29 minute read
Quarterly Communication
MARCH COMMUNICATION
Past Grand Masters, and brethren, here in the Sydney Masonic Centre and across our jurisdiction in the streaming centres, thank you for your attention to this most important Quarterly Communication.
This Communication effectively sets the tone for our Grand Lodge for the coming masonic year. Following the election you’ve all been part of tonight, we next move to the June Communication where we call for nominations to be considered for the various Offices in Grand Lodge. With this broader exposure to our membership through the streaming process, I hope that we might encourage more of you to consider offering your skills to your Grand Lodge.
Brethren, I trust that we can now go forward totally committed to enhancing The Grand Master MW Bro Derek Robson AM, welcomed members and visitors to the March Quarterly Communication
and exhorted them to even greater efforts in the new masonic year
the strong presence and purpose of Freemasonry.
Tonight is not about long speeches. We all know what is required of us and we all know how we can get there, so let’s just move on.
For me, these past few days have shown just what Freemasonry is about. Last Thursday, I attended the Installation meeting of The Discovery Lodge of Research here in Lodge Room Five, and witnessed a fine ceremony of masons totally committed to learning much more about our Craft, and isn’t this the principle behind lodge meetings having a healthy mix of ritual, educative, and social activity, such that we all gain more from the experience? On Saturday morning, I attended Bankstown Daylight Lodge for their Installation, and there at
OUR NEXT COMMUNICATION
The June Quarterly Communication is postponed due to the COVID-19 meeting restrictions.
Padstow in a room filled to capacity, we again saw a ceremony with masons clearly striving to enhance their own personal development, beautify the Craft, and setting a challenge for each of us to raise our own levels of involvement. On the same evening, and again accompanied by our most competent Ceremonial Team, I attended Lodge Celebration of Fairfield in their very spacious lodge room, where we were gifted arguably one of the best programs of ritual and ceremonial I have witnessed, where the encouragement of one brother to another was clearly evident, and where Freemasonry at its absolute best was on display. To round off the week, Gael and I were honoured to be welcomed to the District 15 meeting in Maitland, where, on behalf of the District and Masonicare, we presented a cheque for $20,304 to Dr Matt Dun from the Hunter Medical Research Institute, for his work on childhood brain stem trauma. How wonderful it is that we can touch so many lives through our commitment to charity.
Brethren, this is what Freemasonry is all about. We need to be out there promoting the ideals and tenets of the Craft, promoting the principles espoused in our own personal obligations, and above all, relating these concepts out in our local communities through kind acts of charity and social interaction.
I have often said that Freemasonry is alive – and it is exciting. And believe me brethren, it is.
Brethren, I don’t think that we should ever be criticised for being positive. I don’t think we should ever be criticised for talking up the Craft, and I certainly don’t think we should ever be criticised for wanting to improve upon the lot of our friends.
One of the highlights for any Grand Master is speaking to the Masonic Secretaries Association, and I do this on a regular basis. At our last gathering, I again spoke of the full range of thought being put into our activity, and I was of course very pleased to see that this meeting was reported in the latest Freemason magazine. I was particularly pleased because it shows to you all the full extent to which we are trying to represent your best interests.
It is important here to note that the Freemason magazine is an independent publication, and its journalists have complete autonomy on what they might report on and how that might be represented. Here I want to again highlight the article because it does mention many of the proactive thought processes being implemented right now. As Grand Master, I did make much mention of the membership situation at the moment, and while this has not been reported verbatim by the magazine scribe, and only noted as a precis of what I said, I did cover all aspects of it, and I stand by what I said. What I said was that our membership numbers will continue to decline to the extent well documented in a range of studies undertaken by the Board of Management over the past decade. These are very good studies, and I particularly like that done by RW Bro Colonel Stewart Grant who notes that with our age profile, we must continue to fall into at least the mid 6,000s at our present loss rate, unless we do something. Brethren, retention is the key. This is the reason why we are now spending so much effort to improve our meetings and their content and to ensuring that we promote the full range of our activities so that every mason gains from his experience, and maintains his membership. At that Masonic Secretaries Meeting, I again said that our retention numbers had improved from a loss of over ten per cent to the current position of around one per cent, and that, as a direct result, our age profile has decreased considerably. It is this most important aspect of both retention and a lower age profile that will reduce our overall loss rate. Brethren, we must continue to speak positively if any gains are to be realised.
