Freemason NSW & ACT September 2018 by APM Graphics Management

GRAND INSTALLATION R FIERCE FAUNA R STROKE RECOGNITION

Our

Grand Master

v50 n3 September 2018

Contents

The Official Journal of The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons

This issue of the Freemason is produced under the direction of: Editor & Chairman: RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM Committee: RW Bro Graham Maltby (Secretary), Dr Yvonne McIntyre, VW Bro Andre Fettermann, RW Bro Craig Pearce, RW Bro Richard Dawes, W Bro Stephen Dally, W Bro Steve Lourey, Bro Simon Pierce Design & Production: Bro Simon Pierce, Megan Baumann and Pam Gill

18 •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Editorial 3 Quarterly Communication

Famous mason

Touring Roslin

From the Grand Chaplain

Freemasonry in India

Stroke Recognition

An article of subsistence

Fierce Fauna

Meet the Author

The GM interview

Grand Installation 24 Our new 2018/19 Grand Officers 26 Our new Leaders 28

Freemason is published in March, June, September and December. Deadline for copy is 1st of the month preceding month of issue. All matters for publication in the journal should be addressed to:

•• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• ••

Auditory problems

The other working tools

Letters to the Editor

Other Orders

Book Review

A Start in Life

Masonicare 40 Peter Court

Regional Roundup

Initiates 48 Sponsors 49 Masonic Crossword

Service Certificates

The Secretary Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South, NSW 1235 Telephone: (02) 9284 2800 Email: freemason@masons.org.au Published articles do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT. Advertising enquiries should be addressed to: Bro Simon Pierce APM Graphics Management 16 Springwood Street, Blackwall, NSW 2256 Telephone: (02) 4344 5133 Email: freemason@apmgraphics.com.au Freemason is proudly designed and produced by APM Graphics Management 16 Springwood Street, Blackwall NSW 2256 Printed by PMP Limited Distributed to all NSW & ACT brethren and sister Grand Lodges in Australia and Worldwide.

COVER IMAGE:

Our Grand Master MW Bro Derek Robson AM with his partner Gael.

Electronic versions of FREEMASON can be viewed or downloaded at www.masons.org.au

EDITORIAL POLICY

Aims of the Freemason magazine RR To uphold and promote those values, morals and virtues which Freemasonry believes are universal and enduring. RR To foster a better understanding of Freemasonry within the general community. RR To provide a forum for discussion on masonic issues. RR To publicise the charitable works of Freemasonry. RR To provide articles of interest and education and to disseminate masonic news and views. RR To recognise masons who make significant contributions to the Craft and the wider community.

September 2018

ISSN 1836-0475 or ISSN 1836-0513 (Online) Print Post Approved 100007316 © 2018 Copyright: It should be noted that copyright for all text, photographs and illustrations (except where otherwise indicated) rests worldwide with Freemason.

INDEMNITY: It is the responsibility of the advertiser to ensure that advertisements comply with the Trade Practices Act 1974 as amended. All advertisements are accepted for publication on the condition that the advertiser indemnify the publisher and its servants against all actions, suits, claims, loss and/or damages resulting from anything published on behalf of the advertiser.

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Editorial

By RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM

Actions speak louder In a recent interview, the Dalai Lama said that in many ways, there has never been a better time to be alive.

ewer among us are poor, fewer are hungry, fewer children are dying and in many countries, recognition of women’s and minority rights is now the norm. But there is still discontent in many parts of the world and research revealed this is based on the need to be needed. Being needed consists of a natural human hunger to serve our fellow men and women. The more we are at one with the rest of humanity, the better we feel. Which switches our attention to older and young people in today’s world who feel they are no longer useful or no longer needed or in the case of younger people, unable to get a job and be a useful part of the community. This is where Freemasonry can help and be a leader. Every person has something to share, something to give and we must make sure that our global brotherhood with others consists of a personal commitment that we put into practice.

BATTLE OF THE CORAL SEA • THE BLUE MOUNTAINS • EXTEND AN INVITATION

v49 n3 – SEPTEMBER 2017

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GENERAL

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NTENE R TERCE

h 2018 THE CHRISTMAS

STORY R WHO WAS JACKSON?

England

Celebrates!

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R THE (K)NOTS OF FREEMASONRY

v49 n4 December

2017

Panama Canal

Sydn

ey’s Games Sandstone ly The friend

It should become an automatic habit despite the fact that building and enforcing such a habit is not an easy task. Some people don’t want help, preferring to be miserable, others don’t know who to contact to get help and some have the ability but not the knowledge of how to offer a helping hand. It may take innovative solutions or thinking and acting outside the square.

Extending a helping hand is not just assisting an elderly person to cross a busy street, surrendering your seat on a bus or train to someone who obviously needs it more or smiling and saying ‘Thank you’ to a shop assistant who has taken time to answer your questions. It is a reminder of that courtesy taught by parents and which was dominant in past society. As masons, we are taught the meaning of charity and friendship and reminded at each meeting never to forget them. Each lodge and district with plans and actions can make a big difference to its local community. There is an old phrase which says ‘actions speak louder than words’ and what better way can we show the community what it really means to be a Freemason?

V49 N2 – JUNE 2017

SATCHMO • LODGE RICHARD COLEY REMEMBER SINGAPORE • THE GREAT

www.masons.org.au NIC R MASO MACARTHUR DOUGLAS

Extending a helping hand is not just assisting an elderly person to cross a busy street...

Nothing has ever been gained by sitting still. These problems at times will cut across conventions but dialogue and friendship can contribute to a better and more meaningful world.

Get your own! Are you borrowing someone else’s copy of the Freemason? Did you know that you can receive your very own copies delivered to your door without being a mason? For only $21 (or $26 overseas) per year, enjoy a four-issue subscription – just get in touch with the Secretary of the Freemason magazine by calling (02) 9284 2800 or by emailing freemason@masons.org.au.

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Subscribe to the Freemason from only $21 per year! September 2018

Quarterly Communication

JUNE COMMUNICATION The Grand Master, MW Bro James Melville, in welcoming members at the June meeting, said there were a number of highlights he attended during the past quarter.

hese included: The Freemasons Getaway Cruise, Consecration of several new lodges, Dedication of new Masonic Centres, Regional Communication held in Taree, the Tercentenary Celebrations of the United Grand Lodge of England, Prostate Cancer Fundraiser Dinner, Millennial Mason Initiation, attending Grand Installations of our sister

OUR NEXT

COMMUNICATION The Grand Lodge Quarterly Communication will be held at the Sydney Masonic Centre on WEDNESDAY 12 September 2018 at 7:30pm. The Communication is open to all members of Grand Lodge, which includes all Master Masons. The Grand Master extends an invitation to all other brethren, especially Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Freemasons, to attend as observers. Brethren attending as observers are not entitled to vote on matters being considered by Grand Lodge.

September 2018

jurisdictions, Craft Installations and fundraising events and Concordat and Associated Order Installations and special events. He also expressed his appreciation to the Deputy and Assistant Grand Master for their combined efforts in support of local charities. He said Antoine and Bill had come together and their efforts with the support of masons had not gone unnoticed. ‘I thank the Chairman of the Board of Management and Masonicare for their leadership, and of their respective boards’ contribution to our Craft. Both boards are continuing to serve our membership, and their drive and enthusiasm will continue to make a difference. The Board of Management has made some important decisions in recent times such as: police checks, training modules for EAFs and FCFs, continued support of Facebook and financial grants to masonic centres. In this regard, I would like to thank our Chairman, RW Bro Bruce Munro, for his commitment, leadership and friendship. ‘Masonicare has been very busy over the last several months with the roll-out of their special “wheelchairs” program. Lodges or masonic associations who make application to be involved enjoy the benefit of having their donated funds matched, dollar for dollar for amounts between $500 and $5,000. This funding goes towards the purchase of wheelchairs for local hospitals or aged care facilities across NSW.

‘Since the program launch earlier in the year, Masonicare has now received more than 20 applications from lodges and district associations from widelyranging country areas as well as the Sydney metropolitan region. This accounts for more than 100 “branded” wheelchairs being donated and it is envisaged approximately 180 wheelchairs will be successfully placed in hospitals and aged care facilities across our jurisdiction. ‘The chairs carry the Square and Compasses logo of UGL as well as the Masonicare logo – a highly visible promotion for the Craft in general and brethren are to be congratulated on their involvement with this initiative.’ MW Bro Melville also said he has had the honour to have three Grand Directors who have provided great leadership and he thanked John Begbie, Dimantha Goonasekera, Luis Reyes and all the Team members for their support and dedication to Freemasonry. Recently, the Fundraiser Dinner for his nominated charity, the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, was held with 120 people in attendance with Mr John Mangos as Master of Ceremonies and auctioneer. He specifically thanked The Sydney Lodge No 1020 for organising this with VW Bro Marcello Marcobello. This event alone raised over $35,000 bringing the combined total for PCFA to more than $100,000 from NSW and ACT Freemasons during the past three years.

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... I should mention what I believe is one of the most important decisions we have made as a Grand Lodge, which is to allow all masons in our jurisdiction the opportunity to vote for a Grand Master.

‘I attended Lodge Dawn’s regular meeting for the Initiation of Mr Zane Zuschke, our first millennial mason. The work was shared with the WM, W Bro Bob Ayscough and Zane’s father, Michael who is the DGIW for District 11. ‘In addition, I would like to offer congratulations to two brethren who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours Awards. They are RW Bro Kevin McGlinn PDGM and RW Bro Sydney Weller PDGM who received the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM). We congratulate you on being recognised for your service to our community and country,’ he said. The Grand Master also conveyed his appreciation to the Grand Secretary, RW Bro Stephen Green PDGM, and the Staff of the Grand Secretariat and the Sydney Masonic Centre on their service to the membership. ‘There are major upgrades planned for later this year to our air conditioning and the office swap of Levels 4 and 5. This will ensure a viable service to our brethren and commercial clients for many years to come. Since our Grand Lodge was dedicated, this is the largest spend to date for our capital works. ‘As I conclude, I should mention what I believe is one of the most important decisions we have made as a Grand Lodge, which is to allow all masons in our jurisdiction the opportunity to vote for a Grand Master. At our March Communication when we voted on this, the support from the membership was overwhelming and a step in the right direction to ensure we are connecting and engaging with all our membership. I know the board is working on a trial run for our September Communication at selected masonic centres to ensure this can be properly implemented when required.

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‘Finally, I would like to convey my appreciation to my wife Yuana who has been a great support, and I thank her for her love, her love of Freemasonry and the brethren and ladies that support it.’ The Executive Council reported the Grand Lodge will be temporarily closed from December to early May 2019 to allow for the planned upgrades. In other areas, the report said there was a need to monitor Facebook enquiries more closely and to see whether our lodges are submitting nominations from their local community for the Young Achievers Award. The meeting also approved a motion on the MAS procedures which deletes the need for a specific dispensation for every applicant and gives the DGIW and other Grand Lodge officers of PDGIW rank or above the authority to act as nominators on behalf of the Board of Management without the need for dispensation. A report from the Deputy Grand Secretary noted the Museum of Free masonry will again be involved with the Sydney Open on Sunday 4 November and has asked that any volunteers who can attend will be welcome. Levels 1 and 3 of the Sydney Masonic Centre have been fully booked for this event.

Family Law

Ballots held at the meeting resulted in W Bro Joshua Newman elected as Grand Pursuivant with W Bro Christian Trejada as Deputy and W Bro Graham Rees as Grand Tyler. The Grand Secretary had earlier announced the Grand Master Elect, MW Bro Derek James Robson AM, has appointed RW Bro Andrew Fraser, MLA, to the role of Deputy Grand Master and RW Bro John Armfield to the role of Assistant Grand Master for the 2018/2019 Masonic term.

September 2018

Famous mason Photo taken from the aft windows onboard Discovery on mission STS-95, John Glenn’s last space flight.

Flying

high In life, there are certain occasions which stay in memory forever. The name of John Glenn is one of those which bring back memories of a remarkable moment in our history.

any of today’s older generation can remember watching television, either at home or in front of a store, in a state of almost total fascination as man conquered one of its last barriers – space.

In 1959, Glenn took on a new challenge when he was selected for the US Space Program. He and six others, including Gus Grissom and Alan Shepard, went through rigorous training and became known as the ‘Mercury 7’. At the time, the United States was locked in a heated ‘space race’ with the Soviet Union over advancements in space technology and research.

John Glenn was a NASA astronaut. He was part of the first group of astronauts NASA picked. He was the first American to orbit Earth. He also became a US senator. Later, he became the oldest person to fly in space. Living in the baby boomer generation, Glenn always seemed to be around. In 1957 he set the transcontinental speed record on a flight from Los Angeles to New York, completing the trip in three hours 23 minutes.

September 2018

John Glenn, Senator and Astronaut

Five years later on 20 February 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth. He named his spacecraft Friendship 7 and made three orbits around Earth. His mission showed that the Mercury spacecraft worked in space. The mission also helped NASA learn more about being in space.

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It was an anxious nation that watched and listened that February morning, as the 40-year-old Glenn climbed into Friendship 7, a tiny Mercury capsule atop an Atlas rocket rising from the concrete flats of Cape Canaveral in Florida.

John entering his spacecraft, Friendship 7, on 20 February 1962

The Cold War had long stoked fears of nuclear destruction, and the Russians seemed to be winning the contest with their unsettling ascent into outer space. Two Russians, Yuri Gagarin and Gherman Titov, had already orbited Earth the year before, overshadowing the feats of Americans Alan Shepard and Virgil Grissom, who had been launched only to the fringes of space. What, people asked with rising urgency, had happened to the United States’ vaunted technology and can-do spirit? The answer came at 9:47am Eastern time, when after weeks of delays the rocket achieved lift-off. The three orbits was only a short flight but when Glenn was safely back, flashing the world a triumphant grin, doubts were replaced by a broad, new faith that the United States could indeed hold its own against the Soviet Union in the Cold War and might someday prevail. Friendship 7 was carried by an Atlas LV-3B launch vehicle lifting off from Launch Complex 14 at Cape Canaveral. After four hours and 56 minutes in flight the spacecraft re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere, splashed down in the North Atlantic Ocean and was safely taken aboard USS Noa. But this historic journey was not without some glitches. In the control room, NASA officials grew worried that Glenn’s heat shield was not firmly

attached to the spacecraft. Glenn made some adjustments, and managed to make a safe landing. ‘I found weightlessness to be extremely pleasant,’ was his comment about being in space. Legend has it that President Kennedy ordered he not be sent up again for fear of losing a national treasure. After retiring from the space program he had a successful business career. John Glenn was born in Ohio on 18 July 1921 and died on 8 December 2016, aged 95. He was in college when World War II started and left school to fight in the war. He became a Marine pilot and trained other pilots, fought in the Korean War and after Korea he became an airplane test pilot.

