GM’s message

The Grand Installation

– considerations

The Grand Installation is a very important occasion in our ongoing program, but it is not now possible to conduct the event in August due to the COVID lockdowns.

While we took the earliest opportunity to cancel the event, it is important that we now look toward finding a suitable date in the next few weeks.

There are a number of options that we can take, and they vary from holding our normally planned iconic program, to holding a virtual Installation with only the main participants in attendance, and of course, there are many other variations and options in-between.

Our first consideration was to seek advice from our Sydney Masonic Centre (SMC) General Manager, Mr Paul Davison,

Proposed schedule of events

EVENT DATE TIME LOCATION/DRESS PRICE Meet and Greet Fri 15/10/21 6.00–8.00 pm Banquet Hall, lounge suit/ladies after 5 $70 pp Ladies Reception Sat 16/10/21 9.30–11.30am SMC (level 4), smart day wear $50 pp Grand Installation Sat 16/10/21 2.00–4.30 pm Grand Lodge Room, formal with regalia Free Banquet Sun 17/10/21 6.30–11.00 pm Banquet Hall, Formal $170 pp Farewell Lunch Sun 17/10/21 11.00am–2.00 pm SMC, smart casual $90 pp as to whether he could accommodate us at all. We all appreciate that he is subject to the directions of the NSW Chief Health Officer, and he is also the ultimate authority for managing our access to SMC. This is the same arrangement that we have where lodges and building managers must meet our Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 protocols and then only meet when our responsible and accountable building managers are satisfied that it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Our SMC General Manager initially considered the experience surrounding the Northern Beaches lockdown, where it was 4-6 weeks after the lockdown ended when some normality returned.

Hence, while we might have initially thought that the September Communication might have been a good option, common-sense prevailed, and an October date was clearly presenting as the best option.

Of course, in making any decision, it was necessary to also consider the dates of already planned events and occasions for the USGC NSW&ACT, OSM NSW& ACT, the Grand Lodge of Queensland Centenary and Proclamation, the WA Grand Installation, and a number of corporate bookings at SMC. It is also better to wait until greater numbers can attend, particularly as the involvement of the interstate delegations makes the formal and social events so memorable and special. To support the dignity of the occasion, and to ensure our full formal dress is on display, I would propose that the dress for the Grand Installation should remain formal, i.e., tails.