Report of V

Official Visit - Healesville Lodge No. 247 - Lilydale

Wednesday 14th April 2010

Reported by David Wells

Return to Reports 2010 Index

On Wednesday 14th of April many members of the VMMA visited the Healesville Lodge to acknowledge my last night as Master after consecutive years in the Chair.

In total, including Healesville VMMA Members - there were 26 present who are members of the VMMA. This number included VMMA Patron - Most Worshipful Bro. John Wilson PGM who originally placed me in the chair back in 2007 - and was probably keen to come along to ensure that I didn’t stick my hand up for a fourth term. Rest assured - that was not about to happen this time around.

Many VMMA Members had travelled quite a distance, including places such as Phillip Island, Wonthaggi, Mandurang, Euroa, Brighton, Burnside and Melbourne. I sincerely thank all of you for travelling the distances you did to be there on my Last Night as Master.

The Meeting itself was a short one so that we could all enjoy a night of celebration to end my term as Master of the Lodge. In total there were 51 Freemasons in attendance and seven addition guests bringing the total for the night to 58 people. This was actually 14 people more than attended last year’s Installation which put me in for my third term of office. As you can imagine I was delighted with the turn out. Wouldn’t it be great to go to Lodge and see a crowd like that at every meeting.

Members and Visitors - Master’s Last Night

As there have been several occasions during my time as Master where I have not managed to speak to everyone in the South I made a point of walking around the Lodge room during the Meeting to personally thank everyone for their support. It is when you do something like this that you realise how many great friends that are made in Freemasonry and how supportive everyone is to each other. Once we were in the South I made sure that our other guests received a thank you as well.

A big part of my ‘Masonic Life’ over the last three years has been my time as part of the VMMA Installation Team where I have performed many different roles including Inner Guard and Investiture of the Tyler, Address to the Pillars, Address to the Master, Address to the Wardens, and the highlight - Proclaiming Officer.

Being part of the VMMA Installation Team has taken me all over Victoria as we have been Installing fellow VMMA Members as Master of their Lodges. On the 1st of May I will be part of the Team in Stawell to Install W.Bro. Mal. Pitcher.

On now to the South. This was an enjoyable experience as we had a finger food supper which gave everyone more freedom to move around and interact with each other.

Images from in the South

There was very little in the way of normal formality with Grace, and a Toast to the Queen and the Craft being the only usual activities that took place.

Then it was time to look back over the last 3 years. Bro. John Worlley was given the task of saying a few words about my time in the chair and what had taken place during that period.

It has been an amazing experience for me to be the Master of the Healesville Lodge for this period - even more so when I remember that I am still only 8.5 years as a member of the Craft. Healesville placed a lot of trust in me to perform the role as Master and I do hope that I have justified this faith.

John Worlley reflecting on the last 3 years

This also gave me a few moments to reflect

When John had finished his presentation of the events of the last 3 years, it was then my turn to touch on most of these items in my response.

Key highlights: (3 years worth).

Having M.W.Bro. John Wilson PGM. Install me in 2007 and 2008. (2007 was with a Grand Lodge Team).
Being Installed by the VMMA Installation Team in 2008 and 2009.
Cheque Presentations to our Charities over the last 3 years. With a grand sum of over $35,000. Anglicare (2007) $7,200, Healesville SES (2008) $19,800 and Healesville CFA (2009) $8,200.
The three Games Nights that we had to raise the money for the abovementioned organisations. Chris Wells and Bro. Dean Lugton were key players who ran these nights and a lot of the success is marked down to them.
Having Badger Creek Primary School (2008) and Healesville High School (2009) bring their music students down to play for our members and guests were brilliant nights. I was delighted when November 2008 brought 68 people into the Lodge Room, but last year when there were 92 people topped it off and showed just how worthwhile the concept was.
Representing the Lodge at the District 115 Charity Dinners to present our charities to a room of over 120 people.
Performing live Degree work in each of the three Degrees.
Presenting several Lectures over the three year period.
The ‘Walkthrough’s’ of each Degree by R.Wor. Bro. Merv Hallam.
The demonstration of the Dutch Lodge Opening with the Sand Tracing Board.
Introducing Healesville Lodge Polo Shirts and Caps.
An ‘Open Day’ at Healesville SES to see the ‘Jaws of Life’ in action.

I was presented with a beautiful Gavel with a plaque on the end that depicts my three terms of office. This I will treasure.

Next up was a few words from VMMA Secretary Pedro who spoke about the VMMA Installation Team and Charity then Chris invited M.W.Bro. John Wilson PGM to say a few words and then Chris invited The Baron to explain the VMMA fire and he then invited everyone to join in and give me the VMMA fire.