In 1974 Glenn entered the political arena, representing Ohio for 24 years in the Senate. Nearing the end of his time in government, he made one more space flight when he flew in the Discovery space shuttle at the age of 77, at that time the oldest person to do so. Two members of the crew had not been born when Glenn made his first flight as an astronaut. John Glenn was initiated in August 1978 at Chillicothe, Ohio. Two years later the Grand Lodge of New York awarded the Distinguished Achievement to him. He received the 33rd Degree in 1998 in Cincinnati. In 1999 the Supreme Council voted to give him the Gourgas Medal, only the 32nd person to be so honoured.

Dion’s Brainteasers Q: What word in the standard Australian dictionary is spelled incorrectly? A good lawyer looks beyond the surface! Want to know the answer? Ask Dion Accoto next time you seem him at Lodge, or email him. Contact details are on the inside back cover of this issue! Liability Limited by a Scheme Approved Under Professional Standards Legislation

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September 2018

Touring Roslin

By RW Bro Neil Atkins Although these links had been postulated by researchers for decades Dan Brown’s book and the film later released in 2006 popularised Roslin and Rosslyn Chapel. Researchers and historians have developed several explanations for the mysteries surrounding Rosslyn Chapel ranging from the complex, for example, as the reason outlined in Rosslyn, Guardian of the Secrets of the Holy Grail by Tim Wallace-Murphy and Marilyn Hopkins, to the exhaustive in the publications of Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas to fiction based on fact such as The Da Vinci Code.

Rosslyn Chapel Photo by Amanda Slater

What connects Dolly the Sheep and Rosslyn Chapel? The answer is the small Scottish village of Roslin almost 13 kilometres from Edinburgh and the impact both have made on the level of tourism to Roslin.

oslin is often mentioned by researchers seeking the origins of Freemasonry due to its alleged links with the Knights Templar and the belief the almost 600 year old Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin is the repository of the Holy Grail.

During February 1997, it was announced that the Roslin Institute, situated in Roslin at that time, had in 1996 successfully cloned a female sheep from a cell taken from the mammary gland of a donor sheep. Originally named ‘6LL3’, the ewe’s name was soon changed to ‘Dolly’ after the singer Dolly Parton. Dolly the sheep remained at the Roslin Institute until she was euthanised on 14 February 2003 after suffering an incurable illness. But more publicity was on the horizon for Roslin and specifically the Rosslyn Chapel. In the year that Dolly the sheep died, Dan Brown’s mystery novel The Da

September 2018

The preserved remains of Dolly the sheep – Roslin’s second claim to fame. Photo by Toni Barros

Vinci Code was published, which drew heavily on the mysteries surrounding Rosslyn Chapel and its possible links with the Knights Templar, The Holy Grail and Freemasonry.

But perhaps the most accepted explanation begins with the Knights Templar. After almost two centuries of being a military order functioning under the Pope’s patronage, the Templars returned to France to their place of origin. They quickly came into conflict with the King of France, Philip the Fair, Philip IV, who, due to financial difficulties, eyed the wealth accumulated by the Templars. This supposedly included the Holy Grail recovered by the Templars during excavations of Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem. Philip was rebuffed by the Templars in attempting to negotiate access to their treasures and a whispering campaign began questioning their loyalty to the Church and the nature of their secret ceremonies. As this campaign gathered momentum Philip lobbied Pope Clement V, who was domiciled in Avignon and the first of the Avignonese Popes, to withdraw Papal patronage from the Templars. This was done and on Friday 13 October 1307, Templars were arrested in France, including the Grand Master of the Temp lars, Jacques de Molay. On 27 November 1307, Pope Clement V called on Christ ian monarchs to arrest all Templars and seize their assets. Legend has it the Templars were forewarned and their treasures, including the Holy Grail, were loaded on Templar Fleet vessels which sailed from La Rochelle to an unknown destination. Philip, when he accessed the treasury of the Templars was disappointed by the meagre treasures he found. Researchers have generally agreed that the destination of the fleet was Scotland. Why? Because Robert the

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Bruce, King of Scotland from 1306 to 1329, had been excommunicated by the Pope in February 1306 shortly before he ascended to the Scottish Throne in March of the same year. This added weight to the belief that Scotland was the choice of destination because in Scotland the Templars and their treasure would be out of reach of the Pope and the Church. The story of intrigue continues in that Rosslyn Church is believed to have become the repository of the Templar Treasures including the Holy Grail. But the Templar Fleet in 1307 would have reached Scotland long before Rosslyn Chapel was commissioned by Sir William St Clair, believed to be a Knight Templar. The corner stone was laid on 21 Sept ember 1446 and the building was not completed until the early 16th Century. Where was the Templar Treasure stored for more than a century until the Chapel was finished if it was to be the final resting place of the Templar treasures? It’s believed the Templar treasures were first held at Kilwinning Abbey, home to Benedictine Monks in North Ayrshire, before being taken to Rosslyn Chapel. Kilwinning Abbey, built around the middle of the 12th Century, was known to the Templars who were influenced by the Rule of Benedict and was in existence when the Templars fled France. This viewpoint is supported by John Robinson in his book Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry. The Grand Lodge of Scotland website www.grandlodgescotland.com published an Irvine Herald article claiming in an interview with a local historian, Jamie Morton, that Kilwinning Abbey was indeed initially the repository of the Templar wealth. A leap of faith is needed to believe the treasure was removed to Rosslyn by the St Clair family and concealed in the vaults of Rosslyn Church. But it is possible. Kilwinning Abbey was in decline from the end of the 15th Century, was plundered in 1513 and finally succumbed to the Protestant Reformation in 1560. If the Benedictine Monks felt that the treasures were not safe at Kilwinning they could have agreed to move them to the new Rosslyn Chapel. If this is the case, is this where the Knights Templar and Freemasonry came into contact?

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The Chapel Trust which manages the privately owned Chapel adopts a relaxed attitude towards the different and contradictory theories of the influence of the Templars and Freemasonry on the origins of the Chapel and whether Rosslyn is the repository of the Holy Grail. In fact the Trust actively encourages further research and on its website www.rosslynchapel.com makes the following statement: ‘A plethora of books and self-published pamphlets claimed to have the answers, but Rosslyn Chapel Trust has lacked the resources to test the various theories and suppositions. So we offer a selection of the books for sale in our gift shop and leave it to you to make up your own mind!’

The ‘apprentice pillar’ in Rosslyn Chapel.

The oldest lodge in Europe is recognised as Mother Kilwinning Lodge Number 0. being formed around the time of the building of Kilwinning Abbey. It was most likely, at the time, a lodge having only operative masons as members. The presence of the Templars in exile and the lodge which met in the vicinity of the Abbey would have brought the two groups into contact. At that time masons could be categorised into two classes: operative masons who were restricted to certain areas and required permission from their lords to travel elsewhere, and operative free masons, who had no restriction on travel but needed to develop signs and knowledge peculiar to their status so that their skills could be recognised wherever they travelled. By the end of the 16th century it has been suggested that speculative masons were being accepted into lodges which formerly contained only operative masons. In 1736, thirty three lodges met to form the Grand Lodge of Scotland. As Rosslyn Chapel took more than 60 years to complete it is not beyond imagination that Freemasons from different backgrounds and skills were involved in its construction given the different styles of carvings in the Chapel.

Initially a Freemason’s museum was part of the display at the chapel but that has been closed. Major chapel renovations have taken place in recent years and an expanded visitor’s centre has been added with a shop selling masonic and Templar memorabilia. The carvings in the Church are magnificent. At the eastern end are three pillars believed to accord to the three degrees in Freemasonry. Probably the better known is the Apprentice Pillar and the legend surrounding this is familiar to all Freemasons. Elsewhere the carvings from different backgrounds has led to some researchers believing they contain clues to hidden mysteries. There is also a belief some of the carvings prove the Templars discovered North America before Columbus. But whatever the mystery, Rosslyn Chapel is well worth a visit. Since the publication of The Da Vinci Code, interest in the Chapel has soared with a significant influence on Scottish tourism. BBC Scotland News reported in 2016 that 34,000 people in 2001 visited Rosslyn Chapel. In 2006, the year of the release of the film, the number soared to 176,000 and has remained steady at around 150,000 a year since then. The Chapel remains one of the top tourist attractions in Scotland. And what of Dolly the sheep? A native of Roslin and a tourist attraction, she stands preserved on display, as a centrepiece, in the Science and Technology section of the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

September 2018

From the Grand Chaplain

By RW Bro Rabbi Dr Samuel Tov-Lev

When touring other lands...

enjoy Freemasonry It is logical that being attached to local lodges we are familiar with our rituals in English and the manner of attending the South, as we call it.

n other countries the South is called ‘the White Table’, ‘Refectory’ and so on. In fact, from my experience over many years in traveling around the globe, I am always eager to visit lodges abroad whenever it is possible and witness customs and performances of different lodges. It is interesting to note that when staying in a city abroad and we ask locals about a local masonic lodge, most of the time their answer is negative for two reasons: Lack of knowledge of Free masonry in general and ignorance of the location of a masonic lodge. How to ensure the proper and easiest way to attend recognised lodges abroad that we are allowed to visit is to first approach our Grand Lodge after preparing an itinerary. Grand Lodge will be very helpful and furnish you with the appropriate contact method of recognised Grand Lodges at the cities you plan to visit and also provide you with a Masonic Travel Certificate. You may then contact the Grand Lodges abroad before your departure to ensure that there are meetings during your stay at any city. Remember, in July people are on holidays and in many cases there are no lodge meetings. When you attend a lodge abroad, you may be regarded as a stranger among them but after proving to be a genuine mason on examination, you are warmly welcomed as a true brother and they are honoured by your decision to visit their lodge. It is important that before leaving on your journey, to familiarise yourself with all the signs and passwords.

September 2018

...you will have the freedom to totally concentrate on the differences of work compared to yours...

It will be useful that you take with you a black suit, black bow tie and white gloves as respect for the dressing code of most lodges. You may take with you a Master Mason or Past Master apron, otherwise they would be happy to lend you one. When I visited a lodge during the day in casual clothes they reminded me that they expected me to be dressed accordingly if I visited at night. Why is it important and useful to visit lodges in other lands with no English spoken? Firstly, you must not be discouraged by not understanding their language. On the contrary, you will have the freedom to totally concentrate on the differences of work compared to yours, and mostly understand by their actions the masonic aspect of their performance. When we are accustomed to our language and suddenly hear the ritual in other languages we still have an idea of the meaning while watching the officers and the candidate. On the other hand, I find that when I am familiar with a foreign language, the wordings of the ritual makes me a bit uncomfortable

because I started my association with Freemasonry in English. Visiting lodges of other constitutions makes us immediately compare their workings with ours by observing the ritual and the set up inside the Temple. For instance, the placement of the VSL, the sitting of Wardens and the DC between them. When Deacons are not used , the DC performs their duties by direct request from the WM. The ritual is performed by the officers while reading from an open ritual and not memorising by heart, apart from the DC who has to move around. What puzzled me when I visited Grand Lodge in the centre of Stockholm, Sweden, during the day it is like part of a palace, as the king is the Grand Master and his office consists of a big palace hall. When I asked the Grand Secretary about members, he informed me they accept only Christians and this policy has worked well for them for the last 100 years. He also mentioned that in Finland they are starting a Universal Lodge to enable men of other denominations to join. I wonder whether it is worthwhile to adopt in our lodges what I have witnessed. Before the time is due to open the lodge, all officers are called to enter and take their places and remain standing, then the members of the lodge enter and after that the visitors. When all are assembled inside only then does the WM open the lodge. By using this method, it gives the feeling that we are entering into a holy ground for our work. Certainly, it looks more dignified and meaningful than our practice. What do you think?

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Freemasonry in India

By RW Bro John L Cooper III

Brotherhood in a time of conquest Freemasonry as we know it originated in the British Isles in the 18th century. From there, it quickly spread to Europe and beyond, especially to all parts of the British Empire.

iven its stated commitment to universality, one could imagine that non-European men would be welcome in the lodges that were established in these newly accessed parts of the world. Sadly, that was not always the case – and India is a typical example.

The first lodge chartered in India was Lodge No 72 at Bengal in 1728. That was just 11 years after the first Grand Lodge at London’s 1717 founding, and just five years after that same Grand Lodge had declared that Freemasonry would accept all men regardless of their religious affiliation in these words:

Despite the fact that a few members of the Indian aristocracy became masons, most Indians were barred from masonic membership. Some of the discrimination was undoubtedly based on race and nationality as much as religion, but membership denials based upon religious differences did exist.

I. Concerning GOD and RELIGION A Mason is oblig’d by his Tenure, to obey the moral Law; and if he rightly understands the Art, he will never be a stupid Atheist, nor an irreligious Libertine. But though in ancient Times Masons were charg’d in every Country to be of the Religion of that Country or Nation, whatever it was, yet ’tis now thought more expedient only to oblige them to that Religion in which all Men agree, leaving their particular Opinions to themselves; that is, to be good Men and true, or Men of Honour and Honesty, by whatever Denominations or Persuasions they may be distinguish’d; whereby Masonry becomes the Center of Union, and the Means of conciliating true Friendship among Persons that must else have remain’d at a perpetual Distance. Unfortunately, this ideal did not easily translate to lodges across the British Empire, especially to India.

September 2018

One celebrated case involved a native of India named Manockjee Cursetjee, who was repeatedly rejected by Englishspeaking lodges in India. Even after he finally became a mason in Paris, he was unable to join a local lodge in India. In 1843, Cursetjee’s plight came to the attention of Bro Burnes, provincial grand master of the Indian lodges under the Grand Lodge of Scotland. He set about creating a lodge for native Indian masons – the Star of Western India No 343 – on the register of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. From this beginning, Freemasonry gradually spread to the native Indian classes.

Bro Manockjee Cursetjee

There was, however, one more hurdle to overcome before the universality of Freemasonry could be truly realized in this new context. Unlike many native Indians, Cursetjee was a Parsee (as we would spell this today, a Parsi). The Parsi were descendants of Iranian Zoroastrians who fled to India beginning in the 8th century to avoid religious persecution. Zoroastrianism was a monotheistic religion, so no questions arose regarding Cursetjee’s religious qualification for becoming a mason. But what about polytheistic Hindus, or Buddhists who did not ascribe to a human-divine relationship. Were they eligible to become masons? These pivotal questions were eventually resolved by acknowledging that religion is personal to each individual mason, and that he must decide for himself how his own religious beliefs align with the masonic requirement of a belief in a Supreme Being. For example, if someone followed an outwardly polytheistic religion, but believed that a Supreme Being was behind the outward forms of his religion, he had satisfied the masonic requirement. After all, Christians believed in the Holy Trinity, but acknowledged that it was an expression of the ‘oneness’ of God, or a singular God expressed as three entities. Other religions had to be allowed a similar approach. This new open-mindedness led to the praise of Freemasonry’s universality by the celebrated author and poet, Rudyard Kipling. Kipling was born in India in

Freemason

Hindu, passed to the Fellow Craft degree by a Muslim, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason by a Christian. He also noted that his lodge had a Jewish-Indian tyler. Kipling’s diverse experience would not have been possible without Burnes’ courage to apply the principles of Freemasonry to the society in which he lived.

it can sometimes take a while for Freemasonry to evolve in order to fully align with the implications of its principles, but with time, it always does so.

