VMMA Official Visit to Duke Of Clarence Lodge No. 172 - Yea
Wednesday 4th May 2011
The VMMA was invited to make an official visit to the Duke Of Clarence Lodge No. 172 for their regular meeting to be held on Wednesday 4th May 2011 at the Yea Masonic Centre for the occasion of the initiation of Mr. Alan Matthews.
Dean and Bob prior to entering the Duke Of Clarence Lodge No. 172 at Yea.
Wonder if The Duke has got The Barons point!!
Well what a miserable evening it was wet and cold, but even so 7 members of the VMMA were in attendance Chris, Gary, Dean, The Baron, Bob, The Duke, Stephen and Frank great effort mid week with members traveling from Wonthaggi, Moe, Euroa, Mooroolbark Buxton and Yea (that was a short trip).
The work for the evening was to initiate Mr. Alan Matthews a very young man into the Duke Of Clarence Lodge, it was good to see young Karl in attendance from Albert Edward Lodge No. 59 at Alexandra who is a personal friend of Alan's and son of Stephen a VMMA member.
Bro. Alan Matthews responding in the south after his Initiation.
After the initiation we retired to the south where the W.M. Bro. Stewart Crockett spoke to The Baron and Chris was informed he would be speaking, it was thought by Chris he had the response from the visitors, No No more sinister than that with minutes of being in the south the W.M. invited Chris to the floor to make a VMMA presentation.
Chris opened the presentation by reflecting some 8 years ago he remembers being in the Yea Masonic Centre along with other VMMA members on a cold Sunday morning fighting for a spot around that large open fire whilst morning tea was being provided by the Lodge and then riding up to Mansfield Masonic Centre for lunch and yes we had afternoon tea at the Alexandra Masonic Centre and that it was good to see members of each of those lodges in attendance this evening.
Chris was asked to make a VMMA presentation in the south prior to having supper.
The presentation included the recent Easter Fair Parade with the Bendigo City Lodge members to promote Freemasonry in the Bendigo District and if the Yea district had an event that they thought the VMMA could assist them in promoting Freemasonry in the district we would be happy to hear from them. Chris continued with the awareness of Cystic Fibrosis and spoke of the disease and some important facts relating to CFV this led into the recent Breathless Ride that raised both awareness of CFV and much needed funds $87,000.
The presentation concluded with Chris welcoming Bro. Alan Matthews into the craft and asking him if he was attending the Initiates Cocktail Party with the Grand Master later in May with the response being YES Alan was asked to have a look at the VMMA display for we will be attending to support Freemasons Victoria, it was also mentioned that whilst visiting lodges it is pleasing to see a majority of the initiates being young men.
Looks like Gary may have consumed his supper and has a keen eye on Dean's plate!!!!!
At the conclusion of the VMMA presentation the W.M. Bro. Stewart Crockett announced to everyone that the proceeds from the evening would be donated to the VMMA Charity Fund.
We then continued with supper along with meeting and greeting brethren from the district with some positive discussions taking place regarding future activities that the local lodges and the VMMA may be able to conjoin together to promote Freemasonry in the district.
The following VMMA members partook in taking items home The Duke, Dean, Stephen, Bob and The Baron, so we not only received the proceeds for the evening we also took home a large number of items.
W.M. Bro. Stewart Crockett presented to the VMMA President Chris Wells the receipts of the evening totaling $200
The evening came to a close after W.M. Bro. Stewart Crockett invited the VMMA President to the floor for the donation presentation of the evenings proceeds that amounted to a grand total of $200, Chris responded to the donation and ensured everyone that the money will be utilised via the VMMA Charity Fund.
A number of the VMMA members had made accommodation bookings in Yea for it was to far to return home at that hour of night whilst others who had a shorter journey headed off home after having another enjoyable evening visiting.
Reported by CW
