Brethren, the damage created by the floods last March is still, to this day, taking its toll on the people and businesses up and down the east coast of NSW. In many communities, the continuing rain is still hampering recovery efforts and the compounding damage is making things increasingly difficult for those involved.
Our Grand Master’s Disaster Relief Appeal is still open for donations and any help that you or your lodge may be able to give is always gratefully received. Donate via our website.
I thank all those Districts, lodges and individuals who have kindly donated to the Appeal, and I thank the brethren from our sister jurisdictions who have also made very generous donations. The Appeal will close off on 25 September and the final distribution of funds will be made to specially chosen frontline charities that have worked so hard over the past weeks to support the people within their community.
As we now move into the second half of 2022, we are progressing well with the technology upgrades to both our management system and the website, and, of course, we are aware that there is still much to do. Over the next few weeks, our new MAS, Affiliate and new Member application forms will be finalised and undergoing the necessary trialling. The introduced technology will continue transforming our administration department into an exciting, modern, efficient workshop that is dedicated to supporting our membership. I thank the Grand Secretary and his team for their understanding and support during what has been a difficult and strenuous exercise. We are now moving into what will be an exciting period for this jurisdiction and the future looks bright.
As we move into this new era of communication, our Board of Management, MasoniCare Board, Finance and Audit, our Freemason Magazine Editorial Committee, and all members will benefit greatly from the recent upgrades. No doubt our lodges and brethren have also done their bit by offering advice and support as we implement these exciting new changes and I thank you all for your tolerance and support as we create a smarter and more effective future for our Craft.
The new technology will also assist with new taxation requirements that will come into play on 1 July 2023. Our Grand Treasurer has been busy providing information, guidance and reassurance to lodges that complying will be a simple process for those that may be affected. His team will provide any assistance that may be required, and regular informative Zoom meetings will continue as needed.
You will also have noticed some advances in the presentation of the Grand Master’s Newsletter with the addition of small video snippets and live links which now give the newsletter a more modern and interactive approach. I thank Bro Simon Pierce, VW Bro Joe Corrigan, RW Bro Richard Dawes, and his wife Rosemary for their assistance in what has now become an essential source of communication for our jurisdiction.
The recent introduction of modern and innovative technology will assist our Secretariat staff to look toward the future with confidence. With this in mind, I would now like us all to look at the standard of our ceremonial work, to look toward the future, to expand and refine our growth and expectations from a ceremonial perspective.
It is important for our future that we consistently produce masonically educated and well qualified masons who can confidently and professionally perform the role of Grand Steward, and act as Grand Director of Ceremonies when called upon.
It is most important that the Grand Lodge provides strong ceremonial support directly to our lodges in order to assist them in providing quality, well-structured installations, district meetings and other special and unique events.
I believe that strong Ceremonial acumen can and should come from grass roots. Each lodge should strive to be an exemplar not just for the installation of a new Worshipful Master but also to their new initiates and at their regular masonic meetings.
To assist us to reach these goals, I have invited RW Bro Khris Albano and RW Bro Arnel Landicho to work with our new Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team to provide Grand Steward and Grand Director training throughout this jurisdiction, beginning in September. This assistance will be provided to all who want to take part, and I encourage each lodge to get involved. In conjunction with this, I have also asked RW Bro Paul Schultz, from our Grand Lodge Demonstration Team, to provide several brethren from that group to work with the Grand Director and his team as they take quality instruction and support to the four corners of this jurisdiction.
Using our new technology and in conjunction with the recent training sessions offered by RW Bro Chris Craven to our lodge secretaries, it is our intention also to offer online guidance and follow up support for this ceremonial training. I encourage you all to get behind these special training sessions. The Grand Secretary can assist with organising dates and times for those who choose to get involved and our team will come to you, providing your group with quality instruction and advice.
I note that we have just recently conducted a very successful training and information session in Newcastle and I congratulate all those that were in attendance. I thank RW Bro Peter Frame PAGM for inviting RW Bro Landicho and his team along to what was a wonderful and informative afternoon.