Bro Joseph Rudyard Kipling

Allowing each man to be individually responsible for aligning his religious beliefs with Freemasonry was a major breakthrough – and it directly resulted from its spread to foreign countries. Masons gained a new understanding of the old masonic expression, ‘That I might travel in foreign countries, work and receive Master Mason wages!’

1865, and in 1886 was made a mason in the Lodge of Hope and Perseverance No 782 in Lahore. (At that time, Lahore was in India; today, it is in Pakistan.) Kipling later famously said that he was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason by a

As a centuries-old organization, it can sometimes take a while for Freemasonry to evolve in order to fully align with the implications of its principles, but with time, it always does so. Freemasonry is truly universal. But it sometimes takes courageous masons to call its biases to attention.

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September 2018

Stroke Recognition

By RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM

Stroke has a new indicator Blood Clots and Stroke now have a fourth indicator, the tongue.

uring a BBQ a woman stumbled and took a little fall. She assured everyone that she was fine despite their offers to call paramedics. She said she had just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes.

They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she appeared a bit shaken up, Jane went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Jane’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital – at 6pm Jane passed away. She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Jane would be with us today. Some don’t die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead. A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within three hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke ... totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognised, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within three hours, which is tough. It only takes a minute to read this.

STROKE

There is another sign of a Stroke ...

Remember the first three letters, to help with stroke identification:

STICK OUT YOUR TONGUE!

RECOGNISING A STROKE Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognise the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognise a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S Ask the individual to SMILE. T Ask the person to TALK.

The additional sign of a stroke is this: Ask the person to ‘stick’ out his/her tongue. If the tongue is ‘crooked’, if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke. Research indicates that more than 60,000 Australians suffer a stroke every year, rating stroke as Australia’s second biggest killer after coronary heart disease. Statistics published by the National Stroke Foundation indicated that stroke killed more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer.

R Ask him or her to RAISE both arms.

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, depriving the brain tissue of oxygen and food. Within minutes brain cells begin to die and this is why prompt treatment is crucial.

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call the emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

A cardiologist says, for everyone who reads this message and sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved. Will you do your part?

Ask them to speak a simple phrase coherently (i.e. chicken soup).

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September 2018

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Recently, members of The Whiddon Group Board visited our services in the far west of NSW.

Whiddon investing in regional, remote and rural areas Providing exceptional care to older Australians in regional, rural and remote areas, and investing in these communities, has always been an important part of Whiddonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approach to care. Often, we are at the very heart of these communities and we actively participate and contribute to them as a major care provider and employer, and through our community engagement programs. By providing aged care services, we can help older people living in these regional, rural and remote areas, to stay living where they love, the place they feel connected to, and where they feel supported by their community. This is incredibly important for many older people and can have a significant impact on their wellbeing. Whiddon has a strong commitment to continual provision and expansion of our services in regional, rural and remote areas, and like many providers operating in these communities, faces a number of challenges in making investments that are viable, now, and in the future. At Whiddon, we have experienced an increase in demand for complex aged care services across our communities, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredibly important that we overcome these challenges. As our population ages, it is more important than ever, to ensure that we have sufficient quality aged care for older Australians, regardless of where they live. To ensure we meet current and future aged care needs in our communities, we work closely with the local community and government representatives to advocate the importance of older people having access to the highest quality of care in the places they know and call home.

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Hon Michael McCormack MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Member for Riverina and Aged Care Minister, Ken Wyatt AM visited our Temora aged care home.

Recently, the Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, and the Aged Care Minister, Ken Wyatt visited our Temora home, which has approval for an additional 50 new aged care places from the 2016-2017 Aged Care Allocations Round, to take a look around and discuss the needs of older people in this wonderful community. These visits are incredibly important, and allow us to highlight issues and opportunities around aged care services in our communities. At Whiddon, we will continue to challenge issues, and work towards ensuring that older Australians in our rural, regional and remote communities, have access to the aged care services they need now, and in the future.

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An article of subsistence

By RW Bro Ted Simmons

Ceres by Antoine Watteau Credit: Samuel H. Kress Collection

Corn, wine and oil In olden times, back in the early years, builders and labourers were paid in different ways.

n masonic history, we were informed that at the building of King Solomon’s Temple a vast number of artificers were employed including scholars acquiring a knowledge of the Craft. These people, who were taught by more advanced workers, were supplied in return for their labour, with corn, wine and oil, at that time common articles of subsistence. But why corn, wine and oil? They are no longer used as a means of payment so in the lodge we use them as symbols, in the dedication, constitution and consecration of a new lodge in the laying of corner stones. At this time, once again the fruit of the land, the brew of the grape and the essence of the olive are poured to launch a new unit of brotherhood into the fellowship of lodges or to begin a new structure dedicated to the public use. Corn, wine and oil have been associated together from the earliest times. In Deuteronomy, the ‘nation of fierce countenance’, which is to destroy the people ‘shall not leave thee either corn, wine or oil’. In Chronicles, we read ‘the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of corn, wine and oil’. Nehemiah tells of a ‘great chamber where before time, they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine and the oil’ – and later ‘then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, the new wine and the oil into the treasures’.

September 2018

There are other references in the Holy Book to these particular forms of taxes, money and tithes for religious purposes, wealth and refreshment. In ancient days, the grapes in the vineyard and olives in the grove and the grain of the field were not only wealth but the measure of trade. So many skins of wine, so many cruses of oil, so many bushels of corn were to them as are dollars and cents today. Thus our ancient brethren received wages in corn, wine and oil as a practical matter; they were paid for their labours in the coin of the realm. The oil pressed from the olives was as important to them as butter and other fats were among occidentals. Because it was so necessary, and hence so valuable, it became an important part of sacrificial rites. There is no point in the sacrifice which is only a form. To be effective it must offer before the altar something of value, something the giving of which will testify to the love and veneration in which the sacrifice holds the Most High. Oil was also used not only as a food but for lighting purposes, more within the house than in the open air, where torches were more effective. Oil was also an article of the bath. Mixed with perfume, it was used in the ceremonies of anointment and in preparation for ceremonial appearances. ‘The precious ointment upon the head, which ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments’, as the quotation has it in our ritual, was doubtless made of olive oil, suitably mixed with such perfumes and spices as myrrh, cinnamon, and frankincense.

Probably olive oil was also used as a surgical dressing. Nomadic peoples, subject to injuries, could hardly avoid knowledge of the value of soothing oil. With so many uses for oil, its production naturally was stimulated. Not only was the production of the olive grove a matter of wealth, but the nourishing and processing of oil gave employment to many. Oil was obtained from the olive both by pressing – probably by a stone wheel revolving in or on a larger stone or mortar – and also by a gentle pounding. This hand process produced a finer quality of oil. In Exodus, it says: ‘and thou shalt command the children of Israel that they bring pure olive oil beaten for the night to cause the lamp to burn always.’ The corn of the Bible is not the corn we know today. In many, if not the majority of uses of the word, a more understandable translation would be simply ‘grain’. The principal grains of the Old Testament were barley and wheat. Corn represents not only both of these but all the grains which the Jewish people cultivated. Our modern corn, cultivated and cross-bred, was unknown to the ancients, but they may have had grain similar from which our great crops have grown. An ear of grain has been an emblem of plenty since the mists of antiquity which shroud the beginnings of mythology. Ceres, the goddess of abundance, survives today in our cereals. The Greeks call her Demeter, a corruption of Gemeter, our mother earth. She wore a garland of grain and carried ears of grain in her hand.

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Summer or Ruth and Boaz by Nicolas Poussin

Thorn hedges kept cattle from helping themselves to the grapes. The vineyard worker frequently lived in a watch tower or hut on an elevation to keep a sharp lookout that neither predatory man or beast took his ripening wealth.

The Hebrew word Shibboleth means both an ear of corn and a flood of water. Both are symbols of abundance, plenty and wealth. Scarcely less important to our ancient brethren than their corn and oil, was the wine. Vineyards were highly esteemed both as wealth and as a

comfort – the pleasant shade of the ‘vine and fig tree’ was a part of ancient hospitality. Vineyards on mountain sides or hills were most carefully tended and protected against washing away by building terraces and walls, as even today one may see on the hillsides of the Rhine and in the Middle East.

The Feast of Booths, in the early autumn when the grapes were ripe, was a time of joy and happiness. ‘New wine’ – the unfermented, just pressed-out juice of the grape – was drunk by all. Fermented wine was made by storing the juice of the grape in skins or bottles. Probably most of the wine of the Old Testament days was red, but later the white grape must have come into esteem because it is the principal grape of production for that portion of the world today. So next time you have some corn, light a lamp or candle and drink a toast of wine, give a thought to our ancient brethren and thank them for their hospitality which has continued until today.

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September 2018

Fierce Fauna

By RW Bro Craig Pearce

Watch out for snakes! Snakes are an Australian problem especially when bush walking.

ith winter ending and summer approaching, people mostly turn to outdoor fun activities, but need to take heed of snakes, even in suburban yards. Australia is renowned for dangerous snakes, and New South Wales appears to have most of the more aggressive species. There are about 170 different land based snakes but fortunately, most of them keep away from humans as they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t see them as food and require good reasons for biting. In the main, people are bitten if they are standing between a snake and its escape path, trying to kill it, or are recklessly showing off. The most dangerous Australian snakes are: Eastern Brown Snakes, or Common Brown are found in populated areas in the eastern half of the mainland. They are aggressive and fast moving, have extremely toxic venom, and cause more deaths than other species. The venom stops the blood from clotting, and causes progressive paralysis.

September 2018

The Western Brown Snake is found over most of Australia, and is considered less aggressive and more nervous than the Eastern Brown. It is fastmoving, and would run for cover if disturbed, but will strike quickly if cornered. Its bite is usually painless and hard to detect. The venom is less toxic but is delivered with several times that of the Eastern Brown. The victim can suffer kidney damage. The Taipan comprises two types â&#x20AC;&#x201C; inland and coastal. The Inland Taipan lives in rocky crevices on the north western New South Wales borders. It is very shy, but has extremely toxic venom, which could kill an adult within 45 minutes. The Coastal Taipan is found in sugarcane fields in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland coastal regions. It has long fangs, and is aggressive if cornered. The advent of an anti-venom in 1956 saved many people from death, which could occur within 30 minutes.

The Common Tiger Snake is found along the south-eastern coast from New South Wales to Tasmania, living in highly populated areas and farms, where it hunts mice at night and as such, can be stepped on in the darkness. The bite is very toxic, causes breathing difficulties and paralysis and is fatal if untreated. The Mulga Snake, or the King Brown Snake is found widely throughout Australia except in Victoria and Tasmania. It is the heaviest venomous snake in Australia, being shy in the south, but aggressive if disturbed in the north of the country. The Mulga bites savagely and the venom destroys blood cells, and affects the muscular and nervous systems. The Copperhead Snake is found in cool climates in south-eastern Australia, southern Victoria, Tasmania and the Bass Strait Islands. It is also found above the snowline, normally too cold for snakes to survive, and lives near dams and ditches. It avoids humans, but will bite when provoked. The venom damages nerves and ruptures the blood cells, but rarely causes death.

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Red belllied black snake

Tiger snake

Photo: www.snakesinthecity.com

Photo: www.flikr.com/photos/brewbooks

The Death Adder lives in most of eastern Australia. It will lie still in leaf piles, gravel and sand heaps, leaving the tip of its tail exposed as a lure. It does not try to escape from humans, but remains still. It will bite only if trodden on and the venom affects the respiratory system, causing paralysis and subsequent death.

two deaths. Remaining in the area where one was bitten can waste valuable time.

The Red Bellied Black Snake is found along the eastern coast of mainland Australia, and although not deadly, can cause serious discomfort to humans. It eats other snakes, but tries to keep away from people unless threatened by them. It is the most common of the snakes in the region.

Importantly, do not wash the bite area or try to suck out the venom, as medical personnel use any venom on the skin surface to identify the venom. It is no longer desirable to cut the bite, as it doesn’t help, and the application of a high tourniquet can prove fatal when released. To slow the spread of venom place a folded medical pad over the bite area and bandage firmly. Remove the bandage only in a medical environment, as the release of pressure will cause the venom to flow through the bloodstream.

Snakebite First Aid A recent study of snakebite has shown that attempts to identify the snake can be dangerous. With the development of a generic anti-venom, any snakebite can be treated, so the actual snake identity is not essential. There are approximately 3,000 snakebites per year in Australia, with about 500 people requiring hospital treatment, and an annual average of

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Stephens banded snake – potentially dangerous but found in Queensland

Although such a small proportion of the victims died, many suffered internal bleeding. Other effects may be brain, kidney and muscular damage, or cardiac arrest. Snakebites are often painless and mistaken for a scratch or bruise. Most occur on the arms or legs.

Seek medical help immediately as the venom can cause severe damage or death within a few hours. And, enjoy your bush walk!

Brown snake – Considered the world’s secondmost venomous land snake

September 2018

Meet the Author

from The Square, March 2018

A Journey in Stone The following is an interview with English masonic author Craig Weightman and his latest book.

eightman grew up in Hinckley, Leicestershire and was educated at the University of Leicester, gaining a degree in psychology and computer science. He became master of his lodge in 2014. Craig is a lecturer in computer games design and computer science at a college in Warwickshire and also develops websites for businesses. Ed: What inspired or motivated you to write A Journey in Stone? Perhaps you could tell us a bit about your own experience of Freemasonry. When did you join and how has it helped you to smooth the ashlar? Craig: When I joined Freemasonry in 2003, I was very eager to find out what it was all about. I wanted to know how it developed and where it came from. I read as many books and articles that I could get my hands on. Eventually, I concluded Freemasonry had a deep heritage going back into antiquity. This heritage was a tradition that focused on looking within to find life’s deepest secrets and developing the self. This is how I have looked at Freemasonry throughout my membership; as a way of looking at the world through symbolic language, and to delve into the deeper aspects of existence. The metaphor of working stone is a perfect fit; crafting the self to find the form that is waiting within, finding one’s true self. Combined with a wish to express my findings. I pursued my goal of wanting to write a book. Ed: You gained a degree in psychology and computer sciences at Leicester University in 1998 and now work as a lecturer in computer games

September 2018

programming at Staffordshire University. How has your training influenced your Freemasonry? And conversely, how has Freemasonry influenced your work? Craig: I have always looked on the symbolism of Freemasonry as language of psychology. It is a way of understanding the human condition and to delve into the mysterious sub-conscious; to learn more about yourself. Therefore, the psychological aspects of my training have heavily influenced how I read and understand Freemasonry. The Craft is all about development, and so is teaching and lecturing. I have a deep passion for developing individuals so that they can live the most fulfilling life they can. As a way of expressing this, I am currently developing a training system that is based on the ideas symbolised in Freemasonry. In this system, I focus on helping an individual to discover their essential talents and passions, then to learn how they can express these in their life and business, for maximal gain. On top of this, and in addition, I am very keen to demonstrate the parallels in computer games technology and developmental aspects of the Craft. Games can be a modern candidate based training platform that can help the participant find out more about themselves. Ed: A Journey in Stone looks at the ancient symbols and philosophies of Freemasonry and how they were designed to help a person transform their lives. Do you think the relevance of these symbols and philosophies are still appreciated in modern Freemasonry?

