Report of Open Night At Kyneton Masonic Centre
Wednesday 16th April 2008
The VMMA attended at Kyneton Masonic Centre to join with Kyneton Lodge No. 192 and local brethren to welcome invited visitors to a presentation by Freemasonry Victoria by representative John Glover on this occasion an Open Night.
An Open Night is one that is coordinated by a Masonic Centre with the aim to invite interested people in the local community to join with us in the Lodge Room whilst an open and frank presentation is given by a representative of Freemasonry Victoria, following the presentation and during it those attending are encouraged to ask questions. These Open Nights are held throughout Victoria during the year with the VMMA endeavoring to attend a good of them.
Good turn out for Kyneton Masonic Centre Open Night
It was planned for Chris and Dean to depart Mooroolbark at 4.00 p.m. for a nice ride via back roads to the BP Servo at Calder Park, well it was a good plan but did not eventuate due to Chris wanting to print off some new recent images of VMMA activities to be included in the VMMA static display.
It was decided to ride more directly to the BP Servo to ensure we made it on time, for our previous experience riding across Melbourne at that time of day was not good, traffic everywhere and freeways always seem like car parks.
We actually arrived at the BP Servo early and being the 1st to arrive had time to have tea whilst waiting to see who else was going to join with us for the ride.
Grumpy was the 1st to join us at the BP Servo, looking very smart all dressed up and believe it or not a lady approached Grumpy and introduced herself as the Master's wife of Zetland Lodge at Kyneton (by the way if you have the oppuntity to visit Zetland Lodge in Kyneton you will be very impressed with the wall to wall paintings in the Lodge Room).
L to R: David, Chris and Dean's motorcycles at Kyneton Masonic Centre.
Next to arrive was David Hall who had ridden up from Phillip Island to attend the Open Night, running a little late we departed the BP Servo for the ride up to Kyneton. Arriving at Kyneton we found there was an East and West part of the road and you guessed it we went East, should have gone West.
Finally arriving and being welcomed by firstly the local ladies of the lodge and then by the brethren we made arrangements for the VMMA static display to be set up in the south.
VMMA Static Display. Ricardo and David in the south.
Three other VMMA members joined with us at Kyneton, Ricardo and Ian from Bendigo and Colin from Sunbury with Chris, Dean, Grumpy and David riding up from the BP Servo.
It was surprising to learn that Kyneton has two Masonic Centre's in town with different Lodges meeting at each, this occurred in the 1900's.
A good number of invited guests attended the Open Night, everyone was invited into the Lodge Room to be introduced to Freemasonry Victoria representative for the evening John Glover.
John Glover in the Lodge Room.
John gave a brief overview of the aim of Open Nights and then proceeded with a presentation that included questions from the floor that lasted approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, concluding the presentation everyone was invited into the south for supper provided by the ladies of the lodge.
It was very friendly in the south with a great deal of socialising and questions being asked of Freemasonry and the VMMA.
Finally it was time to get changed into some warm gear for the ride back to Melbourne, even though it was a very mild evening and a pleasant ride home you never want to get cold. Chris, Dean and David rode back together with Chris and Dean turning off onto the Ring Road to Greensborough whilst David continued riding into Melbourne and then all the way back to Phillip Island.
Reported by CW
