Report of V.M.M.A. Inc.

Visit To Numurkah Lodge No. 779

Thursday 18th May 2006

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The V.M.M.A. was invited to visit Numurkah Lodge No. 779 by the W.M. Bro. Stuart Hodge to make a presentation to the brethren of the District on the development of the V.M.M.A. over the past 5 years.

Eight members of the V.M.M.A. turned out for the visit Matt, Chris, Pedro, Dean, Paul, Gary, Richard and The Baron, all traveling from either Melbourne, Bendigo and of course Euroa.

Matt, Chris and Dean left Yarra Glen around 2.45 p.m. and rode to Yea to meet with Pual, the ride then took us up to Merton, Euroa, Shepparton and onto Numurkah for a counter tea at the Telegraph Hotel, were Pedro, Richard, The Baron and Gary also joined with us for tea.

Thinking the Lodge was to tyle at 7.00 p.m. we rode around the corner to the Masonic centre to find it in total darkness and no sign of life, worst thought wrong night, the notice in the window indicated the 3rd Thursday so that looked correct. Then a gentleman came along in his dinner suit, this was looking good but he informed us that this was a Masonic Lodge and that we must move, after explaining that we were the Master's guest for the evening the gentleman informed us that they tyle at 7.45 p.m., yes its ON.

Not looking good at this point in time!!!!!!

Around 7.20 p.m. brethren from the District started to roll in and we gained entry to the Masonic Centre, yes they tyled at 7.45 p.m. the V.M.M.A. members entered together into the lodge room and were made extremely welcome by the Master and brethren of the District.

The lodge was then closed and we all adjourned to the south for the V.M.M.A. presentation, Paul and Dean had already parked their motorcycles in the south at the request of the Master so that we could also talk about our motorcycles.

Dean and Paul's motorcycles in the South.

Matt had conferred with the Master that the presentation would commence sooner than later for we all had long rides back to home, most having a round trip of 530 klms.

Matt started the presentation by introducing all the V.M.M.A. members in attendance and explained the format of the presentation which was to include a majority the members, it was to be a shared presentation.

First up was Paul who was invited to speak of his trusty mount a Yamaha XJ750 is was built in 1988, has a shaft drive and in the past 15 months he has traveled 30,000 klms using it has his primary transport.

Paul talking about his reliable Yamaha XJ750 in the South.

Garry was then introduced to talk about the V.M.M.A.'s on going support to CanTeen which is an organisation that supports young people aged between 12 and 24 years of age who are affected in some way with cancer. The Annual Motorcycle Ride Day that for the past 4 years the V.M.M.A. was provided to CanTeen members and that this one day in the year is provided at zero budget due to the support of volunteers and Freemasonry Victoria's Lodges throughout the state who rally together and give their time to assist with providing morning and afternoon teas to the Motorcyclists and CanTeen members as they travel through their districts, it was also mentioned that we assist with Bandana Day each year.

Dean was then invited to take the floor and talk about the V.M.M.A. merchandise and his motorcycle, well his motorcycle is BLUE so he informed us all, but it is a Honda Blacbird, you work that one out !!!. Dean spoke of the stubby holders we had for sale and that the profits are directed back to charities and that he just happened to have some with him, Dean mentioned that at the Phillip Island Superbikes Racing weekend late last year that a group of dedicated V.M.M.A. members sold Bear Badges over the 3 days and raised $34,000 for The Leukemia Foundation YES $35K in 3 days.

The Red Baron was then introduced to speak about the V.M.M.A. Installation Team that has now Installed around 8 V.M.M.A. members into the Chair, the Installation Team only installs on invitation of the Master Elect who must be a member of the V.M.M.A., it was explained that due to the fact that the Installation Team comes from all round Victoria that the rehearsal is held on the day of the Installation which must be a Saturday.

Pedro speaking the the South.

Pedro was next off the cab and spoke of the Tenants of Freemasonry of which the V.M.M.A. holds dearly to its day to day activities, Charity. An overview of the first Motorcycle Rally to Albert Street was given and the slogan given by others to this event was that "They turned up in hundreds and Left Thousands), also Pedro named many charitable organisations that the V.M.M.A. has supported and continues to support within the community and over the past 5 years has Donated to these organisations more that $100,000, once again YES over $10K.

Matt then conclude the evening with many items of interest including the success of the V.M.M.A. web site which receives more than 10,000 individual hits each month, the web site has also been responsible for international brethren joining the V.M.M.A. and those brethren being inspired to form their own Masonic Motorcycle Club, one of these being Norwegian brethren who have gained official recognition from their Grand Lodge and a member visited Australia late last year to meet with us. Matt spoke about CanTeen and what our activities do for those CanTeen members, Matt asked Chris to speak of the smile it leaves on their faces and the memories we carry from these activities.

The evening concluded with a very warm thank for from the brethren of the District and the Numurkah Lodge No. 779 presented to Matt a cheque for $150 to be put to charitable activity we undertake, in addition to this amount $150's worth of stubby holders were sold.

Another well received visit by the V.M.M.A.

Finally it was time to depart and head back to our abodes, on with the warm gear and off into the fog as it turned out, reaching the sanctum of our beds back in Melbourne around 1.30 a.m.

Reported by CW