I congratulate the Board of Management for their positive efforts. I congratulate the Grand Master’s Task
Team without whom there would be no direct contact between the lodges and our administration, and I thank all those lodges who have picked up on this positive movement and improved their own circumstance. I acknowledge that many lodges are now able to have some certainty that their future is assured through the availability of our new loans and grants criteria, and several of these are noted in the Board reports tonight. I note that our encouragement of district gatherings has exposed many more of us to the positives of the Craft and given us a wonderful opportunity to reach out to a far broader audience when proposing and implementing positive change.
I am very pleased with the way our Leadership and Management Teams have worked together to improve our situation and I am encouraged that they will continue to do so.
On behalf of the Masonicare Board, I thank all those brethren across the jurisdiction for the very generous donations of money, and time and effort in pulling together the many and varied fundraising events to assist the Grand Masters Disaster Relief Appeal. As lodges, individuals and districts combine, it is great to see how we can combine to make this difference to those affected in our community. A reminder please that I have indicated that the Disaster Relief Appeal will be in place until at least Christmas, and certainly until everyone has had their dignity restored.
Brethren, may I encourage you all to look after each other and support each other through this coronavirus and world health issue. I am aware of a brother recuperating from a recent stroke episode in the Betty Thompson Home at Macquarie Fields, which remains in lockdown, and this is a reminder that the health and welfare of our own is most important.
I now quote from an article by Joseph Fort Nelson, which was recently printed in the Installation Booklet for Lodge Celebration of Fairfield. The article was written in 1923 for the Masonic Service Association, and I quote:
‘Those sturdy men who set up the altar of Masonry on the frontier of the Commonwealth were prophetic souls. They were men of faith who builded better than they knew, as men of faith always do. They believed in the future, in the growth of large things from small beginnings and in the principles of Masonry as the true foundation of society and the fortress of a free state. They knew that the Masonic Lodge is a silent partner of the home, the church and the school house, toiling on behalf of law and order, without which neither industry nor the arts can flourish, and that its benign influence would help us to build a Commonwealth in strength, wisdom and beauty. Therefore they erected their altar and kindled its flame; and having wrought in faithfulness, they died in faith, obeying the injunction of that master poet who said “Keep the young generations in hail, bequeath to them no tumbled house.”’
And so finally, may I encourage that wherever you are and whatever you do, you do it with Integrity, Loyalty and Respect.
Thank you all for your most wonderful support of our Grand Lodge.
RAINBOW GIRLS 90th ...to be continued
The Rainbow Girls of Australia’s 90th anniversary event has regrettably been postponed.
However, we would still like to make contact with past members so we can update our records, so if you know of any past members, please pass on our details! Email: rainbowaus90@gmail or call Lorraine on: 0417 082 631
Keep an eye on these pages for more details on the rescheduling efforts!
Concord is virtually unstoppable
These meetings are the most innovative and exciting step forward in embracing technology in the Craft. The meeting involved brethren from across the whole jurisdiction.
This event establishes an initial, yet very convincing, first step in creating an agile solution and capability that our lodges may choose to replicate, or use as a baseline model to help mitigate many of the current COVID-19 challenges including maintaining continuity, inclusion, sustainment, safety and duty of care. The Yass Lodge of Concord held a virtual business meeting using Zoom on Wednesday 25 March
Clearly we look forward to news of other lodges and masonic groups holding similar meetings. This is the kind of innovation that sees us lead the way during these challenging times. This is the kind of innovation that sees us lead the way...
Staying connected
Brethren, as we continue to adapt to a new routine and way of life it is important
that we remain positive.
As Freemasons we are to lead by example and support our communities any way we can. Our masonic duties don’t end when we leave the lodge room and now, more then ever, we need to put our principles to use.
Please listen and adhere to the announcements from our governments and remain positive. Together we can make a difference and this is exactly what we will strive to do.
I hope Freemason and my news–letters plus some new content on our website will help us all remain connected. Right now, the GM’s Task Team and the BoM are working hard to make this content available as soon as possible. But it is also important that we hear from you. Send us your stories and remain connected.
So mote it be.