Craig: In a nutshell, no. I think that much of the meaning of Freemasonry is glossed over. In many lodges, it is all about the ritual, and that is all. Obviously, performing the ritual correctly and with meaning is highly important. However, I am convinced many masons today have a very limited appreciation of the deeper meaning of the Craft. I think this is because many masons have no idea where or how to look deeper into the subject. There is very little emphasis on Freemasonry as an active interest. I fear that, for many, it has just become something that one does once a month in a lodge room, followed by a meal. This is why lodge mentors should be those who have a deeper understanding themselves; who can help members along their own paths. Ed: How would you encourage younger men to become involved in Freemasonry – you have a very fresh and dynamic approach to mentoring; what do you believe is the way forward in recruiting the new generations? Craig: Frankly, the younger generation is lost. They live in a world of selfies, new gadgets, rampant consumerism, echo chambers and a cult of celebrity. They search for answers, and none are satisfactory. I am convinced this inner yearning for meaning is

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capitalised on by the modern world to create profit and is something that can be provided for by Freemasonry. In summary, Freemasonry should advertise itself as a method of looking within to find answers; a psychological journey to understand one’s place in the world. Care would have to be taken to make this message as secular as possible, with emphasis on the fact that Freemasonry is not a religion, but a science of understanding the self. Ed: English Freemasonry has just celebrated its Tercentenary – how do you feel the organisation could change and adapt to our rapidly evolving culture? Will it still be around in another 300 years? Craig: When I first joined Freemasonry one thing that stood out to me was the deep concern by the older members that the Craft would have to

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modernise for younger men, or die out. These older members misunderstand newer generations. In fact, younger generations crave the rich heritage and deep meaning to be found in the Craft as it already exists. All that needs to happen is for this deeper understanding to be widened throughout the masonic community, so it can be more easily communicated. It would be a mistake to change the Craft, or water it down. Indeed, the moment this starts to happen is the

beginning of the end. Freemasonry isn’t just a club that does charitable works; it is a philosophical system of development, and the world needs to know this. Preservation, deeper understanding, and wider communication are all key to the next 300 years and beyond.

Craig Weightman’s book, A Journey in Stone, will be reviewed in the next edition of the Freemason.

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September 2018

The GM interview

By RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM

Our GM’s thoughts The Freemason took the opportunity to ask the Grand Master, MW Bro Derek Robson AM, for his thoughts on the present and the future. R Ed: You have been a Grand Master

some of these issues from the past might have had less attention paid to them. This is a natural progression and it is one of the favoured benefits of democracy.

R GM: When a Grand Master reaches the

There is no doubt that I will again pick up on some of these forgotten promises, as I feel they are part and parcel of my preferred direction. Also of course, some of my earlier initiatives will lead nicely into what I will ask the Board to consider over the next few weeks.

before and held a successful term of four years. Having accomplished so much why did you run for the office again? end of his tenure, the Jurisdiction has every opportunity to consider who might be its next preferred candidate for Grand Master. Their candidate may be one who has been part of the present leadership team, he may be their preferred candidate from a previous experience, or he may be one who has not yet enjoyed the experience of leadership but the one in whom they see the necessary potential. Suffice to say, we have had a history in our Jurisdiction of ensuring that the preferred candidates for election are brought forward to the ballot paper. Having received the appropriate encouragement, and having been privileged to have received the required number of votes on the day, I am honoured to have been chosen to be able to lead us through this next stage of our development. More importantly, I am very confident that I can achieve some very early and lasting results which will set us on the right path.

R Ed: On reflection, is there anything

unfinished from your first term that you would like to complete?

R GM: There is no doubt that the progress of Freemasonry is an ongoing affair. There is also no doubt that much was achieved during my first term. If there were any issues left undone from my earlier leadership, it clearly would have needed the continuing attention of the Board of Management to persevere with those issues which they had previously been tasked with. Of course, any incoming Grand Master clearly has his own agenda, and hence

September 2018

R Ed: Are there any other areas in which

you would like to become more involved?

R GM: The Grand Master is continually

involved in matters which are of benefit to the Craft. In general terms, our members are very much aware of the monthly ‘Grand Master’s Appointments’ List, and from this, they can see exactly which lodge the Grand Master might be visiting, and where he might be involved in Board of Management meetings, Executive Council meetings, visits to Interstate Grand Installations and other celebratory occasions. Of course, the Grand Master is more involved than that. There are continuing meetings with other related bodies, meetings with senior visiting brethren, representation at significant State and Federal civic and ceremonial functions, meetings with our own members, and other administration duties. It is important that your Grand Master be attentive to all matters which are important to the good standing and functioning of the Craft.

R Ed: What new initiatives would you like to consider implementing during your term of office?

R GM: When a nomination is submitted

for the Office of Grand Master, there is an opportunity for each candidate to provide

a one-page explanatory note, with an accompanying photograph, for inclusion with that nomination, and that is the only information which is passed to the membership to allow them to consider which candidate they might prefer. Unlike a normal political election process, where each candidate actively touts his strengths and accompanies that campaigning with many promises to various individuals and communities, there is no canvassing or campaigning allowed in our consideration for Grand Master. It follows that no candidate for the office of Grand Master has any authority to personally promise rank or position to any brethren, as that decision clearly needs to be supported by all brethren and to be confirmed on the floor of Grand Lodge. On my own statement, I raised several issues for which I have considerable concern and it is my intention to attend to each of these concerns as soon as practicable. In general terms, we must firstly adhere to our tenets and principles and be mindful and true to our obligations. We must have the utmost respect for each other, have better connections between each other and our communities, use the entire spread of our resources and talents to further our aims, and pursue those ideas which have benefit to all of our members. We must be more aware of our clear lines of responsibility and the roles that particular brethren play in that process. We must be more supportive of the Grand Charity and ensure that all money collections are collected, properly managed, accounted for, and reported to the floor of Grand Lodge. Especially important for any charitable activity, we need to ensure that any collections and distributions are properly managed and dealt with according to Government regulation, the Charities Commission and the Taxation Office.

Freemason

R Ed: Do you think Freemasonry needs to be more publicised in general?

R GM: It is my view that Freemasonry has a revered place in our society and it stands alone in the eyes of the community.

It is important that we use our website and other publicity generating opportunities to our best advantage, by ensuring that any information is up-to-date, of the highest quality, and appropriate to the circumstances. First impressions are important if we are to attract membership enquiries, and it is quite clear that the state of our buildings and our community involvement need to be of the highest standard. Freemasonry is an exemplar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and its greatest publicity is gained from the individual example of integrity, loyalty and respect displayed by each of our brethren.

R Ed: In this modern age, traditional

media has lost its popularity and social media is being used more than ever before. What are your thoughts on Freemasonry and social media?

R GM: It is important that Freemasonry

makes its presence and purpose known to all potential members. Clearly, one of the main information deliverers of our time is

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social media, and we ought to take every opportunity we have to make best use of it. There is obviously a need to monitor this activity to ensure that the quality presentation attracts the best audience and that it follows a clear line of message and intent.

R Ed: Freemasonry is doing a good job at

recruiting members, but we are failing to retain them. What are your thoughts on how to keep the members that are joining Freemasonry?

R GM: It is important that we manage

every membership enquiry as a single unit, so that we can be assured that every potential member understands what is required of him, not just through the joining process of interview and Lodge Investigating Committees, but the later steps through the degree work and then the aspirations of a Master Mason. Every candidate needs to be aware that he will be monitored by a personal mentor who will be his friend, ease his insecurities, and be available to reassure him of what is coming next. Of course, matching individuals with their own preferred age and demographic profile, and then matching them with a suitable lodge needs much more attention. We need to be more relaxed about allowing masons to move between lodges,

so that firstly, we can retain the member, but as importantly, so they can be more comfortable in their own environment and realise their personal ambitions. Membership has always been an issue for our lodges. From time to time, there needs to be special attention paid to it, if for no other reason than to shake us out of our apathy. Now is positively the time to concentrate on the membership challenge again â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and please be assured, my team are ready to do just that. I have already created a deliberate Task Force which will report directly to me and the Chairman of the Board, but it will operate outside of our existing Board Structure. The Board will already be pre-occupied with issues relating to management and governance. This new initiative and direction will consider all matters relating to buildings, community activity, timely meeting practices, interesting programs, charity, membership recruitment, retention and renewal, because they are all interrelated and interconnected. I am looking toward some very early successes in this membership consideration.

Thanks for the opportunity to comment. Derek J Robson AM, Grand Master.

September 2018

Grand Installation

Welcome

Grand Master

Sydney Town Hall was again the host for the pageantry, solemnity and spectacle on Saturday 4 August when a near capacity attendance was present to witness the Installation of MW Bro Derek Robson AM as the new Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT.

he main room of the Town Hall was a blaze of colour with the regalia of the masons matched by the women representing the various Orders. And to add to the program was the music from the world famous Sydney Town Hall organ. After the Installing Grand Master, MW Bro James Melville had entered and opened Grand Lodge, he then welcomed the individual representatives, some with a delegation, of Associated Orders and Sister Constitutions from all States, including New Caledonia and New Zealand. Sponsors, MW Bro Dr Greg Levenston PGM and MW Bro George Curry PGM, presented the Grand Master-elect to be obligated, invested and installed, with another Past Grand Master, MW Bro Tony Lauer giving a moving Address to the new Grand Master. RW Bro Andrew Fraser was then invested as Deputy Grand Master and RW Bro John Armfield as Assistant Grand Master with suitable Grand Honours, followed by the investiture of the Grand Wardens and Grand Officers. The Address to the brethren was given by RW Bro Rabbi Samuel Tov Lev, Grand Chaplain. To conclude the welcomes, MW Bro Curry extended greetings to MW Bro Robson on behalf of the representatives of all Sister Grand Lodges. MW Bro Robson then stepped forward

September 2018

and touched on many subjects in his Address after first welcoming Past Grand Masters, visiting Grand Masters, leaders of Other Distinguished Orders and Representatives of Sister Organisations. ‘What an honour it is to stand here before you today. I am so appreciative that so many have taken the time to be with us today and it is a clear reminder to me of the enormous responsibility you have gifted myself and my team,’ he said. ‘As a jurisdiction, we are always grateful for the tremendous support we receive from our visiting delegations and I look forward to working with you into the future, particularly through the regular Grand Masters Conferences and our own Heads of Other Orders meetings. ‘I recognise many masons here and thank each of you for your ongoing commitment to our Grand Lodge. I recognise many of you are already involved in activity which is bringing huge kudos to the Craft, and I look to you to extend this involvement through some of the innovative programs and practices we will be introducing in the coming weeks. Many of you have your wives, partners, girlfriends and friends with you and the importance of their attendance is never lost on any of us. ‘The presence of our Past Grand Masters is also important because what we see in the Craft today, be it regulations, governance or program, was all largely introduced by this most dignified

group of committed masons. We continue to build on their structures, and while we make subtle changes to our direction and introduce new initiatives from time to time, the basis for almost every one of our activities clearly belongs to the Past Grand Masters and, in a subtle way, we are continuing their magnificent work. I look forward to their ongoing thoughts. ‘I am also most conscious of their ladies who have had much to do regarding the maintenance of standards in our activities and I am delighted to see them here today. How blessed we are to have such wisdom, commitment and enthusiasm guiding our thoughts. “Service above Self” is a most wonderful trait. ‘Also, I am honoured that my partner Gael is here today and that she is joined by her son Adam and his son Aiden. The guidance of our future generations, such an important part of the longevity of Freemasonry, is well displayed here, and I am honoured to be able to stand tall in this family environment. Gael has been an enormous rock for me and her support of masonic activity is well known right across our jurisdiction. Gael will always be by my side and we both look forward to this very exciting period ahead of us. ‘And finally, what a wonderful feeling to be again standing in our premier Sydney Town Hall, in front of its magnificent Grand Organ. The world’s largest

Freemason

pipe organ, with tubular pneumatic action, was built between 1886 and 1889, and installed in this place in 1890. Our first Grand Master, Lord Carrington served from 1888 to 1891 and I am sure the significance of this place and the birth of Freemasonry in this State will not be lost on you.’ The Sydney Town Hall serves as an important presence and meeting place for the City of Sydney, the Grand Master added. The building regularly undergoes cleaning and restoration to preserve it for future generations. Additionally, it has been rendered with sustainability by improving energy efficiency, including smart light sensors, energy efficient lighting, new roof insulation to moderate building temperature, solar panels, and new hydraulics and storm water infrastructure. ‘The similarity between the maintenance of this place and the maintenance of Freemasonry should also not be lost on any of us. The ongoing support of any building or organisation requires constant attention and it is this aspect which should attract more attention from each of us, as we strive to build on what has been gifted to us,’ he said. ‘During the election process earlier this year, I clearly identified several areas where I believed we needed to direct more of our effort in the future, and I

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understand that you will be looking to me “to take the first step”, as it were, and show how we can improve upon our past. ‘I am happy to report that I have already begun that process. My incoming leadership and management teams have considered each of these concerns, and we have identified several strategies which, with your support, we are confident will make a positive difference. ‘It is never necessary to change everything we have been doing in the past 5 or 6 years, but it is necessary to redirect our emphasis toward today’s priorities as we see them. It is time to introduce some innovative ideas and programs. We need renewed interest, we need to open doors to allow more generational interests, we need to better accommodate the views of our younger and contemporary members, and importantly, we need better connectors between all of us. ‘During my previous service, we were very successful in managing our numbers and some of you would clearly remember me proudly reporting regularly to our Quarterly Grand Communications, and the absolute joy that information brought. ‘It is time for us to pick up on the membership challenge again – and please be assured my team is ready to do just that.

