Report of VMMA Installation at Euroa Vega Lodge No. 185
Saturday 13th October 2007
This was a big and important Installation for our VMMA Installation Team, it was to Install our Installation Team Leader and Proclaiming Officer W. Bro. Robert Antoni van Lunenburg (The Red Baron) into the Chair at Euroa Vega Lodge.
Once again our strength in being able to put together a worthy installation team did not prove to be a problem even through a number of regular team members were either at the Phillip Island for the GP Race weekend with a good number of those members actually marshalling for the race along with those members recouping from various medical procedures.
Back Row L to R: Grumpy, John, Doc, Salty, Brian, Don, Eric, Taxi, Rob, Dave and Rick.
Front Row L to R: Chris, Casper, Dave, Pedro, Red Baron, Erwin, Red and Uncle.
There was no group ride to Euroa on the Saturday morning for members of the installation team traveled from all over Victoria to meet at Euroa for a light lunch down at the Euroa Croquet Club prior to the final rehearsal.
VMMA members who traveled to Euroa to support "The Baron" and Sue were Pedro, Erwin and Nellie, Taxi and Beryl, Don and Eleanor, Dave and Viv, Eric and Michelle, Brian and Vera, Chris & Sharyn, Grumpy, Doc, Salty, Brian, Rob, Rick, Casper, Dave, Red, Uncle and our Patron M.W. Bro. John Wilson, P.G.M.
After lunch the whilst the installation team rehearsed at the Masonic Centre the ladies were entertained at the Euroa Croquet Club with their host showing them how to play the various games of Croquet, yes you may very well laugh but the ladies had an absolute fun afternoon playing Croquet with of all people Eleanor being strong handed and whacking the ball with gusto and from all reports Eleanor would make a excellent cricket player!!!
At the conclusion of rehearsal afternoon tea was provided back at the Euroa Croquet Club, time was now starting to get away from us with only 2 hours to tyling time at 6.15 p.m., we all adjourned back to the Castle Creek Motel to settle into our accommodation and freshen up. Special accommodation arrangements had been organised for Doc, everyone was invited to Doc's room to witness the testing of suitability to Doc's sleeping arrangements.
Doc is very happy with his special sleeping arrangement!!!!!
The ladies of the lodge and visiting VMMA ladies were entertained during the installation by a prearranged visit to the local gift shop and then returning to the Masonic Centre to listen to a small orchestra who played in the south, brethren can vouch for the quality of the music being played for it filtered through into the lodge room.
The VMMA Installation Team and members entered the lodge in the third degree with the VMMA Patron M.W. Bro. John Wilson, P.G.M. being the last to enter and then escorted and introduced to the Master of the Lodge, whilst the installation team was seated in the South East.
Master Elect W. Bro. Robert Antoni van Lunenburg (The Red Baron) and Installation Team Leader had invited personal friends in the VMMA to be the Installing Master and Proclaiming Officer for the evening, those being Installing Master W. Bro. Erwin Schweitzer who traveled down from Queensland and Proclaiming Officer W. Bro. Pedro Eberbach.
Erwin was one of the first Installing Masters in the VMMA Team and Pedro accepted the offer as Proclaiming Officer even though he had not performed this position prior to this installation, both Erwin and Pedro performed with excellence and a job extremely well done, congratulations to both of you.
This is a true reflection of the friendship between Pedro and The Baron.
The traditional photograph in the lodge room took place once the lodge was closed then we all retired to the south, dinner had been ordered for 9.00 p.m. but was a little late, some suggested there was not enough road kill on the roads around Euroa hence the delay with dinner.
The south is always a special time to relax and have fun with like mind friends, this south was no different to others the VMMA attends with endless laughs being heard all night. Beryl had trouble controlling her non-prizing winning tickets having then blown away and scattered all over the floor and then finding 9 missing even after counting them many times just to confirm they were missing, have a look at Sharyn trying to control herself whilst Beryl re-counts once again, what you can not see in the image is Viv crying with laughter at the other end of the table.
Beryl are you missing 9 tickets?
The Installed Master W. Bro. Robert Antoni van Lunenburg (The Red Baron) response to the toast made to him by Erwin was extremely sincere and had a personal reflection on his feelings towards everyone who made the effort to be with him this evening along with how Freemasonry has given him the opportunity to personally developed himself and recognise different values in life.
We all adjourned back to the Motel (Taxi and Beryl room) to continue into the early hours with the room over flowing to the tables and seats outside, Beryl thank you for the nibblies you provided.
A cooked breakfast was provided by our Hosts Eric and Wendy, this was most appreciated by all.
During breakfast there was a number of fashion statements, drooling over others motorcycles and a number of test rides of various members motorcycles.
Dennis drooling and Chris making a Fashion Statement!!!!!!!!
Finally it was time to depart for the majority wanted to get home to watch the GP racing at Phillip Island on TV at 3.00 p.m, there was no organised ride from Euroa everyone went their own way.
Reported by CW
