Report of VMMA Installation
Aurora Lodge No. 35
Saturday 20th September 2008
The Master Elect V.W.Bro. Kenneth William Baker, PGIW (VMMA member) invited the VMMA installation team to install him into the chair at Aurora Lodge No. 35 on Saturday 20th September.
The day for Dean, Chris, Sharyn, Jean and Bob started by departing Mooroolbark at 7.30 am for the ride up to Wallan to meet with other members for the ride via back roads to Inglewood. As we approached Wallan the blue sky and sun slowly disappeared and it became cold and windy, arriving at Wallan we found Taxi looking rather cold with all his warm gear firmly done up, this was the first VMMA outing for Taxi's new GTR1400. Chris now knows what his bike will look like after a good clean and polish!!!!
VMMA Installation team members arriving at Inglewood Masonic Centre for rehearsal.
Dave Cash without our Viv who has baby sitting rode into Wallan also looking very cold, after refueling Dean lead the group via back roads towards Inglewood via Bendigo. The route through Bendigo took us past the Beechworth Bakery were Pedro and The Baron were known to be having breakfast with a group from the BMW club, so it was decide to stop and join they for refreshments.
Captain Fluffy once again provided light entertainment as he proceeded to park the GTR1400 at Beechworth bakery by very delicately parking in the horizontal position, very similar to the technique developed by The Baron.
We were surprised to find a number of VMMA members partaking in the BMW club breakfast those being Pedro, Bron, Terry McSwain for St.Arnaud and The Baron, after a light snack Pedro led the way out of Bendigo with a fuel stop that then saw Rob Fisk who had ridden up from Langwarrin join our group for the ride to Inglewood.
Master Elect V.W.Bro. Kenneth Baker, PGIW provided lunch prior to the installation rehearsal.
Arriving at Inglewood Masonic Centre we were greeted by Kenneth who had ridden his BMW and sidecar to the centre, as we enjoyed the lunch provided other members of the installation arrived and by 1.00 p.m. we were able to commence our rehearsal.
Our Installing Master W.Bro. Ron Alderding, PGStdB was about to embark on his first Installation as Installing Master,
Installing Master W.Bro. Ron Alderding, PGStdB ready for rehearsal with Taxi ready for bed!!!!
This was the first visit to Inglewood Masonic Centre for the majority of the VMMA members and what a surprise to see an extremely well decorated Lodge Room that displayed symbolism throughout the room, even in the ceiling was a lead light window that was very impressive.
VMMA Installation Team rehearsing at Inglewood Masonic Centre Lodge Room.
The rehearsal saw a number of new faces in the installation team, all of which were performing their work for the first time, it was once again an extremely well attended rehearsal considering the team members traveled from all parts of Victoria to be at the rehearsal prior to the installation in the evening.
Inglewood Masonic Centre Lodge Room Images
Rehearsal being completed it was time to adjourn back to Bridgewater Motel to book in and relax until tyling at 6.30 p.m. this gave the opportunity to socialise and play with Pedro's frisbee that did at one point disappear on the roof and recovered by Big Red.
Bob & Jean sold a good number of the new VMMA stickers during this time and The Colonel started to distribute the CFV "Breathless" 8 Day Ride raffle tickets, there are 1000 tickets to be sold at $5 each, contact Brian Sanders to purchase your tickets in support of the "Breathless" 8 Day Ride 0427 521 624.
Arriving at Bridgewater Motel after rehearsal. L to R: Pedro, Frisbee king Dave brings David Kent to tears!!
Everyone adjourned to their rooms around 5.45 p.m. to get changed and decide on their mode of transport back to Inglewood Masonic Centre with many finding transport in 4 wheels whilst others geared up and rode. Sharyn, Jean, Anita and Lynne decided to take the short walk across the road at Bridgewater to have a counter meal at the local Hotel, it turns out that they joined the locals in the meat raffle with Sharyn actually winning one of the major meat trays (Sharyn never wins).
Plenty of laughs are Bridgewater Motel!!!!
Arriving at the Inglewood Masonic Centre we found a great number of visitors in attendance to give support to Kenneth on his installation night, 19 members of the VMMA entered the lodge room in the 3rd degree and received a hearty welcome from the W. Master whilst other members were already seated in the body of the lodge.
Immediately after being seated the W. Master invited the Installing Master W.Bro. Ron Alderding, PGStdB to proceed with the Installation of Master Elect V.W.Bro. Kenneth William Baker, PGIW.
W.M. of Aurora Lodge No. 53 V.W.Bro. Kenneth William Baker, PGIW with his installation team.
The Installing Master introduced each of the members of the VMMA Installation Team as the proclaiming officer directed them to their respective positions and then continued to thank other VMMA members in attendance for their support.
After the installation everyone was invited to the Inglewood Golf Club for the Installation banquet that was being catered for by the Inglewood Primary School Parents Club.
The banquet was extremely well attended with the Golf Club function room full to the rafters with brethren and their ladies, extra dinning settings were quickly set to cater for the large number of people supporting V.W.Bro. Kenneth William Baker, PGIW and Aurora Lodge No. 35.
W.M. V.W.Bro. Kenneth William Baker, PGIW grand entry at the Golf Club
What a great time in the south with some many people contributing to this social event, The Baron took control of the Banquet proceedings and in his own style entertained everyone whilst carrying out the formalities of the evening.
The Installing Master W.Bro. Ron Alderding, PGStdB enlightened everyone of Kenneth's achievements in particular the restoration of a Lighthouse in Western Australia that he was one of a few that could undertake the project due to his employment before retirement as a government overseer of Lighthouses around Australia.
Installing Master W.Bro. Ron Alderding, PGStdB working through Kenneth's manuscript of achievements.
The VMMA had the opportunity to invite those in attendance to consider supporting the "Breathless" Ride by the purchase of a raffle ticket, thank you to all those who took up this invitation to support the VMMA and CFV.
VMMA President Dean Lugton & W. Bro. Hooper, PJGD
Nearing the end of the evening W. Bro. Hooper, PJGD invited the VMMA President Dean Lugton to the floor and proceeded to make an extremely generous donation of $500 towards the “Breathless" 8 Day Ride for CFV in November 2008 on behalf of Aurora Lodge No. 35.
Reported by CW