‘There are so many issues for us to address, and notwithstanding whether they are related to buildings, community activity, timely meeting practices, interesting programs, charity, membership recruitment, retention or renewal, they are all inter-related and interconnected – and they all deserve the same attention. I have proposed a Task Force to report directly to me and the Chairman of the Board, but working outside our existing Board Structure to manage this new initiative and direction. I look forward to their early successes. ‘But for now, though, this address is not intended to be a policy speech in any way. Rather it is intended to simply acknowledge that what we do, and what we need to do, ought to be clearly understood by all of us. What we have right now is not ours to squander. It is now time to consolidate where we are, and start working toward providing the future for tomorrow’s Freemasonry. And we will – with Integrity, Loyalty and Respect. ‘Before closing, I extend our thanks to our Past Grand Master, MW Bro Jamie Melville, and congratulate both he and Yuana for what they have achieved over the past three years. ‘And finally, Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren, may I thank you again for your most wonderful support of our Grand Lodge.’

September 2018

Grand Installation

Our new 2018/19

Grand Officers Grand Master MW Bro D J Robson AM

Grand Treasurer RW Bro R K Collins

Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works RW Bro P E Robinson

Deputy Grand Master RW Bro A R G Fraser

Deputy Grand Treasurer RW Bro C Wong

Grand Secretary RW Bro S M Green

Assistant Grand Master RW Bro J E Armfield

Grand Registrar RW Bro W S Whitby

Deputy Grand Secretary RW Bro C J Craven

Senior Grand Warden RW Bro L A Reyes

Deputy Grand Registrar VW Bro T Tsavaridis

Grand Director of Ceremonies RW Bro A B Conlon

Chairman Board of Management RW Bro R Moore

Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies VW Bro B K Albano

Chairman Grand Charity MW Bro D J Robson AM

Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies VW Bro P F Barber

Grand Architect RW Bro P Zeilic

Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies VW Bro J R Cutler

Junior Grand Warden RW Bro O J Parry Grand Chaplain RW Bro L P Carter OBE RW Bro R J Searle RW Bro Rev P B Kilkeary OAM RW Bro Rabbi Dr S H Tov-Lev

September 2018

Freemason

Senior Grand Deacon W Bro N Grego

Grand Herald W Bro K S Christmas

Junior Grand Deacon RW Bro J R Plumridge

Grand Pursuivant W Bro J J S Newman

Grand Sword Bearer W Bro T Gara

Deputy Grand Pursuivant W Bro C J Tejada

Grand Standard Bearer W Bro L J Parsons Grand Director of Music RW Bro I N Cox Grand Organist RW Bro R Littlefair Deputy Grand Organist RW Bro J Baldwin OAM

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Grand Stewards VW Bro J B Bertram VW Bro A C Boyden W Bro J D Corrigan W Bro J R Donald W Bro J P Ellis VW Bro Dr R S Haron VW Bro L W C Jarman W Bro A Kfoury VW Bro R J Long

Grand Stewards VW Bro B G Maples W Bro R Martinez W Bro S W Massey W Bro M L Radford W Bro H A Rahman W Bro C Reyes W Bro N K Rola W Bro C D Rose W Bro C J Ross W Bro P J Saunders VW Bro L B Smith VW Bro R T Smith W Bro B J Tubridy W Bro R E Turnbull Grand Tyler W Bro G J Rees

September 2018

Grand Installation

Our new

Leaders Introducing the Officers who will lead the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT for the ensuing masonic year.

Andrew Fraser MP Deputy Grand Master

Charitable works and actions are nothing new for RW Bro Andrew Fraser MP, who has been the Chairman of Masonicare for three years before becoming the Deputy Grand Master. He was a member of Apex for 19 years, including as president, Youth Director and Community Service Director of Coffs Harbour Apex, past president of Tyalla Primary school P and C Association and past chairman of Coffs Harbour Australia Day Awards Committee.

He has also had an extensive political career and has been the member for Coffs Harbour in the NSW Parliament since 1990. He has held numerous shadow portfolios since 1998, including Road Safety, Forestry, Primary Industry and Local Government and Housing. RW Bro Fraser has also been Past Deputy Leader of the NSW Parliamentary National Party and Assistant Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. His masonic career began in 1984 when he was initiated into Lodge Coffs Harbour, was elected WM in 1988 and became District Education Officer in 1989. He is a current member of Lodge Fitzroy and Castlereagh and was chairman of the Museum of Freemasonry from 2008-2013. He has been married to Kerrie since 1974 and they have three children, Alexandra, Elizabeth and Angus.

John is a barrister primarily practising in the area of family provision and estate litigation.

Educated at Summer Hill and Gladesville Public Schools, Newington College and the University of Sydney, John was admitted to the NSW Bar in 1983 and for many years was a director of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy.

He is married to Philippa who before her retirement was a member of the management team for the reading rooms in the State Library of New South Wales.

Freemasonry is in his blood; his father, both grandfathers and two of his great-grandfathers were members of the Craft.

They enjoy a shared passion for travel, history, art and music and are active members of Christ Church Lavender Bay.

Initiated into Lodge University of Sydney 544 in 1983 he became Master of that lodge in 1987. He is currently a member of Lodge Wyvern 813 and The

John Armfield

Assistant Grand Master

September 2018

Freemason

Sydney Lodge 1020 of which he was Master in 2003. Appointed Deputy Grand Registrar by MW Bro Ron Johnson in 1989 he was subsequently elected to that office in 1990. John became Grand Registrar in 1994 prior to becoming Deputy Grand Master during the period 2000â&#x20AC;&#x201C;2001. He subsequently served as Grand Registrar from 2003 to 2017. John is the representative of the United Grand Lodge of England in this jurisdiction and an honorary member of Australia Lodge 6505 E.C He is a member of other Orders and in particular the University of Sydney Royal Arch Chapter 15. John and Philippa look forward to meeting members of the jurisdiction and in particular look forward to socialising with country brethren.

Luis Reyes Senior Grand Warden For me, Freemasonry is a journey of discovery and achievement, and like any journey, there are milestones which permit a moment to pause, review what has been, and plan for what lies ahead. At this milestone which marks the culmination of my time as a member of the Ceremonial Team, I am pleased to report that I have managed to stay consistent to the values that guided my first steps. These were commitment to my family, my career, and the Craft.

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Commitment to the family consisted of keeping them always in focus and never forgetting that they, particularly my beloved wife and partner Marilyn, are the bedrock on which everything else must stand. Every major step was taken as a partnership and I have never regretted that. Commitment to career was always a given because not only did it provide for the obvious needs of life but gave me another avenue in which to field-test the tenets and virtues of Freemasonry. On these solid foundations, I raised the superstructure of a masonic journey that has provided me

with priceless friendships and endless opportunities to learn and to be of service to my fellow craftsmen. As to the future, with the solid support of Marilyn and my family, I hope to continue the journey in whatever direction the Craft may require.

Owen Parry

Junior Grand Warden Owen is a civil engineer from Marrickville NSW and married to Katynna Parry. He was initiated and passed in 2007 in Lodge Chelmsford 261. In 2008 he was raised and became a Junior Warden in 2012. In 2011 Owen took part in the MarkMan ceremony in Lodge Southern Cross. He became a Worshipful Master of Lodge Chelmsford in 2013 when he also took the job of Regional Building Officer. Owen joined the ceremonial team as a Grand Steward in 2014 and then served as Grand Pursuivant, Junior Grand Deacon, Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies and now Junior Grand Warden. In 2015 Owen joined the Grand Stewards Lodge 1022 and called off from Lodge Chelmsform after its consolidation in 2016. In 2017 he joined the Lodge Trinitarian 978.

... continued on next page

September 2018

Grand Installation

Robert Moore

Chairman, Board of Management Robert Moore is married to Julie. They live at Glenmore Park and have three adult children and five grandchildren. He was initiated, passed and raised in Lodge Warragamba and has served the lodge as Worshipful Master on three separate terms. Now, he is retired from active work although he is still an active volunteer. Since the 1970s Robert has been a member of Rotary and regularly involved in community activities, fundraising and volunteering. He decided to combine the attributes of both Rotary and Freemasonry by seeking to become a Freemason. He possesses degree qualifications in engineering, business, business administration, and diplomas in environmental health, building surveying and project management.

Robert has served Grand Lodge as a District Grand Inspector of Workings and two terms as Regional Grand Counsellor. He says that to lead the Board of Management as Chairman is a high honour and he wants to impress upon all Freemasons that we are all ONE COMPANY and the Board, in absolute terms must engage with the Grand Secretariat and the Ceremonial Team in providing services to our members. He particularly wants the Ceremonial Team to disseminate accurate information throughout the jurisdiction. He also wants to implement clear accountability of Board members for timely services to our members, better connections with the community and for lodges to understand the clear lines of responsibility and accountability. During the 2018/2019 masonic year, a priority is to examine all aspects on recruitment with specific attention to the retention and retaining of masons. Robert is also an Excellent Companion in Royal Arch.

Andy Conlon

Grand Director of Ceremonies I was born in Latton, County Monaghan, Northern Ireland. Together with my family, we immigrated to Australia in 1974. Life in our new country was a welcoming change for the whole family. I was initiated in Lodge Holroyd 750 in 1981 and progressed through the offices until I became Senior Warden. At that stage, the lodge decided to change to daylight and get a new charter and number and I was elected foundation master of this new lodge. The Grand Master of the day, MW Bro R Woodman informed that a Master Mason could not be the foundation master of any lodge. However, as a compromise the Grand

September 2018

Master agreed that I was installed as master of the original lodge 750 and ten days later I was reinstalled as Foundation Master of Lodge Holroyd Daylight 990. It could only happen to an Irishman. In 1989 I joined the ceremonial team as a Grand Steward and was elected to every office until I became Grand Director of Ceremonies in 1996 and Senior Grand Warden in 1998. I was appointed Regional Building Officer in 2009. This was a position I was very proud to hold as I consider our lodge rooms to be the forefront of Freemasonry. This was achieved due to the generosity of Grand Lodge in financing various projects I was involved in. On a personal level my wife Barbara has always supported me in both my masonic career and involvement the Parramatta Eels League club. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m looking forward to serve you again as Grand Director and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m fully focused on an acceptable level of protocol and decorum.

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Auditory problems

Hear Hear! Numerous surveys and reports on hearing loss highlight the enormous impact it has on individuals, families and society.

ustralia’s largest independent consumer based non-profit organisation for hearing loss, Better Hearing Australia, reports one in six Australians are currently affected, and this is likely to increase to one in four by 2050. Its publication A Fairer Hearing states ‘compared with other Australians, people with hearing loss experience poorer social, economic and health outcomes on almost every social indicator available’. The paper explains not being able to hear well means not being able to communicate or participate in chosen activities – for many, an isolating and debilitating experience. In 2006, Access Economics studied the estimated impact of the financial costs and the loss of wellbeing from hearing loss in Australia in 2005. The Hearing Care Industry Association commissioned Deloitte Access Economics to update this report for 2017, and its findings included that hearing loss in Australian adults is expected to more than double from 3.6 million to 7.8 million by 2060. Sydney-based freelance journalist specialising in health, Mahsa Fratantoni reports that hearing problems are often associated with the natural ageing process, but says hearing loss isn’t inevitable and can be avoided if you act early. ‘In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, around one third of hearing loss in adults is preventable, such as that caused by overexposure to loud noises. While damage is irreversible, early intervention can halt or delay problems from progressing. ‘Surprisingly, many adults ignore signs of hearing difficulties, possibly due to busy lifestyles, embarrassment, or not recognising the warning signs,’ she says in a 2017 article.

September 2018

Award-winning hearing scientist and academic, and co-founder of profit-for-purpose hearing aid company Blamey Saunders Hears, Dr Elaine Saunders has a swathe of accolades in recognition of her achievements in the field of hearing and hearing loss. These include Asia’s Leading Woman in Healthcare in 2011, BioMelbourne Network’s inaugural Women in Leadership Award in 2015, the prestigious Clunies Ross Entrepreneur of the Year Award (2016) and, most recently, led her team to winning two national Awards for Good Design and Social Innovation. Recently, Dr Saunders referenced an Australian study showing many of us are damaging our hearing via exposure to harmful noise levels with personal listening devices, including smartphones and tablets. ‘The new research by the National Acoustic Laboratories at Macquarie University indicated the higher the level of sound and the longer your exposure to it, the more likely you’ll start to notice signs of hearing loss. Initial signs may include trouble understanding speech in background noise, and ringing in your ears. ‘National Acoustic Labs recommend keeping volume below 80% of maximum levels, and limiting listening time to no more than an hour and a half a day. They also recommend taking advantage of affordable technology designed to reduce the need to turn up the sound, like in-ear earphones or noise-cancelling headphones.’ Dr Saunders recommends these strategies to enhance socialising and interacting with workmates, family and friends:

Avoid the middle of the room RR I f you wear hearing aids with directional microphones, have your back

facing the room and your friends with their backs to the wall. RR I f you don’t wear hearing aids, stand with your back to the wall so that your friends face you and the wall behind you.

Put yourself in the best position RR Stay close to the person you’re talking to; sound waves don’t travel well. If you have better hearing in one ear, place yourself in the best spot to take advantage of it.

Don’t hide your hearing loss RR Letting other people know about your hearing educates them on the best ways to communicate. Explain you hear easier when they: speak clearly, face you, and get your attention before speaking. Most people will be accommodating.

Ask the host to reduce the background noise RR People without hearing loss also struggle in background noise and if you’re finding the music or TV too loud, so are other people in the room.

Wear hearing aids! RR We can’t over-emphasise the importance of wearing hearing aids if you have them. There’s no better substitute to help you take part in a conversation. RR People put them off because of perceived stigma, cost and accessing services. But untreated hearing loss can affect your relationships, employment and physical and mental health. The longer you wait to get treatment the more work you need to adjust to the new sounds hearing aids provide.

Freemason

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The other working tools

By Bro Luke Sharplin

A toast to the ladies I’ll now present to you the working tools of the Freemason’s partner. They are: the timepiece, the locked front door and the rose.

he timepiece was used by the operative Freemason’s partner to measure the hours and minutes of peace and quiet they had until the Freemason returns home. The locked front door is a large instrument, solid in its construction. It is capable of filling the largest of doorways, and the most persistent of doorto-door sales people have been kept at bay from the refusal of it to be opened.

From the timepiece we learn of the patience exhibited by our partners, putting up with the Freemason being out until late, chores going unfinished, or their mind elsewhere and mumbling to themselves, for if they do not get their charge right, the Director of Ceremonies will come down upon them like a ton of bricks. The locked front door teaches us a lesson in security; for the Freemason may practice and try to keep his words

The rose is delicate of fragrance and petal, yet just below its beauty lies a sharp reminder that it’s not to be trifled with. It was used by the Freemason’s partner to beautify and adorn the home. But, as we have met, on the present occasions, as Free and Accepted or Speculative rather than as Operative Freemasons, it is the moral conveyed in these emblems that we are called upon more particularly to regard.

secret in vain, as the partner is sharp of hearing. But we must trust them, and they treat our obligations as their own. The rose is a reminder to all Free– masons not to neglect their partners and wives, and to remember all they do for us to support us in Freemasonry. If we do not tend to the rose, it will no longer be there for us, enhancing our lives. From the whole, we deduce this moral – Patience, aided by trust and nurtured by reciprocated love, forms a solid foundation of support for Freemasons and for Freemasonry to flourish.