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Lodge consecrations
In February this year, no less than two very different lodges were consecrated to serve the needs of masons with very different interests.
Lodge Jerusalem No 1056
Lodge Jerusalem No 1056 was consecrated on 8 February 2020 at the Sydney Masonic Centre in the presence of the Grand Master, MW Bro Derek Robson AM. The Foundation Worshipful Master is MW Bro Jamie Melville, Past Grand Master.
Lodge Jerusalem is named after the Holy City in Israel, a place of significance to the three great monotheistic religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
The core principal of Lodge Jerusalem is Unity, and they believe that there is more that binds them than that which divides them. Jerusalem is a place which embodies the struggles of difference between peoples in the search for peace.
As Freemasons and as people who feel a strong affinity with such a holy
city, Lodge Jerusalem will build bonds of brotherly love between its members based on these ideals.
Jerusalem has no equal anywhere in status, importance, beauty and symbolism. No city in the world has captured so much interest, for so long and of so many people. It can also be said that no city in the world is so revered and loved.
Lodge Canberra Daylight No 1057
The recognition of the need for a daylight lodge in Canberra has resulted in the formation of Lodge Canberra Daylight No 1057. On Saturday 15 February 2020, Foundation Members and visiting masons entered the main lodge room of the Canberra Masonic Centre, which was filled, and a second room was used to cater for the overflow where they witnessed the proceedings by video. A total of 101 masons from all over the Jurisdiction were present at the CMC. The Grand Master, MW Bro Derek Robson AM, not only consecrated the lodge in a manner befitting his position, but also performed the role of Installing Master with fervency and zeal.
In line with the fact that the name Jerusalem derives from the Hebrew words ‘city of peace,’ it focusses on friendship and brotherhood as the path to everlasting peace, so will Lodge Jerusalem be a sanctuary of peace and harmony.
The symbolism of the lodge logo depicts the Black Mountain Tower which is the first and most recognisable structure seen from most viewpoints within and outside of Canberra. It is the second most visited structure in the ACT and overlooks Canberra with a 360-degree view. From above it almost appears as a point in the centre of Canberra. The sun is at its meridian, situated at the Tower’s peak. With its rays shining, it symbolises illumination and enlightenment, alluding to daylight.
Leadership in action
VW Bro Roman Cholawinskyj, DGIW 47 and a member of the Grand Master’s Task Team, provides leadership in the
introduction of Zoom in Canberra and surrounding areas.
It has been said that today’s life is impossible without communication. The changes forced upon us by
COVID-19 have required us to find new ways to communicate. As masons some of the reasons include the need to remain and strengthen communication with our brethren, to maintain our fraternal relationships and our concern for our brethren and their loved ones at this difficult time. We also need to continue to manage lodges’ administrative work, to share ideas, learn, acquire knowledge and never stop communicating with each other.
We are indeed fortunate, in Canberra and surrounding regions, to have VW Bro Roman Cholawinskyj to lead in the introduction of Zoom, one of the two preferred video conferencing tools that have now become our newest form of communication.
Roman has taken up the challenge to ensure that all lodges across Canberra and the surrounding regions are introduced to all aspects of the power of Zoom and the use of this tool to meet our communication objectives.
He has run, and will continue to run, a series of Zoom introductory meetings explaining and demonstrating this new way of communicating. He is regarded as one of the outstanding IT experts in the region and has put in an enormous effort in hosting and hands-on teaching of others in the features of Zoom and the ways it can be used in conjunction with the Grand Lodge approved Procedures for Digital Lodge Business Meetings. He has so far conducted five introductory sessions and has had a very good attendance at each, with participants actively involved in the learning processes and the use of the various features. Further meetings are planned. Some lodges in the region are now using Zoom for business meetings.
The sessions have been very well received and have ironed out a number of issues with videoconferencing as well as giving confidence to a number of brethren planning to use this new approach to communication. He has, in a clear manner, addressed many of the concerns and difficulties others may experience A truly outstanding, voluntary effort... VW Bro Roman Cholawinskyj
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with this method of communicating and also the difficult issues relating to concerns about privacy and security.
