Official visit to Wimmera Lodge No. 70 - Horsham
Tuesday 23rd March 2010
Whilst participating in the Blue Ribbon Foundation - Grampians Ride "to remember" in January 2010 we met up with W.M. Bro. Phil Nicks of Wimmera Lodge No. 70 who made a formal invitation to the VMMA to visit him whilst he was still in the chair, meeting night was a Tuesday and Horsham is a long way for a mid week visit, taking all this into consideration the invitation was accepted.
Pedro agreed to organise the accommodation bookings, it did not take very long for a number of members to confirm they were willing to take the time to travel to Horsham visit Phil and brethren of Wimmera Lodge No. 70.
Brethren and VMMA members starting to arrive for the Wimmera Lodge No. 70 and Ararat Centenary Lodge No. 802 combined meeting at Horsham.
Pedro and Andrew rode up together from Bendigo via St Arnuad and had all the rooms sorted before others arrived, Bob and Chris departed Melbourne at 1.00 pm and rode via Deer Park, Ballarat, Avoca, Stawell and then the final leg up to Horsham arriving around 5.30 pm, David rode by himself from Wonthaggi directly up via Melbourne, Ballarat, Ararat, Stawell and onto Horsham and the final distance traveler was Bruce who drove by himself up from Phillip Island. Mal a local VMMA member rode up from Stawell to join with us.
The accommodation was at the Town House Motel, directly opposite the Horsham Police Station and from the balcony you could easily see the Masonic Centre, rooms were very sound proof so those who socialised into the early hours or is that late hours did not disturb anyone (that's good we had a Police Officer next door).
Seven members of the VMMA traveled to Horsham to join with the W.M. Bro. Phil Nicks (VMMA member) of the Wimmera Lodge No. 70
As VMMA members arrived at the Horsham Masonic Centre the motorcycles received great attention and their were many yarns about yesteryears, it was interesting to note that brethren specifically mentioned that they had followed with interest the VMMA working with Cystic Fibrosis Victoria.
Our entry into the lodge room was in the 1st Degree and after the P.M's, this meeting was a combined meeting of Wimmera Lodge No. 70 and Ararat Centenary Lodge No. 802 with the brethren from Ararat Centenary Lodge taking the chairs to carry out the raising of Bro. Norm Clark, when the lodge was closed the traditional photograph was taken in the lodge room of VMMA members in attendance.
L to R Back row: Chris, Phil and Pedro. L to R Mid row: Andrew, Bob and Bruce. L to R Front row: David and Mal.
The south was very well attended with both W.M.'s conducting their own lodge duties, a toast and Scotch Fire was given to our raised Bro. Norm Clark, it appears from the brethren who spoke in the south that their are a number of lodges in this particular district who are about to surrender their warrant and in some cases combine together and form a new lodge to take them into the future.
This was a combined meeting of Wimmera Lodge No. 70 and Ararat Centenary Lodge No. 802 with an official visit from the VMMA. Standing on the left of W.M. Bro. Phil Nicks is the W.M. of Ararat Centenary Lodge No. 802 and on Phil's right is Bro. Norm Clark who was raised to the 3rd degree.
The VMMA was invited to make a presentation in the south, Pedro started the presentation and then invited Chris to expand a little on our current and future activities within the general community, our presentation concluded with Chris talking about the CFV "Breathless" 8 Day Ride later in the year and that the VMMA will be approaching all lodges and orders later in the year seeking their support to raise the awareness of CF and much need funds.
Bruce Procter (Doc) was then invited to the floor to enlighten those present of his connection to Wimmera Lodge No. 70 via his Grandfather Edward William Proctor PM who was initiated into the Wimmera Lodge No. 1786 English Constitution on the 3rd February 1888 and then passed on the 6th April 1888 and finally raised on the 18th May 1888 and was a member of Wimmera Lodge No. 70 until resigning on the 9th July 1899 due to relocating in Victoria which found him joining other lodges during those years, Edward passed away in 1926 aged 80 years.
The VMMA was invited to speak in the south; Pedro commenced and then invited Chris to finish the VMMA presentation. Bruce (Doc) enlightened us all of his families involvement “Edward William Proctor PM” with Wimmera Lodge No. 1786 English Constitution and was a member of Wimmera Lodge No. 70 when it was consecrated.
After this presentation W.M. Bro. Phil Nicks announced that the proceeds of the evening totaling $141 would be donated to the VMMA Charity Fund for distribution to a worthy cause.
Retiring from the Masonic Centre we returned to the motel and quietly socialised for a few more hours.
Wednesday morning found everyone up and ready at 8.00 am for breakfast, Andrew highly yes highly recommend a cafe in town, great breakfasts served was the message so without hesitation we followed Andrew to the cafe, well everyone got great service other than Andrew who's breakfast order was lost (or did they remember him from a previous visit?) eventually Andrew received his breakfast and it was 9.00 am and time to depart in our various directions.
Pedro and Andrew rode off towards St Arnuad and then onto Bendigo whilst Chris, Bob and David rode via Stawell, Avoca, Ballarat and into Melbourne where David then continued a solo ride down to Wonthaggi, Bruce head towards Mortlake to see his son who was on leave from the forces.
Reported by CW