This article by Bro Luke Sharplin, the Junior Warden of Lodge Tawhiri, was printed in the September issue of the NZ Freemason.

Pocketwatch photo courtesy of Joe Haupt

September 2018

Freemason

Letters to the Editor Send your Letters to the Editor by: Email to: freemason@masons.org.au

Post to:  The Secretary, Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South NSW 1235

Have your say A vote in favour

Coffs work pays off

Congratulations to W Bro David Mayson on his thought-provoking article ‘A possible way forward’ (Freemason v50 n2, June 2018). His provocative, even radical, ideas deserve the undivided attention of us all. I drew the attention of brethren present at our most recent meeting, to the article, and suggested to our WM that we discuss it in open lodge. Are we heading towards oblivion and enjoying the journey? I think so.

The Coffs Coast Freemasons Association Inc. has existed in its present form for over 10 years. It was created to broaden its member base which used to be the Masters and Wardens Association. Today, membership is open to all brethren and their partners in the Coffs Coast area and has a hard core of twelve to fifteen members who regularly assist in the various fundraising activities. The CCFA barbecue is the main source of fundraising, however, other activities such as charity bowls events, sponsored swims and raffles also play an important role. Not included in the figures but equally important to acknowledge is the assistance given through Masonicare Interaction Grants to the CCFA which enables further assistance. Items donated to successful applicants have included mobile light towers and compasses for the SES, a euphonium for the Coffs Harbour Brass Band, ROHO Mattress Overlay Systems with covers and a special seat cushion for the Bellingen Hospital, a special suit for a young man

Well done David! Bro Allan Harrison Arrawarra NSW

Thanks for your letter Allan. You may be interested to read a slightly different view of the situation from Brother Craig Weightman, on page 20 of this edition.

Comedy corner This joke stolen from So Mote It Be Newsletter (SMIB) August 2018.

ee tary The Secre Editorial Committ W & ACT on Freemas Grand Lodge of NS W 1235 d uth, NS The Unite Sydney So , 59 A2 x The Secretary PO Bo Freemason Editorial Committee The&Secret The United Grand Lodge of NSW ACT ary Freem ason Editorial Committee PO Box A259, Sydney South, NSW 1235 The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South , NSW 1235

with cerebral palsy, a special suit for a little girl who is allergic to sunlight and UV rays and special chairs for elderly and immobilised people at the retirement village. The CCFA has also assisted the local Art Gallery, Men’s’ Shed, Sea Scouts, Base Hospital, local schools and is a major sponsor for the Coffs Coast and Clarence CanDo Cancer Trust which assists cancer patients attending the Mid North Coast Cancer Institute. In the last three years the CCFA has donated $46,496 to the CanDo Cancer Trust. During those three years they have also donated $25,853 towards various essential items in the community. This amounts to a very worthy $72,349 which, you would have to agree, is a mighty effort from a small group of dedicated volunteers. Carolyn Boyden PR Officer Coffs Coast Freemasons Association

Got something to say?

We want your opinions on masonry-related topics! Send your queries, opinions or ideas to: freemason@masons.org.au

A wee bit of Irish humour

addy McCoy, an elderly Irish farmer, received a letter from the Department for Work & Pensions stating that they suspected he was not paying his employees the statutory minimum wage and they would send an Inspector to interview them.

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On the appointed day, the Inspector turned up. ‘Tell me about your staff,’ he asked Paddy. ‘Well,’ said Paddy, ‘there’s the farm hand. I pay him £240 a week and he has a free cottage. ‘Then there’s the housekeeper. She gets £190 a week along with free board and lodging.

‘There’s also the half-wit. He works a 16 hour day, does 90% of the work, earns about £25 a week along with a bottle of whisky and, as a special treat, occasionally gets to sleep with my wife.’ ‘That’s disgraceful’ said the inspector, ‘I need to interview the half-wit.’ ‘That’ll be me then,’ said Paddy.

September 2018

Other Orders

A national affair The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Australia conducted another successful Supreme Council Meeting in the third week in June 2018.

he AASR for Australia is the only national masonic body and thus members and their partners from across the nation congregate in Sydney once a year for a series of events which include the Installation meeting of Prince Charles Edward Stuart Sovereign Council No 45 on the Wednesday morning, a tour of the Sydney Town Hall on the Wednesday afternoon, the annual 33 degree Ceremony held on the Thursday evening, the Gala dinner on the Friday night. The week commenced with a dinner for members of the Supreme Council in the Adam Room of the NSW Masonic Club. The formalities commenced on Tuesday morning when the members of the Supreme Council 33° for Australia met in the Board room of the Masonic Club for the first of a number of long days of discussions deliberations and decisions on the well running of the Rite. During the meeting Regional Commander, M Ill Bro Cyril Hondris retired as a Member of Supreme Council and was replaced by M Ill Bro Graeme Percy Cucel. Graeme resides in Western Australia, known in the Rite as Region 4. Six members of the Order were promoted to the Thirty Third Degree and commenced a five year term of office as District Commanders in their respective Districts (see photo). Andrew Wilson who was installed as District Commander in South Australia West in February this year was also in attendance. Earlier, a large number of members were in attendance at the Installation meeting of Prince Charles Edward Stuart

September 2018

Left to right: Enzo Viola – Western Australia Central East; Louis Letfallah – NSW MidWestern Plains; Greg Goding – Queensland Brisbane Central; Norman Taylor – NSW North Coast; Brian Ling – Gold Coast Tweed Valley and Peter Pfundt – Tasmania Bass

Sovereign Council where Em Bro Eric Okely 32° OoM installed his successor, Ill Bro Tony Craig 31°. This was followed by a demonstration of the 20th Degree by the Holden Chapter of Improvement. After a sumptuous feast a number of members and their partners were conducted on a private tour of the Sydney Town Hall. A fascinating experience for all. The Masonic Club was gracious to host welcome drinks and a Meet and Greet for members in the salubrious surrounds of the Reagh Bar on the Wednesday evening. All members of the Rite had an opportunity on Thursday morning to meet the members of the Supreme Council and listen to their responses to questions on notice put to them at a question and answer session. The week concluded with the Gala

dinner of the Rite held within the magnificent walls of the Sydney Masonic Club’s beautiful Cellos Restaurant. The atmosphere on the night was heightened by the masterful singing of tenor Daniel Tambasco who wooed all in attendance with a master class of his art. Daniel has put his papers in to join the Craft in Sydney. Bravo Daniel! And Bravo to all who made the week such a great success.

… and now for the Ladies For many years, members and partners of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Australia have attended the June Supreme Council meeting in Sydney. Some interesting partner activities were planned from time to time, but mostly they went to a dinner at a restaurant on the Thursday night and waited around for the Annual Gala Dinner on the Friday night.

Freemason

Book Review

RICHARD GODSON AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE AUSTRALIAN MASONIC LODGE OF FIDELITY NO. 267, IRISH CONSTITUTION, SYDNEY, 1843 Historians are a rare breed but usually manage to complete their research. Two Masons, W Bro Wayne McPhee and Bro Benjamin Wharton combined to put together a book to help celebrate the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the Lodge of Fidelity No 267 in Sydney in 1843 and the life of its Foundation Master Bro Richard Godson. The book is an illustrated transcript of a talk given by the duo which Publisher: Self-published

explored how the lodge was formed just 55 years after the arrival of the First Fleet and eight years before the gold rush started. Godson was a passenger on the sailing ship Lady Clarke which left Plymouth in April 1840 and the story is taken from old minutes and the early years of Sydney Town. It is a good example of what perseverance and an interest in history can create.

ISBN: 978-1-38-899967-4

by McPhee and Wharton, reviewed by RW Bro Ted Simmons

Available from: www.blurb.com and Grand Lodge library

In 2013 a High Tea was included so that the ladies had an opportunity to meet whilst their male partners attended ‘secret men’s business’. This has now become an annual event and is a great way for the ladies to get to know each other. The ladies program has included shopping trips, excursions, pampering sessions, High Tea and the themed Thursday night dinner. This year, Kate triumphed with an elegant dinner in a private room at the Castlereagh Inn, complete with tiaras for a Hollywood extravaganza (pictured left). The tables were turned when Annette McIntyre and Robyn Mauger surprised Kate with a special recognition. Kathleen Thompson led a team to Install, in jest, Kate as the Grand Dame Elect of the Superior Council of the 32½° of the Only New and Accepted Rite of the World. As an expert Mistress of the Symbolic Lodges, she received a ring, neck jewel, collar and hat.

A ‘not so secret’ ladies meeting

In 2008, Kate Schober joined the AASR as their administration manager. Gradually the partners program grew to provide more optional and better

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activities. The Gala Dinner moved to the Castlereagh Inn and entertainment arranged by the Grand Secretary General, Dominic De Candia reached new heights.

Apparently the forms of recognition and Signs are a secret!! A truly fun night was had by all and the ladies look forward to next year’s theme.

September 2018

A Start in Life

Charity speaks Refinements made to the program of A Start in Life to meet community needs continue to align with the values and principles on which the charity was founded.

ith many values coming from Freemasonry, the opportunity to ensure they continue to be embedded in our charitable work comes from the prominence of Freemasons on the Executive Committee. These questions were asked of Olly Bergstrom (PAGM) and Dale Berrier (DGIW), two Executive Committee members, on what guides their work with A Start in Life.

How long have you been involved with A Start in Life? Olly: For over 50 years – and I’ve been on the Board for the last 16. Dale: About 10 years.

How did you find out about it? Olly: When I started as my lodge donation collector for the charity. Dale: I was in Lodge Ionic with Olly Bergstrom and Alan Pretyman, who were then President and Treasurer of the charity.

What made you want to get involved? Olly: I particularly wanted to help children affected when their parents were doing it hard. I used to work in rural NSW and saw many tough situations. Children are the foundation of this country and society but they are always hit hardest by natural disasters and difficult family circumstances. I wanted to make sure children could still progress, no matter how tough their circumstances. Dale: As a child, I needed tutoring and being from a single parent family, I would not have been able to access this, without the generosity of a bequest from my late uncle. I now work in finance and

September 2018

have seen the benefits of the extra support and have great empathy for the challenges of our students. This is why I wanted to give back.

Is this involvement in line with your masonic work? Olly: It runs parallel with so many of the masonic principles – particularly goodwill, diversity and relief. I have no doubt these were key tenets when William Thompson established the charity in 1923 when he said, ‘Every child deserves A Start in Life’. Dale: Helping people fulfil their potential by overcoming barriers in life was something I gained from Freemasonry. I wanted to be able to give something back to the masonic fraternity and the community at large. Ten years on it’s a great passion of mine, it’s not onerous; it gives me joy to be able to make a difference. I enjoy talking about the work we do in the hope it will generate greater support for students and leave A Start in Life in an even better place financially, structurally and strategically for future custodians. I also recognise our responsibility to help young Australians overcome the barriers in education.

What is a side of the charity others don’t see? Olly: Three things: The high regard held by the public for this charity; the wonderful support provided by the Freemasonry community; most importantly, however, it is the large number of students who enjoy successful lives through our assistance. Dale: The base values – brotherly love, truth, relief and charity – those permeate every decision I make in the boardroom.

We look to our history with pride and guidance, applying timeless attitudes to a modern and ever-changing landscape. Every decision made today is about future students, and ensuring our work continues for another century.

Do you see any big changes in the work? Olly: When the charity started it primarily assisted students newly out of school to get the tools they needed to start work or to secure employment. A secondary purpose was to assist students to advance to higher education. These days however, the primary purpose is encouraging students to advance through education and providing the tools to achieve this. The tools are quite different and may include computers, internet etc. The costs of education are also much greater and we need increasing fundraising activity to provide the necessary support. I like to think the fund is investing in the future of our country – with the interest earned far better than any available today. Dale: When I joined the board, we had 120 students receiving approximately $1,000 in support each year. Now we have almost twice the students receiving over three times that amount of support. I am proud of the changes made with the CEO and current President RW Bro Allan Elliott. As a DGIW, I’d like to continue expanding the supporter base and dispel the myth we lost our connection with Masonry. I’m proud to be a mason serving a charity set up by masons, founded on masonic principles. People should see that and continue to work together in a partnership that has endured for almost a century.

Freemason

Masonicare

MASONICARE

Your Grand Charity

Masonicare Benevolence Appeal 2018

One Brother to Another Your Grand Charity – Masonicare

– is again holding a Benevolence Appeal to raise funds to provide financial grants and access to financial advice and counselling services to masons or their families who are in financial distress.

he Benevolence program provides comfort and security knowing that Masonicare is there to care for and support our community in times of need. During our annual Benevolence Appeal up to 5,000 lapel pins are distributed amongst lodges via the Masonicare Caring Officers, Lodge Secretaries and Worshipful Masters. Our goal this year is to raise $20,000 to support the Benevolence Fund which will enable Masonicare to help more brethren in need. This year the lapel pin is blue, a fitting reminder of the blue lodges we belong to and to support the ‘One Brother to Another’ initiative. These lapel pins can be purchased by the brethren for $10 and proudly worn to show their support for the Benevolence Appeal and most importantly the primary tenet of a mason’s heart, charity. An application for a Benevolence Grant can be made through an application form, which can be downloaded at our newly refreshed website www. masonicare.org.au. This is a great opportunity for all brethren across the jurisdiction to remember that moment they were accepted into Freemasonry and make a small contribution that collectively will make a big difference.

September 2018

Make a Bequest Masonicare has a Bequest Program which is designed to encourage the Masonic Community to donate through bequeathing money and/or assets. All funds bequeathed to Masonicare go directly to support Freemasonry and our local communities through our trusted charitable programs. Making a Will ensures that your estate is distributed in the way that you would like. Many people like to leave a lasting legacy by supporting a charity, after the needs of their family have been met. A gift in your Will, no matter what the amount, will help support Masonicare’s efforts over the coming years and would be greatly appreciated. The wording of the Bequest must be absolutely clear so that no confusion may ensue and is as follows: “I give dollars to The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory Grand Charity (known as “Masonicare”) If at my death The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory Grand Charity (known as “Masonicare”) has ceased to exist or has amalgamated with another charity or has changed its name, this gift shall not fail but my executors shall pay it to the charitable organization (in New South Wales) which they consider most nearly fulfils the objects that I intend to benefit. The receipt of the Grand Secretary of The United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory shall be deemed a sufficient discharge of this gift.” Please contact Masonicare on 02 9284 2800 for further information about how you can make a bequest.

Freemason

Sorry Peter In the June issue, it was stated that MW Bro Ron Johnson was the first recipient of the newly created Ronald Johnson Masonicare Life Merit Award. This was incorrect as the award was presented by MW Bro Johnson to W Bro Peter Kuburlis for his outstanding work with the wheelchairs program.

