Report of Visit to Myrtleford Lodge No. 222
Thursday 27th March 2008
The VMMA was invited by W.M. Bro. Steve Blake to attend his last night in the chair at Myrtleford Lodge No. 222 the VMMA installation Team installed Steve into the chair last April at the Myrtleford Community Centre due to their Masonic Centre still being repaired after a fire.
Being a week night and at Myrtleford it was not expected the VMMA would have a big turn out for Steve's last night.
Dean and Chris rode to Myrtleford via Lake Buffalo, part dirt road with great scenery.
The Thursday morning weather forecast was not good with rain and thunderstorms expected throughout Victoria, hopefully this was not going to be another Submariners Ride into country Victoria?
It was time to leave work 12.00 p.m. and the weather did not look to good, but alas it is not yet raining so off home to wheel the bike out and get all the gear ready just in case the weather bureau had the forecast correct!!!!
On arrival at the departure point in Yarra Glen I found No One at all, well it now looks like a solo ride so off to Mansfield for the first refuel and re-evaluate which route to take depending on the weather, it did get cold and rained up through the Slide to Yea and then the weather continued to get better as I approached Mansfield.
After a tremendous ride to counter tea at the Railway Hotel we finally arrive at the Myrtleford Masonic Centre.
Arriving at Mansfield I found a missed message from Dean, returning his call I found he was only 10 minutes behind me, looking good no longer a solo ride and the weather had turned out with a sunny afternoon with blue sky at Mansfield.
Dean arrived at Mansfield and we decided to ride via Tolmie, Whitfield, Cheshunt and then via dirt road to Dandongadale and then back on to tar road at Lake Buffalo to Myrtleford. If you have not ridden this road before you are missing some great scenery, the dirt road is now well formed not the goat track it use to be. We stopped at Lake Buffalo to take some photos of the Lake and Mountains.
VMMA Vice President Dean with W.M. Bro. Steve Blake. VMMA President Chris with W.M. Bro. Steve Blake.
We arrived at Myrtleford around 6.30 p.m. and headed straight to the Railway Hotel for a counter meal, it was the locals social club evening with meat trays to be won so yes the pub was full, we purchased tickets but if we had won we were not sure to collect the meat tray for we were outsiders. Anyway we had a lovely meal and enjoyed the atmosphere of the full Railway Hotel, now thinking the Lodge Tyled at 8.00 p.m. we leisurely departed the Hotel to fill up with fuel.
Arriving at the Rebuilt Myrtleford Masonic Centre at 7.50 p.m. we found a lot of cars but could not see a large number of brethren in the Centre, we found they tyled at 7.30 p.m. and we had better get ready to enter the Lodge Room very quickly, with this accomplished both Dean and I entered the Lodge Room as representatives of the VMMA, W.M. Bro. Steve Blake welcomed us to Myrtleford Lodge and for joining with him on his last night, even though it has been confirmed Steve will be continuing as Master of the Lodge for another 12 months.
It was W.M. Steve Blake's last night and he listened through his roasting!!!!
The work for the evening was the obligation of Master Elect W.M. Bro. Steve Blake with his father Ken who traveled down from Queensland to obligate Steve, Ken last year obligated Steve and was the Installing Master at Steve's Installation with the VMMA Installation Team.
Retiring into the south various brethren spoke of Steve's year in the chair and the achievements the lodge has made during that time, it was noted that the Masonic Centre rebuilding after a fire was complete and that the Installation next month was the 1st to be held there for the past 3 years.
Myrtleford Lodge donated their proceeds of the evening $120 to the VMMA President Chris who announced the donation will be included in the monies to be given to Dragons Abreast.
I was invited to speak to both the brethren and partners in the south regarding recent VMMA activities they included the 3 Day President Charity Ride which raised $4500 for Dragons Abreast of which Freemasonry Victoria "Benevolent Fund" contributed $2000, our recent visit to Portland Lodge to support VMMA member Andrew Sluggett on his initiation along with the up coming Installation at Healesville Lodge and Official visit to Maryborough Lodge were a donation will be made to a special guest named Tom who is 9 years old and has Muscular Dystrophy, Tom is the Grandson of long time organist of the lodge, at this meeting the total amount to be donated to Dragons Abreast will be announced.
At the conclusion of the evening W.M. Bro. Steve Blake made a donation to the VMMA Charity Fund of their proceeds of the evening the $120 donated will be added to the Dragons Abreast Charity Fundraiser.
Chris & Dean were shown the two completed units that are located at the Masonic Centre, these units are available for bookings cost is $250 per week for each of the units, highly recommended these units to VMMA who are looking for excellent accommodation whilst enjoying some of the best motorcycle roads in Victoria.
Prior to departure we were shown the accommodation units that have been rebuilt after the fire, these units are available for hire at $250 each per week, they are first class in all aspects with kitchen, TV, air conditioning, shower/toilets booking can be made via Myrtleford Lodge Secretary.
It was now 10.30 p.m. and time for Dean and I to dressed up for a cold ride back to Mooroolbark, we rode back via Whorouly South, Oxley, Glenrowan and straight down the Hume Hwy to the Ring Road to Greensborough finally arriving home at 2.00 p.m. Yes it poured down rain as we rode into Melbourne.
Another great night with friends.
Reported by Chris Wells
