Report of Visit to Portland Lodge No. 6

The First Step in Freemasonry for Andrew Sluggett

Thursday 20th March 2008

  Reported by Pedro                                                                                     Return to Reports 2008 Index

18-year-old Andrew is the son of Kerry and Kent Sluggett, from Portland. A small but dedicated band of VMMA members travelled down to Portland Lodge No.6 to support Andrew, they included: Chris and Sharyn Wells, Dave and Viv Cash, Brian and Vera Sanders, The Red Baron, and me - Pedro.

 

Grand Entry to Portland Masonic Centre.

 

Steve Rogers the Immediate Past Master of Portland Lodge was in attendance, but unfortunately Don Bloomfield, another Portland local, was an apology.

 

As with every report I write there has to be a ride story to give you some idea of what else happened. So here we go. The Baron rode down to Bendigo and picked me up around 1300. I then led us out of town and headed (at the speed limit mind you!) through Maryborough and Avoca.

 

Coming in to Ararat it was starting to get a bit chilly, and finally we pulled over under the veranda of a bottle shop to don the wet weather gear. Luckily I had rung The Baron that morning to ensure he packed his ‘wet’ gear. Pity he didn’t think to include some cold weather clothing as well (he subsequently bought a $130 jumper later when we arrived at Portland).

 

L to R from Back Row: Dave and Pedro, Centre Row: Baron, Steve, Chris and Brian. Front Row: W.M. Bro. Peter Barrand, Andrew and Kent.

 

Anyway, The Baron kicked up a real stink about how cold it was and he was generally feeling and looking pretty miserable. By the way I should add that the rain was probably no more than 2ml in an hour. Having donned our ‘wets’ we continued on our way to Hamilton where it was sunny, dry, and warm.

 

I rang Chris a ring to find that he and Sharyn were in Camperdown, and the whereabouts of Dave and Viv unknown. A further call the Brian found him in the motel stacking the fridge with VB tinnies. They had driven the wagon because they were going on to Adelaide for a Daimler Car Club rally, with the weekend highlight being the formal black tie dinner on Saturday.

 

Baron and I arrived around 1730 and were welcomed by Brian, Vera, Dave, and Viv. Chris and Sharyn arrived around 1800. It was good to see Dave on the bike, as the Ducati has had electrical problems this week.

 

 

The Baron responding on behalf of the visitors.           In the south at Portland Masonic Centre.

 

Around 1900 we wandered next door to Lodge, whilst the ladies drove down to the Gordon Hotel for dinner; they later reported that they had a nice meal and a good chat.

 

The ceremony of Initiation went well, and Andrew was supported in the Lodge Room by 40 brethren and visitors. Kent obligated Andrew, and grandfather Wor Bro Grace delivered the Lesser Lights charge.

 

We adjourned to the supper room around 2145 and shortly after being seated we heard the rain on the roof. The quick downpour was enough to wet the sheepskin seat cover, but by morning it was dry.

 

L to R: Kent, Andrew and W.M. Bro. Peter Barrand.

 

Wor Bro Grace proposed a very sincere toast to Andrew as the Entered Apprentice. In his response Andrew read out a very interesting poem from America which relating the experiences of another candidate leading up to and during the 1st Degree ceremony.

 

The Baron was his normal cheeky self during the usual toasts, but overall the Portland members warmly welcomed us.

 

Chris and I had an opportunity to speak about VMMA, and Chris concentrated on the recent successes with Dragon Abreast.

 

The night drew to a close, masonically that is, and we retired to our room to meet the ladies and party on some more.

 

Friday morning on the foreshore for breakfast, we were joined by Steve Rodgers local Portland VMMA member.

 

Friday morning dawned bright, sunny, with pleasantly mild temperature. Steve Rogers directed us down to a café for a big breakfast. After a leisurely hour or so of food and chatting Steve led us out of town for a ride to see the magnificent coastline at Cape Bridgewater, then past the controversial wind farm which on this day was not operating, a little further on we stopped momentarily to view to some limestone caves just off the road, and finally Steve led us back to the highway.

 

Steve took us for a ride around the back roads of Portland before we departed.

 

The Baron and I said farewell to Chris, Sharyn, Dave, and Viv as they were heading over to South Australia for some further adventuring. We tootled back to Bendigo at a reasonable pace and I arrived home around 1600.