Wheelchairs for hospitals Freemasons around NSW are quietly known for their deeds of charity but are now looking at new donations they can make and at the same time gain recognition for their support.

asonicare, the Grand Charity of Freemasons NSW/ACT, is in the process of donating more than 250 wheelchairs to over 50 hospitals and care facilities across the NSW/ACT region. On 24 July, the then incoming Chairman of Masonicare and GrandMaster elect, MW Bro Derek Robson AM, along with representatives from NSW/ACT Masons donated to Canberra Hospital Foundation 20 wheelchairs for the Women’s, Youth, Children and Cancer services Divisions. Following the success of a program to supply wheelchairs to Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital in 2017, supported through fundraising by Freemasons in Sydney’s North Shore, Masonicare extended the program to the entire jurisdiction. Founded in the late 19th century, the United Grand Lodge of NSW and the ACT is headquartered at Sydney Masonic Centre and there are close to 9,000 masons now across the jurisdiction. The Grand Charity was formed around the same time and operated under a similar veil until 2000 when it was reformed as Masonicare. A North Shore District newsletter earlier this year published an article about the donation of 22 wheelchairs to Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) and this was followed by recognition and action from Grand Lodge. The Grand Master, MW Bro James Melville, in the December Communication said in his address to the Brethren: “Masonicare was recently involved in a presentation of 22 special hospital wheelchairs to Royal North Shore Hospital, financially supporting a project organised by Districts 22, 25 and 25A. The

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Photo courtesy: So Mote It Be

fundraising efforts of the members of the Lodges in these Districts is to be commended and the wheelchairs will carry the ‘Square & Compasses’ and Masonicare logos on the back, to be on full display for many years to come – a really prominent way to promote Freemasons in Action supporting their local communities. More wheelchairs are planned to be donated to other major hospitals in the coming months. This is a great example of Districts working together for a common goal. “The Board would like to encourage any other Lodges or District Associations, especially from regional NSW, who may have charity funds available and would like to donate similar wheelchairs to their local or district hospital, to make application to the Masonicare Administration Officer.

Photo courtesy: So Mote It Be

“This matching amount would be a special grant and not come under the usual restrictions of an interACTION Grant. Limited funds are available, so this will be on a ‘first come, first served’ basis,” he said. The presentation to Royal North Shore was an outstanding success with representatives attending from Districts 22 and 25/25A in company with Masonicare as the Hospital received the 22 wheelchairs, specially designed for hospitals and given to the Kolling Institute, which is the charitable arm of the RNSH.

For further enquiries about the Wheelchairs program or Freemasonry in NSW/ACT please contact UGL info@masons.org.au.

September 2018

Peter Court

By RW Bro Ted Simmons OAM

Peter calls Time! RW Bro Peter Court ended more than half a century

in active Freemasonry with his retirement from the Grand Lodge administration at the end of July.

e was initiated in January 1964 in Lodge Southern Cross and passed and raised in Lodge Oxley the same year. During his time in Freemasonry, he was a member of 12 lodges and founding member of 11. He also occupied the offices of WM, secretary, membership officer, caring officer and became a staff member of Grand Lodge in August 1990.

He began by writing up membership cards (before computers and electronic data bases) for all members in the jurisdiction of NSW & ACT and handling the surrenders of Lodge Charters and Consolidations of lodges.

‘The Sydney Lodge of Australia stands out in my memory because there was a lot of work put into it to create a quality lodge which became the forerunner of other lodges to encourage people of quality who were more settled in their life to join,’ he said. ‘During the years, I have been involved in 53 lodges, mainly those younger and including daylight lodges. I like the First Degree North East charge and each of the final charges and believe the Third Degree has the most effect on candidates.

Queen’s Birthday

‘What I see as our biggest problem is not getting new members but retaining those we have. Young people have a different attitude today and they use technology which we never had. Masonry offers so much but seems to deliver so little so how do we sustain them. For the future, a lot of people think we’ll survive but it will be close.’

The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT extends congratulations to the following members of the Masonic community who have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Peter has not looked at plans for his retirement and said he will take life easy and see what he can do for and with young people. He said Masonry is a worthwhile organisation and we should tell that to young people.

Honours RW Bro Kevin John McGlinn PDGM Lodge Balmain No 23 For service to the community through Freemasonry. RW Bro Sydney Thomas Weller PDGM Lodge Nowra Unity No 60 For service to rugby league, and to the community.

September 2018

RW Bro Peter Court with MW Bro Jamie Melville

2005, Past Assistant Grand Master in June 2010 and Past Deputy Grand Master in March 2018. It has been a long, successful and enjoyable career and Grand Lodge and Freemasonry says ‘Thank You’ to a man who has contributed so much.

‘Over the years, I have received more than 100 letters of thanks and appreciation from lodges and individual people which I plan to keep. I have also appreciated the Grand Secretaries with whom I have worked as well as the administration staff who have been kind, considerate and agree with each other,’ he said. During his time, Peter Court was a District Grand Inspector of Workings, conferred PDGIW in June 1994, Past Junior Grand Warden in December

Freemason

Regional Roundup Send your masonic news by: Email to: freemason@masons.org.au

Masonic News from NSW & ACT Post to:  The Secretary, Freemason Editorial Committee The United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT PO Box A259, Sydney South NSW 1235

Regional roundup

NSW S ACT

The Balmain Lodge No 23

Balmain’s cup day All funds raised were donated to the Black Dog Institute. In 2017 that figure was $11,000 and this year $18,500 was raised. In welcoming players to the North Ryde Golf Course, Jack noted that every day six Australians die as a result of suicide and thirty more will attempt to take their own lives. Sadly, suicide is the leading cause of death of people aged 25 to 44 years.

The Donald Duck Cup was specifically started to raise much needed funds for mental awareness. Many of the Balmain Lodge members assisted Jack to organise the event and he specifically praised Bros Luke Neiberding, Chris Cheung and Liam Liston without whose efforts the day would not have been as successful. The lodge also sponsored the event by providing combined divot repairer/ball markers to each player.

EVENTS AND NOTICES

WHAT’S ON

Bro Jack Stewart (Membership Officer of the Balmain Lodge) has been the driving force behind an annual golf day called the ‘Donald Duck Cup’ which was held for the second time in June this year. It has already proven to be a great success by attracting a field of over 140 players this year.

Lodge Mayfield Daylight No 493

Calling Newcastle masons Newcastle’s only daylight lodge welcomes masons unavailable for or cautious about night-time meetings! 2nd Tuesday of every month. Tyling at 9:30am. Lunch $10. New Lambton Masonic Centre. For details call 02 4968 4511. List your event or notice here! freemason@apmgraphics.com.au

RFBI Dubbo

New village opens The GM-elect MW Bro Derek Robson AM and the AGM RW Bro William Driver, were present to witness the Official Opening of the RFBI Dubbo Masonic Village on 19 April. His Excellency, General David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of NSW and RFBI Patron performed the opening ceremony. He was accompanied by his wife Mrs Linda Hurley and His Excellency’s Honorary Aide de Camp, Major Andrew Kfoury ADC JP.

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September 2018

Regional Roundup

Lodge Forster Great Lakes United No 994

A boost for Adam

The WM of Lodge Great Lakes United, VW Bro Bob McCallum, on behalf of the Freemason’s Charities Association presented a cheque for $1,000 to Adam Koch who is currently studying for his HSC in year 12 at Great Lakes College Senior Campus in Tuncurry. Adam was selected in the Hunter Boys Open Basketball Team to represent Great Lakes College, Manning Zone and play in the NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association Basketball State Knockout Finals in Broken Hill. The Hunter Zone consists of seven regions – Newcastle City, Coalfields, Eastlakes, Manning, Port Stephens, Upper Hunter and Westlakes. Each Region encompasses 4–8 Secondary Schools. Adam considers it a great honour to be the only player selected in the Hunter Team that does not reside and attend school in the Newcastle-Maitland geographical area. The District 44 Freemasons’ Charities Association represents the five lodges in Taree, Forster, Wingham, Gloucester and Laurieton. Each year they assist local people and groups who have needs. Funds come from donations from lodges, members and special fundraising efforts such as raffles and dinners. Many young people are helped by the group through the Masonic Youth Welfare Funds and on this occasion they are pleased to give a helping hand to Adam.

September 2018

Masonic News from NSW & ACT

Lodge Allan Stuart No 416

A full Install At the recent celebration of 96 years of Masonry in Geurie, two large contingents from The Cedars Lodge and Lodge Harold Herman Unity, as well as representatives from the five other District Lodges were on hand to see W Bro Louis Letfallah welcome the Grand Master, MW Bro Jamie Melville, and a Grand Delegation of 24 Officers for the installation of Bro Ross Scott. This was the first full installation since 2010 and over 70 masons were on hand to witness the event.

The Installation Banquet was held at the Geurie Community Hall and was attended by over 90 masons, partners, family and friends. Following the usual ceremonies and toasts, an auction of a dozen ‘Unique Vintage Wines’ was held, raising $390 for the Tathra Bushfire Appeal. An early start the following day saw over 40 people converge on the Letfallah’s home for a BBQ breakfast, which provided further opportunities for developing stronger ties between the country and city lodges, as well as a chance to greet the Grand Master in a less formal setting. This was a most enjoyable and convivial weekend, and one to be repeated next year.

Lodge Gymea No 796

Big night for Barry Lodge Gymea took time at its April Anzac meeting to make a special presentation to a member who has served the lodge and other lodges with distinction. The recipient was RW Bro Barry Unicomb PSGW, who was presented with a 60 Year Certificate and Jewel. The lodge extended congratulations and best wishes to RW Bro Unicomb and

also welcomed RW Bro Graham Berry and VW Bro Sam Young who are members from Barry’s former lodge at Kensington, Lodge Kingsford Smith, who attended to support this special occasion.

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Yass Lodge of Concord No 27

Lodge Morning Star No 410

Ms Kerrie Hunter, Awards and Graduation Officer at the Canberra Institute of Technology stepped in at the last moment to make a special presentation on behalf of the Yass Lodge of Concord 27.

W Bro Scott Hinks of Lodge Morning Star wanted to support and create fraternal bonds with brethren in rural areas. Whilst we try and understand the tough times our men and woman face daily on the land we rarely acknowledge the difficulty our country brethren experience in keeping a lodge vibrant while attracting new members and undertaking ritual work.

A worthy award The recipient, Jewon Lee, received the award which is given to the leading student at CIT who wished to assimilate in Australia by undertaking a course in English as a second language. He also topped his class. Yass Lodge of Concord has proudly been the sponsor of this award for some years now and members believe it is well worth supporting.

From the beach to the bush second was a piece of home from Morning Star’s backyard – sand and salt water collected and bottled from Ocean Beach. The weekend was spent making friends with the many locals at the Henry Lawson Festival held in the neighbouring town of Gulgong with many members booking rooms for next year’s visit.

Lodge Edinburgh St John welcomed Morning Star with both lodges conducting the passing of Brother Colin O’Malley (LMS). The brethren continued to celebrate their new fraternal bonds well into the night and were astounded at hearing the tale of W Bro Lance Nelson’s epic journey of brotherhood, travelling 1,200 kilometres from regional Queensland over 7 days in his motorhome to stay for one night and lend his support to his lodge Morning Star and their candidate, even undertaking the role of Junior Deacon. To make the occasion more memorable the WM of Lodge Edinburgh St John, W Bro Craig Callaghan was presented with two gifts. The first was the traveling gravel that Lodge Lachlan Macquarie at their installation presented to Morning Star and the

W Bro Craig Callaghan with W Bro Scott Hinks

Lodge Saratoga No 937

Boost for cadets Lodge Saratoga has stepped forward to aid the 25 Army Cadet Unit located at the Erina Army Training Depot with a donation of $3,873. The donation will be used to purchase items to assist the Army Cadets in the delivery of safety and training. The Australian Army Cadets is a community based youth development organisation focused on the Australian Army customs, traditions and values. Army Cadets learn leadership, team

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VW Bro Graeme Ingall with members of the 25 Army Cadet Unit

building and survival skills that prepare them for life. ‘The continued support of community organisations like the Freemasons ensures that the cost to families for the

conduct of Army Cadet training is kept to the very minimum, ensuring a greater opportunity for all children to attend,’ said Captain Leonea Ward, Officer Commanding 25 Army Cadet Unit.

September 2018

Regional Roundup

Lodge Couer de Lion – Narooma No 84

Masonic News from NSW & ACT

Lodge Edinburgh St John No 38

A big night Lindsay steps up for Alan The regular April meeting night for Lodge Couer de Lion – Narooma No 84 became a special event for VW Bro Alan Lindsay Moss, PDGC when he was presented with a 70 years Certificate and jewel. Alan was initiated in Lodge Beacon No 406 (Victoria) in January 1948 and affiliated with Lodge Cantabrian No 929 NSW in November 1958. In presenting the Certificate, VW Bro Alec Sklepic, DGIW 49A, thanked Alan for his service and remarked it was an honour to present the certificate to someone who had provided long standing devotion to Freemasonry throughout the decades.

It was a big night for W Bro Lindsay Pyne at the March regular meeting of Lodge Edinburgh St John, Mudgee, when he was presented with his 60 years service certificate by RW Bro Robert Burns.

W Bro Pyne was initiated into Edinburgh St John by RW Bro Burns in March 1958 and went into the chair of King Solomon in 1981. W Bro Pyne’s father was also a member of the Craft in Mudgee for 50 years from 1923. The WM, W Bro Craig Callaghan, thanked Lindsay for the many years of

service to the Craft and the Mudgee community through his association with Meals on Wheels (local founding member) and his tireless work as lodge Social Secretary, when he was responsible for organising many annual Debutante Balls and numerous memorable ladies nights throughout the years. It is interesting to note that Bros Pyne and Burns have a combined total of 128 years of service to the Craft as a whole, and Edinburgh St John in particular.

VW Bro Alan Lindsay Moss PDGDC, Alan’s daughter, W Bro Mitch Heron WM and VW Bro Alec Sklepic DGIW 49A

Six masons went through the Mark Man Ceremony at The Glen Innes Lodge in July. The WM Jim Donald, SW James Donald and Bros Peter Davis, David Thomas, Jason Stewart and Norman Stewart were guided through by VW Bro Russell Long (acting as Senior Warden and Mentor) with VW Bro Ross Haron taking the chair. The Glen Innes Lodge No 44

Marked Men 46

September 2018

They were assisted by other lodge members and visitors who were qualified to act as Officers and the group were very pleased to expand their masonic knowledge in the Fellowcraft Degree, bridging the Craft and Royal Arch Order.

