Installation of W. Bro. Ian Ray – Bendigo City Lodge No. 714
Saturday 10th October 2009
Reported by Pedro
The lodge tyled at 6:00PM, with the VMMA Installation Team entered at 7PM. There were 67 brethren assembled for the installation of VMMA member, and Master Elect WBro. Ian (Isy) Ray.
VMMA members present were: David Wells, Richard Penna, Ron Alderding & Jody, George Allen, Mal Pethybridge & Belinda, Rob Fisk, Mal Pitcher, Bob & Jean Nicholls, Dennis & Anita Setterfield, Dean Lugton & Tracy, Robert O’Meara, Ken Baker, David Kent, Brian Sanders, David Cash, Colin Fletcher, Andrew George, and Pedro Eberbach.
Master Elect Ian Ray rides in for the rehearsal.
The installation ceremony went extremely well and David Wells did a grand job in his role as Proclaiming Officer, even though this was his first outing. Clearly all that hard work and practice paid off.
The ceremony was watched quite closely by a number of local senior grand lodge officers, including the District Co-ordinator of the Central Victorian District.
With the lodge closure around 9:40PM we moved into the supper room to join the waiting ladies.
Installation complete it is time for the traditional group photo with Pedro trying to direct the proceedings.
Installed W.M. Bro. Ian Ray being escorted into the south by the VMMA Deacons with the VMMA donated ceremonial swords.
The banquet was prepared by the Penna family: Frances, Alexandra, Catherine and her daughter Blayze (who clearly showed us during the day and evening how much she loves her grandad Ricardo).
Ian Ray and Richard Penna have been great mates for quite a long time. The banquet charge and a raffle ticket were all for the low price of $5. Raffle winners included the WM of Aurora Lodge, George Allen, Dean Lugton, Taxi, Rob Fisk, David Kent, Isy, Ricardo, Ron Alderding, & our own Tracy Scott.
Various speeches were made as well as a couple of presentations.
A donation of $100 was made to the VMMA by the Master of Aurora who explained the money was in lieu of an installation cake from their recent installation.
The traditional after installation wind-down occurred back at the nearby motel but most of us hit the sack early.
Job well done, Taxi is reporting back to base!!!!
Breakfast on Sunday morning was taken at the Beechworth Bakery in Bendigo before the southern attendees split in two groups for the ride home.