A truly outstanding, voluntary effort by one of the leading masons in the area and one which will truly assist the fraternity throughout this difficult period of the pandemic with its required isolation for some, and social distancing for others. The benefits will be apparent for years to come. Well done Roman Cholawinskyj! ED: The Grand Master’s Task Team are men of respect who can relate to lodges and hall committees; they stand face to face identifying, discussing and providing solutions to many local issues. The GMTT can point to many successes and this article is a good example. Congratulations to the GMTT for all that it and its members are doing. Let’s support the Team as it helps propel the Craft into the future!
Helping rebuild lives
BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods.
BlazeAid works alongside rural families, with their volunteers helping to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed.
Equally important, volunteers also help to lift the spirits of people who are often facing their second or third flood, or fire, even after years of drought, or devastating losses through bushfires. BlazeAid volunteers work in a disaster-affected area for many months, not only helping individuals and families, but also helping rebuild the local communities.
BlazeAid’s credo: Not just rebuilding fences but helping rebuild lives.
BlazeAid was started by Kilmore East farmers, Kevin and Rhonda Butler when out of the ashes of Black Saturday 2009 came an urgent need for fences to be rebuilt and communities restored.
The Butlers were among those whose fences were burnt. Needing to quickly secure their 1,500 sheep, they sought assistance from family, friends and local volunteers to help rebuild their fences.
Within a week, the fences were completed – a task that would have taken them months to do on their own. Grateful for the assistance they received, Rhonda and Kevin decided to try to help others in similar circumstances.
Thus, BlazeAid was born.
Since the devastation of the Black Saturday bushfires on 8 February 2009, thousands of long and short-term BlazeAid volunteers have come to help rebuild fences for bushfire survivors.
– Maree Perkins, Monto, Qld, aftermath of the 2013 Flood
BlazeAid volunteers have come from all parts of Australia, as well as New Zealand, Switzerland, England, Afghanistan, Canada, Germany, Austria, the United States and France.
Working tirelessly but cheerfully alongside the bushfire survivors, they have rebuilt over 400 km of fences in areas including Kilmore East, Kinglake, Kinglake West, Pheasant Creek, St Andrews, Strathewen, Flowerdale, Wandong, Mt Disappointment, Glenburn, Murrundindi and Clonbinane. In addition, they have helped to remove hundreds of kilometres of damaged fencing, removed fallen trees from fence-lines, helped with gardening projects, and even built the odd chook shed or two.
By lending a hand in true Aussie style, BlazeAid volunteers not only built fences, but helped to restore the spirits of fire survivors who had lost family and friends, pets, stock, homes and property to the inferno. The assisted survivors are extremely grateful for the work, support and friendship of BlazeAid’s volunteers.
BlazeAid’s work over these many months could not have been achieved without the generosity of the many donors, sponsors, volunteer groups, individuals and businesses who have assisted with tools and equipment, food, accommodation and billeting, transport and hands-on support in the fire zones. BlazeAid are extremely grateful for their wonderful support and thank them most sincerely.
Real-life stories
Here are a few of the more unusual situations where BlazeAid has helped people since its foundation: R A young farming couple with 2 kids under 4 were fully financially committed to their farm. They lost ALL their beef cattle and fences and were already working off-farm to cover their farm and stock mortgages. R An elderly couple battling Parkinson’s and dementia lost all their fencing, including a boundary with Crown Land, and needed urgent fencing so they could bring their cattle back from agistment.
Freemasonry doing its bit. RW Bro Peter Simpson, WM Leeton-Yanco (left) and VW Bro Barry Maples, WM Lodge
Ibis (right) presenting a cheque to Bro Bob Bunbury.
R An orchardist who lost most of his hail-protection mesh, 30% of the trees, his cider production machinery, and most of his ready-for-sale stock of apples and cider, was desperately in need of fencing to stop wandering stock invading the orchard and eating the rest of his trees. R And an organic orchardist using miniature goats as weed control needing fencing to contain the goats to prevent a neighbour from shooting any that strayed onto his (bare, no stock) land!
Volunteer stories
BlazeAid has volunteers from all over, with very different backgrounds. Here are just a few examples of the volunteers they’ve had: R Over 150 Afghani refugees from
Melbourne, Sydney and Shepparton communities who volunteered for 1–5 days over the Australia Day weekend. One of them continues to live in Sydney five days a week, travelling to Gosford daily for work, and traveling to Adelong Friday night to work Saturday, and returning home to get ready for Monday!
