Engage! Newsletter No A Day to Remember

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1 Engage! Newsletter No. 132 A Day to Remember On Tuesday 8 th November, Freemasons Victoria held their annual Field of Remembrance at the South Eastern Masonic Centre in honour of those who served the nation. The morning commenced with the Grand Master, MWBro. Donald Reynolds laying a wreath in the Memorial Garden at Keysborough on behalf of all Freemasons in Victoria, followed by Mr Neil Soullier, OEM, CEO of the Blue Ribbon Foundation and Mr Michael Glinski, Unit Commander, Protective Services Unit, Security Services Division Transit and Public Safety Command. A lament was played by piper WBro. Iain Townsley, PM whilst wreaths were being layed. The crowd of just over 100 Freemasons, their wives and family then retired to the Lodge room for the Long Tan Ceremony of the Vacant Chair. This year marks the 50 th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Lodge No 921 conducted the ceremony with a replica of the cross erected at Long Tan being placed on the Lodge pavement with flags of respective nations placed on the corners of the pavement. Two local Scouts from Vietnamese families carried the flags into the Lodge Room. MWBro. Don Reynolds ready to lay a wreath for Remembrance Day As the Brethren and guests moved to the Lodge Room, they passed through a field of bright red hand crafted poppies, which are part of the internationally recognised 5,000 poppies project created by Melbourne artist Lynn Berry and Margaret Knight. Nine Veterans formed a hollow square around the pavement, a reference to holding ground in a military sense guarding that piece of ground. The Worshipful Master WBro. Roger Dikes PGStdB then placed a wreath on the vacant chair. On the pedestal in front of the master were 19 lit candles each representing the life of an Australian Soldier who died in the battle. The room lighting was dimmed leaving only the lights on the cross, the vacant chair and the candles while the Roll of Honour was read out with the names, ages and towns of the soldiers who had died.

2 During the reading of the names a candle was extinguished for each soldier who lost his life. The piper WBro. Townsley then played a slow march around the pavement as a final mark of respect. The Brethren then retired to the South for morning tea where the pipes and drums of the United Service Lodge entertained the guests. Piper WBro. Townsley at the Remembrance Day event A presentation was given from Quilts of Valour, who have supplied in excess of 350 quilts to soldiers affected by war and the immediate families of fallen soldiers since the beginning of For more information please go to Raising the Flag for Freemasonry Despite the inclement weekend weather Sandringham District Lodge once again participated in the annual Sandringham Village Festival on Sunday October 23 rd. The primary goal was simply to put the Lodge and Freemasonry on public display within the local community and the strategy worked. Response from members of the public was even higher than last year s event, especially as the range of handout materials also included Women In Freemasonry and Royal Freemasons Homes. This allowed the Lodge team to engage with a broader cross section of the public who appeared in large numbers once the sun came out. The brochures about the History of Freemasonry, What is Freemasonry and Freemasonry in the Community were well received and supplies of each were almost exhausted at the close of the Festival. It was interesting to note the large number of young men who said that a grandfather or uncle had been a member of Freemasonry. The Festival attracted thousands of visitors across the day as the organisers closed off all the main streets, allowing everyone to safely enjoy over 100 different stalls and various other activities from face-painting to rock climbing. The Lodge plans to participate in the Festival in 2017.

3 WBro. John Sibly (left) and WBro. Mark Smith, the Worshipful Master of Sandringham District Lodge (right), on duty early in the day. Another Cohuna Golf Day Success! Over 50 golfers supported the Cohuna Masonic Lodge in their annual Golf Day this year in support of the Leitchville Men s Shed. The organisation started around 2007 when it became apparent a need was there for a meeting place for men who had been through an active life, possibly retired and possibly alone. The Australian Men s Sheds Association is recognised as accessible to all men a place where men are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace in the company of other men in a safe, friendly and healing environment. A major objective of the organisation is to advance the well-being and health of their male members. For 30 years Cohuna Lodge 227 have organised Charity Golf Days to raise funds for many charities, Hospitals, Schools, Kindergartens, and in this instance a need was expressed for assistance to Leitchville Men s Shed, and Cohuna Masonic Lodge chose them as a worthy recipient. VWBro. Neil Gannon, District 101 Coordinator commented on the benefit of social events within the Lodges;

4 In order for Freemasonry to continue to exist and grow in country communities, we must use every action possible to be seen and appreciated by the community to sustain itself and grow. At the Golf Day, men s four ball winners were Peter Richardson and Geoff Hall. Whilst these two gentlemen had no affiliation with Freemasonry, it proved a great way of making those in the community aware of Freemasonry and what it has to offer. The winning men of the day - Peter Richardson and Geoff Hall The winning ladies of the day - Sandra Hancock and Wilma Harridge The ladies section was won by Sandra Hancock and Wilma Harridge. Both of the ladies respective late fathers were Freemasons, and they had good words of encouragement at the event. Women are the backbone of any Freemasons Lodge, even they are not admitted to our meetings, but they back up their men in so many ways - Indispensable I would suggest VWBro. Gannon said. The day s effort raised over $1000 for the Leitchville Men s Shed- great work Cohuna Lodge. Talk About the Werribee Endeavour! On Sunday 9 October, almost 10,000 bike riders braved windy conditions to ride the Bicycle Network s "Around the Bay". Despite tough conditions, families, school groups, corporate teams and individual cyclists turned out in force to ride distances ranging from 20km to 250km. Among the force was WBro. Rod Pilmore a member of Werribee Endeavour Lodge No 187 and member of the Freemasons Cycling Club (Vic). Bicycle Network General Manager of Events, Rebecca Lane, said The weather conditions tested the resolve of riders and there were some weary legs crossing the finish line, but it was great to see them still doing it with a smile. Rod, who rode the 250km course, described it as "about 12 hours of torture".

5 Riders weren t just in it for themselves however, with funds being raised for event charity partner, The Smith Family, who help disadvantaged Australian children. Rod's day on the bike started around 05:45am and after walking over broken glass carrying his bike, battling cross and head winds for hours, and a rough trip across the bay, had had just about enough. FMCC (Vic) members at the MO RIDE 2015 The name Werribee Endeavour took on a whole new meaning and epitomised Rod's attitude. "The difficult conditions called upon our beliefs and inner strengths to keep going Rod said. Simple things became important to completing the ride. A brief glimpse of the city from Sandingham elicited a positive response from a shattered body and the ride beside Brighton beach on the run home helped the body find another gear. Despite most of the spectators and tent occupants being gone by the time Rod hit the finish line, he had time to reflect on a job well done before catching the train home to Werribee. Well done Rod and hurrah for the Square and Compass jersey! What's next for the Freemasons Cycling Club (Vic)? It is Movember and for FMCC (Vic) members, that means it is time to gear up for the Chiltern Mo Ride On Sunday, November 20 th, club members will roll up to the start line for the 65km event. Mo Ride 2016 is a participation ride raising money and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health research. Wodonga Lodge No 156 is again supporting the event. In addition to making a financial contribution to the Movember cause, Lodge members will operate an information tent at the start/finish line to promote Freemasonry. Why not join Wodonga Lodge members in the park or the FMCC (Vic) pedal through 65km of the Chiltern Valley and Mt Pilot National Park? Go to P2.pdf for Mo Ride event information and ride registration form. For information about the Freemasons Cycling Club (Vic), contact WBro. Malcolm Mann via at malcolm.fmcc.vic@gmail.com.

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