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Lodge Canoblas Lewis No 806

Father and son unite On Saturday 14 April an emergent meeting was held by Lodge Canoblas Lewis in Orange to enable VW Bro Bruce Chapman to initiate his son Scott into Freemasonry. There were 47 Masons in attendance at the initiation, many travelling from surrounding districts, and after the closing of the meeting the brethren then sat down to a meal catered for by Scott’s mother. Lodge Canoblas Lewis had two other entered apprentices at the ceremony , Bro Stephen Bouffler and Bro Gideon Sauer. The DGIW RW Bro Rob Finlay presented Scott with a lapel badge at the conclusion of the ceremony. Scott’s late grandfathers were long standing members of their respective lodges.

Lodge Riverina Thompson No 104

The Peel Lodge No 209

Patient help for Tamworth The Peel Masonic Lodge No 209 in June presented a new Patient Lifter, valued at $13,200, to the Rehabilitation Unit of the Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital. On behalf of the Hospital the Lifter was received by Dr Rebecca Morrissey, Staff Specialist, Rehabilitation. The WM of The Peel Lodge, RW Bro Reg Potter, thanked all those who assisted with the fundraising,

particularly acknowledging the contribution of $6,000 from the United Grand Lodge Grand Charity, Masonicare. He also acknowledged the valuable support for this project received from the Tamworth Community.

Exchange of views 140th Installation celebration Lodge Milton No 63

They say one good turn deserves another and Lodge Riverina Thompson certainly lived up to that motto. In late 2017, Victorian Lodge Cobram No 282 travelled to Lodge Riverina Thompson (in Jerilderie, NSW) and gave a demonstration of their version of the First Degree ceremony.

On 26 April this year, Lodge Riverina Thompson met at Cobram Lodge where the WM James McQueen handed over his gavel and lodge to W Bro Phil Wilkinson, the WM of Riverina Thompson, whose team of office bearers then demonstrated a NSW First Degree ceremony, for the benefit of the Victorian brethren. Many of the Victorians had never seen the NSW Degree before and a very successful, fun and socially ‘cross border’ meeting was had by all.

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On 5 May, Lodge Milton celebrated its 140th Installation, when W Bro Keith Claxton installed his successor, W Bro Allan Went into the Chair of the lodge. The Grand Master, MW Bro James Melville and Grand Lodge Officers who had travelled from Sydney attended with the Grand Master reminding those present that Lodge Milton existed before the United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT was formed, originally being part of the Grand Lodge of NSW. After the Installation, members, wives and guests retired to the Mollymook Beach Bowling Club for the Installation Banquet. The next morning there was a Sunday

brunch at the Lodge Centre at Milton with the Grand Master in attendance along with visiting brethren who had travelled long distances, masonic widows from the district, the Grand Secretary of the Order of the Amaranth and invited guests. At the function, the Grand Master, on behalf of Lodge Milton and Masonicare presented cheques for $3,000 each to Mr Peter Still from the Milton Cancer Outpatients Appeal and to Mr Rodney Austin, the President of the Mollymook Surf Life Saving Club.

September 2018

Initiates

United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT

Welcome to our new members ABBOTT, Cain. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kiama 35 AGUILAR, Jackson . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Caledonia of Canberra 938 ALAA, Al . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Honour 1054 ANDUTAN, Milo. . . . . . . . . Lodge Woronora 414 ARKHIOM, Ninos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Honour 1054 BURNETT, Stephen . . Lodge Burns Wentworth Tuscan 21 CORREA, Jeff. . . . . . . . . Lodge Commonwealth of Australia 633 CREW, Darren. . . . . . . . Lodge Wagga Wagga 22 CUEVAS, Jay. . . . Lodge Blacktown Kildare 393 DAHELEY, Jess. . . . . . . . . Lodge Kensington 270 DALEY, Shaun. . . . . . . . . . . . The Peel Lodge 209 DAYOUB, Zayn. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Panania 845 DE DIOS, Andre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge The Star of Australia 200 DE FIESTA, Manny. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Gowrie of Canberra 715 DE LARA, Richard . . . . . . Lodge Jose Rizal 1045 DIROY, Marvin. Australian Lodge of Fidelity 101 ELFEKI, Ahmed. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Silver City 141 FAIGAL, Carlo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Ethos 963 FALCIONI, Jordan. . . . . . . . Lodge Liverpool 197 FENECH, Pauly. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Thespian 256 FULLER, Malcolm. . . . . . Lodge St Andrews 281

GENUINO, Erwin . . . . . . . . . . . . Australian Lodge of Fidelity 101 GHAREHHASSANLOU, David Hassanlou. . . . . Lodge Horizons 1032 GIBSON, Rich. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Paxton 608 GODDARD, Kevin. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kingsford Smith 1028 GROSSKREUTZ, Jack. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Gowrie of Canberra 715 HAHN, James. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Eltham 272 HORWOOD, Marcus. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Pennant Hills 905 ILIGAN, Robert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Artarmon United 285 JOUDA, Dheyaa. . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Ulmarra 186 KHIO, Rene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Guildford 321 KRALJ, Anthony. . . . . . . . . . . . The Royal Empire Lodge 613 LONGMORE, Millaine. . . . . . . . . Lodge Bathurst United 79 LORD, Jerry. . . . . . . . . . . . . The Hills Lodge 1025 LOVE, Joel . . . . Lachlan Macquarie Lodge 1042 MACKENZIE, Nick. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Wyvern 813 MASON, Jon. . . . . . . . . Lodge Wagga Wagga 22 MCNEE, Riley . . . . . . . . Lodge Ku-Ring-Gai 1033 MERKABAOUI, Mohamad . . . . . . . . The Cedars Lodge 1041

MOEWEE, Tony. . . . . . . . The Cedars Lodge 1041 Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;BRIEN, Eric . . . . . . . . . Lodge Commonwealth of Australia 633 OKWOKENE, Paul. . . . . . Lodge Castlereagh 72 PARAGINOG, Jonnel. . . . Lodge Jose Rizal 1045 PIKE, Mathew. . . . . . . . . Lodge Allan Stuart 416 PREVOST, Emmanuel . . . . . . . Lodge Sir James Hardy 1046 RIVERO, Ryan. . . . . . . Lodge John Williams 148 ROCHA, Fabio. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Balgowlah 392 SLOCOMBE, Josh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Star of Wauchope 310 SMITH, Shane. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Liverpool 197 STANFORD, Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Kiama 35 STRATHEARN, Angus. . . . . Lodge Vaucluse 266 TEARE, Phillip. . . . . . Lodge Horace Thompson Ryde 134 TUDIO, Stan . . . Lodge Gowrie of Canberra 715 TY, Andrew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Guildford 321 URRA, Eduardo. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Picton 258 VERDADERO, Verlin . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge The Star of Australia 200 WORMALD, David. . . Lodge Prince Leopold 87 ZUSCHKE, Zane. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Dawn 511

Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite

Significant milestone The month of May 2018 was one of celebration for RW Bro George Wallens PDGM, when he reached the ripe old age of 100.

instrumental in establishing a regular lodge meeting in the Jenolan Caves that continued for some years.

He was the centre of attention on at least five separate celebratory functions during the span of one week. These included a family gathering, a University of the Third Age function, a hostel party with his resident friends and an Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite occasion when he was presented with an engraved memento.

He joined the Scottish Rite in the 1970s in Chapter the Hills at Castle Hill and affiliated with Christos Anastas Chapter in Port Macquarie on 22 November 1986 following retirement from the CSR Co.

RW Bro Wallens was initiated in Lodge Fortitude, Castle Hill on 23 April 1949; Passed to the Second Degree on 27 August 1949; and Raised on 11 March 1950. He was installed as Master of Lodge Fortitude in 1974. He was elevated to DGIW in then District No 39 and was

September 2018

He was a Grand Lodge and AASR lecturer and ritualist and was awarded his 32nd Degree on 3 May 2003, following a five-year term as District Recorder, District of NSW North Coast in 2003. Bro George was created a Knight Commander of Merit on 14 June 2016 in recognition of his outstanding service to the Order.

Freemason

MASONIC OBLIGATIONS R HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREEMASON R SIR ASHER JOEL v50 n2 June 2018 GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR R MASONIC KNOTS R TERCENTENERY

v50 n1 March 2018

Masonic Crossword 1

September 2018

6 7

The

The friendly

Games Rock

9 10

Thank You

Flysheet 13

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7 & 51

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Across 1 & 8 Across To a certain degree this clue may help other answers (6, 5) 4, 22 & 26 Across How were you admitted? Broke? (4, 3, 9) 8 See 1 Across 9 One handed game with a stone in a ring perhaps (9) 11 & 12 One of 6 Down and 20 across (3, 5) 12 See 11 Across 13 Both ways for the community (5) 16 William with change of sex draws cheques etc (5, 2, 8) 17 Rewarmed passion and make a solemn obligation (7, 3, 5) 20 See 6 Down 21 A vote goes egg shaped (5) 22 See 4 Across 26 See 4 Across 27 See 24 Down 28 Sport the last of 17 Across (4) 29 Another of 6 Down and 20 Across (6)

7 Maori walk exposes a Solomon Island boobook (6, 3) 10 Regret about the old code (7) 14 Strangely nimble with short pull used to check verticality (9) 15 Test for pH <7 (7) 18 Rarely look after all leave for collections of nests (7) 19 Drive as carelessly for a consultant (7) 23 Some mini geraniums found in West African country (5) 24 & 27 Across Find double leg room in this Craft institution (4, 5) 25 Took four to find the soybean curds oddly enough (4)

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2 Have a change of heart for the planet (5) 3 How to raise 51 feet (4) 4 Toper for example put under one’s guidance (7) 5 Exclude some of the sodomites (4) 6 & 20 Across Vehicles of moral instruction for 1 & 4 Across (7, 5)

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September 2018

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JUNE SOLUTION

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A N S

Service Certificates

United Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT

Congratulations to our masons

YEARS SERVICE

CAMPS, Arnold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Mayfield Daylight 493

BAXTER, Richard. . . . . The Goldfields Lodge 40 COUPLAND, Edwin. . . . . . Lodge St Andrew 281 GILMORE, John. . . . . . Lodge Warragamba 541 GRUNSELL, Stanley. . Lodge Fire Brigades 940 HIPWELL, Leslie. . . Lodge Lake Macquarie 243 RAYNOLDS, George. . . . . . Lodge Queanbeyan St Andrew 56 SHEARWOOD, George. . Lodge Narromine 236

ARBUCKLE, Denis. . . . . . . Lodge Cessnock 252 BRYANT, Leslie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cowra 33 BUCHANAN, Alan. . . . . . . . Lodge Burnside 729 CANAVAN, David. . . . . . . . . . Lodge Panania 845 CHAPMAN, Thomas. . . . Leisure Coast Daylight Lodge 999 DAVIS, Norman . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Hastings 69

DUNCAN, Neil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Dawn 511 FORSTER, William. . . . . . . . . Lodge Cronulla 312 GILMOUR, Jon. . . . . . . . . Lodge Narromine 236 GOFF, David . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Ibis 361 HALL, Bruce . . . The Prince of Wales Lodge 102 HALL, William. . . . . . The Lodge Federation 196 HOLMES, Barry . . Lodge City of Newcastle 170 JENNINGS, Charles. . . . . . . Lodge St David and St John 180 LE BAS, Robert. . . . . . . Lodge Ballina United 112 MACDONALD, Hunter. . . Lodge Wallis Plains 4 MAHLER, Carl. . . . . . . Lodge John Williams 148 MCGAVIN, Peter. Lodge City Of Newcastle 170 MCSHANE, William. The Lodge Federation 196 MOTE, Mervyn. . . . . . . Lodge Ballina United 112 NIXON, John. . . . . . . The Lodge Federation 196 SPURWAY, Keith. . . . . Lodge Ballina United 112

YEARS SERVICE

BARNES, David. . . . . . . Lodge Fire Brigades 940 BARNES, James. . Lodge City of Newcastle 170 BARTY, Norman. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Capitol 612 BENNETT, Neville . . . . Lodge Ballina United 112 BUCHOLTZ, Roger. . . . Lodge Fire Brigades 940 BUSH, Dennis. . . . . Lodge Lake Macquarie 243

CARTER, John. . . . . . . . . Lodge Chelmsford 261 CHALLINOR, Christopher. . . . . . . . . Lodge Lake Macquarie 243 CHIDGEY, Roy . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Wyaldra 238 CLARK, William. . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Wyvern 813 DU CROIX, Philip. . . . . . Lodge Chelmsford 261 GREEN, Raymond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge City of Newcastle 170 HALL, Percy. . . . . . . . The Lodge Federation 196 HASWELL, Leslie. . . . Lodge John Williams 148 HERBERT, David . . Lodge Lake Macquarie 243 KING, John. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Cessnock 252 KNIGHT, David. . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Capitol 612 LOWDER, Brian . . . . . . . . . . . . . Australian Lodge of Fidelity 101 MULCAHY, Ross . . . . Parramatta City Daylight Lodge 1014 PICKUP, Peter. . . . . . . . Lodge Ballina United 112 PRIESTLEY, Terrence. . . . . . . Lodge Dubbo 906 PURDON, Owen. . . . Lodge Sawtell Twilight 741 RICE, Gordon . . . . . . . . Lodge Fire Brigades 940 SPOONER, John. . . . . . . . . Lodge Woronora 414 STACE, Leonard. . Lodge City of Newcastle 170 STANDRING, Arthur. . . . . Lodge Cessnock 252 STANLEY, Robert. . . . . . . Lodge Gloucester 291 STRAW, Peter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lodge Guyra 325 TAVANI, Pasquale. . . . . . . . . Lodge Galileo 1019 TUFF, Stephen. . . . . The Lodge Federation 196 WELLS, Perry . . . . . . . . Lodge Ballina United 112

District 21

Socks and Soup The six lodges within District 21 joined together over two months to raise awareness of those who are in unfortunate circumstances.

September 2018

District 21 joined the Central Coast Bulldogs to collect Socks and Soup on behalf of the Shoebox Revolution. The Shoebox Revolution is a charity based at The Entrance.

Paul, the President of the Central Coast Bulldogs, at Lodge Wyong-Tuggerah Lakes, called in recently with over 400 items for the 2018 Drive, and these items will go a long way to helping the Central Coast homeless community this winter. So a huge thank you to the Bulldogs, the Freemasons on the Central Coast, Budgewoi Soccer Club and everyone who donated.

Freemason

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Volunteering—a rewarding way to give back to your community RFBI is proud to offer a range of quality care and services that allow older people living in our communities to live well. This work is supported by an amazing team of highly dedicated volunteers who enrich the lives of our residents and clients by spending time with them, assisting them on outings and running activities. If you would like to become a valued RFBI Volunteer, please contact your local RFBI Village or email us at volunteer@rfbi.com.au COME AND VISIT US. Throughout September and October, RFBI Villages will be opening their doors for their annual Open Day. Dates and event information about each of our RFBI Open Days is available on our website rfbi.com.au

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8/13/2018 4:13:24 PM

The 2018 UGL of NSW & ACT

Grand Installation

All seven current Australasian Grand Masters