R An American girl who took her annual leave from work, paid her flights to/from USA to Sydney and worked the full 14 days at Adelong! R Christine Male who is the current
Adelong Coordinator has been working 16–18-hour days, looking after several camps, run jointly with her husband John.
The list goes on but then the need for BlazeAid does not diminish.
If you or your lodge wish to help BlazeAid, you can find out more at their website blazeaid.com.au or email admin@blazeaid.com.au
The old black shoes
The old black shoes are looking glum, as I pass the lobby door, ‘What’s wrong with you?’ they seem to say, ‘we’re going out no more.’ We’ve taken not a single step, not third or even first. And ne’er a sign we’ve seen you give, has masonry been cursed?” ‘It has’, I said, ‘by virus vile, we have to stay at home. Until such time the plague has passed, then once more we can roam.’ The masons’ halls are empty, regalia put away. Gavels now stay silent, DCs hold no sway. Volumes of the Sacred Law, on pedestals redundant, Now Brother Jim contacts his friends, by social posts abundant. No handshake, word or secret sign, no friendly Festive Board. No Tyler’s song to say goodnight, no organ’s well-loved chord. ‘Black shoes,’ I said, ‘do not despair, our chain is firm and strong. Our flag of love remains unfurled, we’ll sing again our song.’ And though our brethren may have passed, To grander lodge above, We’ll look upon their memories, with everlasting love; And in their name, we’ll offer help, and soothe the burdened heart; We’ll comfort those who are distressed, thus masons play their part. And when this crisis is resolved, we’ll sing the old refrain, happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.”
Help for our farmers
In late September 2019 they organised a trip from their home in Towradgi to help the farming community in
Western NSW. The original plan was to leave with a ute full of tinned food, toiletries and dog food. When friends were told of the plan, the idea grew and it seemed many were more than willing to help when they knew that 100% of donations would go directly to the farmers.
Over a two month period donations of non-perishable foods were collected and stored in a shed donated by Fairy Meadow Self Storage. With an amount of drought relief donations to some charitable organisations going to overheads and administration costs, VW Bro Geoff Dryland from Lodge Sylvania No 853,
and his wife Pat, decided to help our drought-stricken farmers directly.
Cash donations of $12,600 were made also, coming from family and friends as well as the Balgownie Fishing Club, Masonic Secretary’s Association, As the shed filled, it became obvious help would be needed to transport the goods...
Lodge Sylvania, Lodge Helenburgh, Lodge Kirrawee, The Charity Committee of District 36, VW Bro Rob Coote and Bro Tim Sigley.
As the shed filled, it became obvious help would be needed to transport the goods and Kennards Hire at Corrimal came to the rescue with a large trailer. Further help came from a friend who brought his ute and trailer.
By then the idea had spread so much that extra drop off points were needed at Kiama (thanks Sam and John Howard) and Engadine (thanks Deb and Robert Kemp). The collection managed
L–R: Kel and Marie Ellicott with John and Ann Crossing, just some of the local farmers who received donations from the drive
to fill two utes and two large trailers and included long-life milk, cereals, tinned foods, tea and coffee, toiletries, cosmetics, pet food, water, tradie socks and jocks, work shirts ... the list goes on!
The farming communities of Cobar also included about 104 children who didn’t have much to look forward to at Christmas, so hundreds of excellent quality gifts were added for these children and their parents. Special thanks to teacher friends Linda, Suzie and Steve for their huge contribution to the toy shopping.
On Monday 2 December, Geoff and Pat loaded the vehicles with the help of friends and left early the next morning. By the afternoon they were in Tamworth and dropped off some of the products and purchased vouchers from local family businesses to be distributed to those in need. Many thanks to Rod from Hazell’s Farm and Fertiliser and Baden from Tamworth Lions Club for assistance with this distribution. Also purchased were 100 Christmas cakes and 25 puddings from the Lions Club, half of which were distributed in Tamworth and the other half added to the load for Cobar. Anthony and Sheree Painter from the Golden Grain Motor Inn were generous in providing a room for our overnight stay.
