Report of Visit to Tatura-Rodney Lodge No. 219
Thursday 8th May 2008
Reported by David Hall Return to Reports 2008 Index
"A NIGHT AT TAT WITH THE BARON"
It started of very simply, my family and I were planning to be in Shepparton for a couple of days from the 8th of May, and your scribe thought it could be a good idea to ask the Red Baron (Robert Van Lunenburg) if he was going to visit the Tatura-Rodney Lodge that night. As the sitting Master of the Euroa Vega Lodge I thought there was a good chance the Baron may be there representing his Lodge, but although not on his list for that night he quickly organised an official VMMA visit.
After ensuring my wife and her Mum had been suitably fed and watered at Shepparton Mac Donald's (no expense was spared, I even shouted them an apple pie each). I donned on the approved VMMA Lodge attire and headed for Tatura. For those who have never been to this lovely little town do yourself a favor and take a bit of time when you are in the Goulburn Valley and drop in and have a look around, you won't be disappointed.
In my former life I had done a fair amount of business in Tat and had quite a good friend who was a member of Tatura-Rodney. Unfortunately I learnt on the night he had passed away a couple of years ago. It again underlines the importance of keeping in touch with friends, I didn't even know he had been ill.
For once in my life I arrived at Lodge early and decided to await the baron's arrival (and any other VMMA member) in my car. By 7.45 p.m. and no Baron I was starting to wonder if I was going to represent the VMMA on my own, and on just the night I traveled on four wheels instead of two. As I glanced towards the main road I spied a white Beemer with the unmistakable shape of the baron astride it. Thinking he must be lost I took off after him only to find him at the only service station in town filling his tank and complaining about the attendant wanting him to remove his helmet. After the normal greetings we made our way to the Lodge room, quickly grabbed our regalia and lined up with the other visitors.
A very quick Lodge meeting was held after which we re-entered the Lodge room with the non Masonic visitors to listen to a talk given by the local electrician on deep sea diving. This is a subject I must admit I have never given much thought to, but it turned out to be one of the most interesting I have ever heard. As well as salvage work our speaker has had many year experience exploring wrecks, reefs and cleaning out effluent systems. He also trains drivers in many overseas countries including Turkey.
He also spoke of cave diving, in particular beneath the Nullabor Plain where there appears to be a maze of flooded caves. One he spoke of expends 14 kilometers from the mouth. Although he knows of one person who has reached the 14 kilometer limit, he himself has only penetrated 2 kilometers. The thought of being underwater 14 kilometers from the nearest supply of fresh air does not fill me with an overwhelming desire to dive in. Some of the slides he showed did however indicate that it is indeed a beautiful world underneath the surface of the sea.
Once the talk had ended we had the oppuntity to inspect some modern and not so modern diving equipment. Amongst them was an old bronze diving bell that we have all seen in the old movies, you can take it from me, they are as heavy as they look.
Like with so many country Lodges the supper was excellent and plentiful. Soup, sandwiches and an array of beautiful homemade cakes were on offer. It was just as well our dieting President wasn't there to accept the offer, it would have put his weight loss program back a month! To top off a great night the Baron and I both won a raffle prize each.
The nights proceedings having ended The Baron kitted up and headed for Euroa while I made tracks back to the Bell motel in Shepparton. We met again the following Saturday morning in Euroa for a coffee where it became apparent he is a well known personality around town. He even succeeded in having me shout the coffee and apple cake with cream.