come on for one of at least four rehearsals that afternoon.

We retired to further tweak the PowerPoint presentation and confirm the main points of our individual talking sections.

Returning around 1600 we had a final check of our show and were reasonably satisfied with the results.

V.M.M.A. Banner at the Q.C.

Matt and I departed for dinner, leaving Chris to ponder (and worry I don’t doubt) about what he was going to say and how he would fit in all the info to his allotted 3 minutes.

Returning around 1915 having eaten a very nice chicken parmigiana and salad we observed the Grand Team still rehearsing and finally found Chris still worrying about what he was to say.

We met up with other V.M.M.A. members around 1940 and finally took our seats on the southern side below the dais at 1950.

The meeting started bang on 2000 as advised, and I was quite surprised how quickly the Grand Master and his team moved through all the agenda items.

Pedro is the first V.M.M.A. Presenter at the Q.C.

Our turn came and we scrambled to turn on the hands free microphones we were issued with for the performance.

The ‘talking heads’ show from the three wise monkeys went well from where I was standing on the dais, and I always reckon it’s best to go first so you can then stand back and watch the others. From where I stood, and what I saw, and what I heard from the Grand Master I was very pleased indeed; not only for us as presenters but more widely for all V.M.M.A. members as a recognition for the great work we do as an organisation.

Chris is the second V.M.M.A. Presenter at the Q.C.

The after meeting drinks were a welcome relaxant and again it was extremely pleasing to receive many compliments from a wide variety of brethren; many of whom included Grand Lodge officers.

Matt is the third and final V.M.M.A. Presenter at the Q.C.

The M.W.G.M. and the immediate P.G.M. were glowing in their praises, and we should all take comfort and encouragement from their ongoing support of us.

No report would be complete without an acknowledgement of those V.M.M.A. members who attended to support us on the night, and included: Erwin, Brian, George, Warren, Garry, Dennis, Drew, Glenn, and Taxi.

Not the END, but the BEGINNING.

I departed GL at 2330, and I remember thinking that the ride home is always interesting for me as fighting tiredness is a major concern even if I only had to ride two hours north.

Taxi escorted me out along the Tullamarine Freeway but finally peeled off, leaving me with a very quiet trip and few vehicles.

Not unusually it got progressively cooler around Macedon and the fog increased rapidly. I stopped for fuel at Carlsruhe, and shortly after when nearing Kyneton it started to rain.

Thank goodness for heated hand grips! I decided to keep riding and reached home at 0130 with a wet crotch and slightly wet cuffs on my jacket. Once again the wet gear was hung up outside to drip dry, and I stripped off to warm up in front of the Heat Charm for a while before sliding into bed.

Sleep came after a while, once my mind had stopped reflecting on the evening and trying to formulate the words for this report.

Ah, another successful night for V.M.M.A.