Report of Submariners Ride
Echuca Masonic Centre Ceremony Of Re-Dedication
Saturday 19th January 2008
The VMMA was invited to join with Freemasons of Echuca and District in a Street Parade prior to the Re-Dedication of the Echuca Masonic Centre, this event was co-ordinated by Millewa Lodge No. 47.
Sharyn just lovely the rain at Echuca!!!!!!
Our invitation unfortunately was received on the Monday afternoon of the 14th January 2008 which left very little time to co-ordinate VMMA members to support this event, but it was enough time and the invitation was accepted on the Tuesday with at least 10 members making the commitment to ride to Echuca on Saturday.
Beechworth Bakery at Echuca meeting venue.
It is not hard to work out how this Report became named Submariners Ride!!!!
Everyone rode to Echuca under water and rode home under water a round trip of approximately 7 hours riding in absolutely drenching rain, it has been reported that the district received 3 inches (75mm) during this period of time.
The following members made a tremendous effort to leave their abodes in such weather for Echuca: Jean, Bob, Terri, Baron, Pedro, Ian, Ricardo, Colin, John, Chris, Dean, Taxi, Dave, Viv, Larry and Ilona.
VMMA members in Echuca Lodge Room. L to R: John, Pedro, Larry what's that?, Bob and Taxi
Our meeting point was the Beechworth Bakery in Echuca for around 3.30 p.m. prior to the Street Parade, then it was planned to ride to the starting point of the parade and then ride our motorcycles at the rear of the parade to the Echuca Masonic Centre.
Well we met at the Beechworth Bakery as planned, but we then received the news that the Police had cancelled the Street Parade due to being to dangerous due to the wet weather.
L to R: R.W.Bro. Vaughan Werner, DGM & M.W.Bro. Garry J. Sebo, G.M.
After enjoying the good food at Beechworth Bakery we rode to the Echuca Masonic Centre to be greeted by all those lovely people who had the luxury of a car (only joking!!!) and changed from our very very wet attire to our accepted mode of dress for officially visiting lodges.
At 5.00 p.m. we entered the lodge room with our partners, it was a open Ceremony Of Re-Dedication with many visitors from within the community along with representatives from Parliament.
L to R: Pedro, Larry, Chris, R.W.Bro. Vaughan Werner, DGM & John.
Everyone was seated in the body of the lodge prior to M.W.Bro. Garry J. Sebo, G.M. entering the lodge room with his Grand Officers.
The G.M. enlightened everyone in attendance of the agenda for the Ceremony Of Re-Dedication along with acknowledging a number of individuals and organisations who were in attendance to support Freemasonry Victoria in the Echuca District.
Even though it was raining it was very warm in the lodge room during the Re-Dedication which concluded with M.W.Bro. Garry J. Sebo, G.M. being escorted out of the lodge room by his Grand Officers.
We had an opportunity to have our traditional lodge room photographic taken with M.W.Bro. Garry J. Sebo, G.M. and W.M. Bro. B. T. How of Millewa Lodge No. 47.
The celebrations continued in the south with a formal dinner, but unfortunately the VMMA members were unable to partake due to having to ride back to our homes.
Reported by CW
