What a turn out for Bro. Dean Lugton both a Healesville Lodge and V.M.M.A. member at Walhalla Lodge for his raising on Saturday 9th September.
Earlier in the year Dean was visiting Walhalla Lodge with the V.M.M.A. the work for the evening was to be the Passing of a Brother, due to circumstances the work for the evening was changed to a demonstration of the 2nd Degree. After a number of telephone calls and discussion between Walhalla and Healesville Lodge it was finally agreed that Dean was to be Passed to the 2nd Degree at Walhalla Lodge.
Through this association between the Lodges later in the year Walhalla Lodge offered Dean to be Raised at Walhalla Lodge with brethren from both Walhalla and Healesville Lodge working together on the floor, this was approved and hence Dean’s raising created a social weekend for many brethren and their partners.
Saturday morning at Yarra Junction.
The majority of those who traveled to Walhalla stayed overnight at Rawson Village, hope I do not leave anyone out, here goes Matt, Jane, Chris, Sharyn, Don, Bob, Jean, Dennis, Anita, John, Lois, Brian, Eric, Andrew, The Baron, Pedro, Warren, Red, Phil, Gary, Colin, Beryl, Dean, Terri, Steve, Darlene, Nathan, Danielle, David, Sandy, Glen, Deb, Peter, Lorna, Ian, Kerry, Noel, Frank and Don a total of 39.
Terri played a major roll in making this event the success it was, organising all our accommodation along with coordinating the Walhalla Ghost Tour that took place on the Saturday evening whilst we were at Lodge and yes Terri also organised the cars to ensure both ladies and men were transported to and from Walhalla on the Saturday evening, thank you Terri.
There was no actual large group ride to Walhalla even though a number of groups traveled together to Rawson Village, one of the groups departed from Yarra Junction for the ride to Noojee and then via Willow Grove to Rawson. It was unfortunate that Gail had vehicle problems and had to return home and miss the weekend.
The Baron has arrived!!!!! at Yarra Junction.
The weather at times was quite good but just before Blue Rock Dam it turned foul with very strong wind and rain, but this do not deter us at all.
Arriving around 3.30 p.m. we quickly settled in and gathered around the large kitchen area, ours numbers grew very quickly for most had planned to be there around 4.00 p.m., Terri had also organised for the Saturday evening meal order to be taken when booking in so that our meals would be served at 6.00 p.m. ensuring we all could get to Walhalla for either Lodge or the Ghost Tour. All this went to plan other than John’s meal (it had to be John’s) did not arrive, after some quick two steps and a double summersault John was happily eating his meal whilst watching us starting to depart for Walhalla.
Due to the weather and with safety being paramount no motorcycles were ridden from Rawson to Walhalla (that sounds better than we traveled by car for no reason) no really it was raining, windy and darn cold and the wild life along that stretch of road is renown.
Some were very well organised with umbrellas for the walk up the climbing steps to the Lodge room, I was lucky to be accompanied by one of those well organised persons and enjoyed sharing their umbrella.
One of those very well organised persons!!!! Has he changed his colours?.
On arriving at the Lodge both the Walhalla and Healesville Lodge brethren involved in the raising of Dean made their final arrangements for the floor work and charges.
The V.M.M.A. members entered the Lodge as a group followed by the Healesville Lodge brethren this filled the Lodge room which made a good atmosphere to the evening.
The raising of Dean by both Walhalla and Healesville Lodge members worked very well with a sense of purpose and team work , some of the brethren had not met before but you would not have guessed it by the work done in the lodge room.
Bro. Dean Lugton, M.M. in middle of image with some of the brethren who traveled to Walhalla.
Whilst we were at lodge our partners were participating in the Walhalla Ghost Tour, we heard them walking up through Walhalla township making ghostly sounds and on investigating we could see them down in the township with their little lanterns looking like the seven dwarfs, Terri has written a report of the Ghost Tour.
Adjoining to the south for supper our Events Co-ordinator Matt announced that he had been thinking!!!!
Yes Matt we are listening!!!
The V.M.M.A. will be visiting Walhalla Lodge No. 69 on the weekend of 21st & 22nd April 2007 for the purpose of both carrying out some jobs on and around the Masonic Lodge, these tasks will be defined by the Walhalla Lodge along with a social Saturday evening in the Walhalla Township, it is planned to stay in Walhalla township on the Saturday evening.
Finally arriving back at Rawson Village around 12.30 a.m. we once again adjourned to the large kitchen area to join with our partners for nibblies and a few drinks before retiring for the night.
Sunday morning at 8.00 a.m. everyone met in the Bistro and enjoyed a cooked breakfast, yes it was still raining and would be a wet ride home.
Jane and Sharyn were glad they had a car to get back home, looks like Eric wants to join them!!!
Finally everyone was packing up and leaving, this particular weekend was a success for all those involved and one that no doubt Dean will remember for a long time.
Reported by CW