As these events progress throughout the jurisdiction, it is envisaged that some brethren may have the ambition to become Grand Stewards in their own right, and for those brethren, this training course will provide structured direction for their future aspirations.
Brethren, the members of this training and instructional team gladly offer their time, knowledge, and energy, but it starts with you, and it is up to you. I encourage your lodge, your District or even your Region to get behind this initiative and organise a training session in your area. Get involved, this will be a lot of fun, we will all learn something and perhaps the day could conclude with an enjoyable social event with our partners and friends.
Brethren: To have ‘lived respected, and died regretted,’ is the ultimate aim of all Freemasons. It is always sad when the Grand Master is called upon to acknowledge the passing of a brother to the Grand Lodge above, and it is important to acknowledge the special service given by such brethren.
Tonight, I ask that we all remember the following brethren:
- RW Bro John Charles Goodchild PDGM (11 December 2021)
- RW Bro Matthew Singleton (18 March 2022)
- RW Bro Richard Ford PAGM (2 April 2022)
- RW Bro Peter Bindon PAGM (2 April 2022)
- RW Bro Dr Frank Radcliff PDGM (4 April 2022)
- RW Bro Major General Raymond Jack Sharp AO PDGM (17 May 2022)
- RW Bro Kevin Norman Foster OAM PDGM (18 May 2022)
Brethren, these brothers will all be sorely missed.*
Over the past few months, the Grand Ceremonial Team and I have been privileged to attend and support some very important and enjoyable masonic events. There were installations at Lodges Ku-ring-gai, Queanbeyan and
Horace Thompson Ryde, degree work at Cessnock, district meetings at Coffs Harbour and Royal Empire, and a debutante ball at West Wyalong. I was thrilled to present the NSW & ACT Freemasons Community Service award to Mariam Muhammed at the Channel 7 Young Achiever Awards in May.
We were also thrilled to support Most Excellent Companion Robert Drake and the Royal Arch at their recent Convocation where we witnessed the Consecration of their new Chapter José Rizal. I was also pleased to host the recent Heads of Other Orders meeting here at the Sydney Masonic Centre.
In March we travelled out to Dubbo for the Installation of Bro Matthew Wilson where I was honoured to unveil a plaque commemorating the official re-opening of the Dubbo Masonic Centre.
We also visited the Macksville Masonic Centre to unveil a plaque commemorating the re-opening of their Masonic Centre.
Over the past year, we have seen our entire Management Team work incredibly hard, helping to guide us out of what was an exceedingly difficult time in our history. I congratulate the entire jurisdiction.
You have all worked so hard to restore stability to your lodges, districts and regions and we have certainly witnessed what can only be described as an amazing effort from our senior leadership team.
Our Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters have worked hard crisscrossing the jurisdiction supporting your lodges, assisting our Board of Management, and collaborating with the Executive Council.
Our Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, our Ceremonial Team, the Board of Management, MasoniCare, Freemason magazine and all of their related committees have also gone beyond the contract in all that they do. I thank them all most sincerely for their dedication to what has been a formidable task considering the impact that Covid 19 initially had on our wonderful Craft.
Brethren, I will shortly be announcing our Team for the 2022/2023 masonic term; with each new year comes change and growth.
Jobs or positions may change but the lasting impact of a job well done must never be taken for granted, and I want to send my heartfelt thanks to all those that have stood up and served this Grand Lodge and our jurisdiction with such dedication and distinction during their term. They are the epitome of Humility, Kindness, and Generosity and I look forward to seeing these brethren supporting our Craft in many ways for years to come.
And finally, brethren, please remember that Covid 19 will remain with us for a long time, and we must not become complacent. As we now move into the cold winter months, I ask that you please look after yourselves, your family and your friends and I also ask you to remember those three special words that typify all Freemasons.
HUMILITY – KINDNESS and GENEROSITY
* In his address the Grand Master described the masonic achievements of these brethren. The details can be seen on the Grand Lodge website.