The couple left Tamworth for the 600km drive to Cobar arriving late on the afternoon on 4 December. The drive showed what the drought is really like because they didn’t see any crops and barely an animal but many kilometres of dry brown dirt, countless willy-willies and cloudless skies.
On arrival in Cobar they met with Sheena Geppert who is part of the Cobar farming community. She, with husband Paul and their four small sons, run their own farming properties. Sheena is also very active in Rotary and the CWA and has taken on many other responsibilities to help fellow farmers in need. Sheena, with volunteers Caden and Simone needed several hours to help unload the vehicles due to the quantity of goods!
The next morning Geoff and Pat met with them again to shop locally, in an attempt to support Cobar businesses by buying vouchers for distribution to the
Just one of the trailers delivering donations to farmers affected by the drought
farming community. They visited James the butcher who always donates to local fundraising initiatives and supports the local schools and Bec, who manages the local Shell service station from whom they purchased fuel vouchers to be distributed with all the other products.
Sheena later contacted them to report that the products had reached over 90 landowners with only the Christmas presents left to be distributed.
‘The people of Cobar were very appreciative of everything we provided and we feel that we have really made a difference to the farming community of Cobar. Many commented they appreciated our donations and were delighted with the knowledge that people in the city were aware of their plight and willing to contribute. They also appreciated that we took the time and drove the distance to help’, said Geoff.
‘It was a privilege to meet with so many people who are so devoted to their life on the land that they see the drought as something else to overcome. They work hard in their communities to keep in touch with others, offer support and to make the most of what they have.’
The couple left Cobar at midday on the 5th with an overnight stop in Orange. On Friday 6 December they arrived back in Wollongong after a drive of 1,900 kilometres and a very rewarding experience.
The Knights Templar Preceptory of St John
No 19 for Canberra invites all Master Masons and Royal Arch Companions in the Canberra area to further their masonic journey.
Email: dkw_nga@hotmail.com Or call: 0447 653 881
The many lives of the Sydney Mint
The Sydney Mint in Macquarie Street is one such building and was originally designed and built as the southern wing of Sydney Hospital. It is next door to the Hyde Park Barracks and was built between 1811 and 1816.
Research has failed to discover the name of the architect but there have been suggestions that Governor Bro Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth were involved in its design. What is known is that Govenor Macquarie paid the building contractors with a licence for the almost exclusive right to import 270,000 litres of rum into the colony between 1810 and 1814.
Many buildings around the city of Sydney owe their existence to early masons
who were involved in their construction but little is known about these builders. medical storeroom but by the mid-20s many occupants had taken residence including the store master.
The only other portion of the original hospital still standing is the north wing which became Parliament House. The southern building was first intended as quarters for assistant surgeons and a It was later used for government offices and a divorce court...
There was much debate over the future of the hospital with some rooms being used as military wards, a dispensary was created in the southern wing in 1845 as well as a staff office for the military from 1848.
After the reported discovery of gold in 1851 by Edward Hargraves who was initiated in April 1853 in the Leinster Marine Lodge of Australia No 266 Irish Constitution, the building became an Australian branch of the Royal Mint from 1853 until 1901 when, after
A half-sovereign coin made by the Sydney Mint in 1914.
Federation it became the Australian Mint until 1927.
It was also planned for this proposed branch of the Royal Mint to be used for coining gold sovereigns with intentions to create a Sydney branch on the corner of Bridge and Macquarie streets but to save time and cost it was changed to the southern wing of the hospital. It was later used for government offices and a divorce court and became a museum in 1982.
The Sydney Mint was officially opened in 1854 after extensive remodelling with prefabricated materials being imported from England. However the
Sydney Mint stopped producing in 1926 and became part of the new Commonwealth Mint in Canberra.
In 1975, the NSW Government decided to restore the Mint and Hyde Park Barracks with the Mint Museum closed again in 1997 and the buildings transferred to the Historic Houses Trust two years later.
Buildings on the Mint site, including the former southern wing of the hospital and the structures for the Royal Mint at the rear, were converted for use as the headquarters for the Historic Houses Trust in the early 2000s, and officially opened in 2004.
The colonnaded verandas have simple yet elegant Tuscan columns which were cut by the stonemason Bro George Lane who became a Mason in October 1820 in the Australian Social Lodge No 260 Irish Constitution.
The Sydney Mint today
