FVNews Daily. 
No 28. Wednesday, May 20, 2020
From the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action TeamFVNews Daily is also available at www.FVNews.com.au
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Vale Peter Rich
• Vale Wor. Bro. Peter Stanley Rich, who passed to the Grand Lodge Above, on Saturday, May 16. The funeral will be held as a graveside service atCheltenham. Wor. Bro. Colin Ling will read the Masonic Funeral Service. (Barry Minster, Grand Almoner, provided these details.)

Latest Foundation presentations
• Neil Cripps of the Freemasons Foundation Victoria shares details of further support to charity partners, with grants totalling $250,000 to assist with their ongoing programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients of these one-off grants are Let’s Talk Foundation, Entertainment Assist, Gather My Crew, Hope Bereavement Care and .• The Foundation provided direct support to Freemasons directly impacted by the fires giving over $50,000 in assistance.
• Since January, the Foundation has supported Victorian Craft Lodges with grants exceeding $200,000 supporting their important charitable work in local communities. The table is a summary of these grants.

West Wimmera press coverage
• Rhys Webb shares this clipping from today’s edition (May 20) of the Nhill Free Press and Kaniva Times in a local advertising feature about National Volunteers Week. The report promoted Freemasonry and the West Wimmera Region Blue Lounge Social Club.

Jack Aquilina is speaker
• David Aubrey, Secretary of Morwell Lodge 202, advises: “This Sunday (May 24), Morwell, Argyle and Traralgon Lodges will be having a combined meeting via Zoom. Bro. Jack Aquilina will be the guest speaker.”

Disaster Relief Fund• Freemasons Victoria Foundation expresses expresses sincere thanks to the many individuals, Lodges and masonic organisations who have contributed to the Disaster Relief Fund. “The Disaster Relief Fund is ongoing and aimed toward the recovery, reconstruction and prevention projects for the communities in Victoria. With ongoing support it can also provide support in the medium and longer term as people affected by disasters will still need support long after the event and publicity has disappeared. If you require a receipt for your recent donation, please EMAIL with your name, amount donated and the date.”

Van trip to East Gippsland

• Bill Miller, Argyle Lodge No. 105, writes: “On the eve of the statewide lockdown due to the Coronavirus, a number of Argyle Brethren and their partners travelled to the fire ravaged region of East Gippsland around Lakes Entrance and Nicholson with their caravans. This was a much anticipated trip and although circumstances reduced the final number of people attending, a relaxing and enjoyable weekend was enjoyed by all. Wor. Bro Merv Moon regaled  with stories of the area, this being his childhood stomping ground. Further trips are planned in the future but as circumstances dictate they are currently in limbo. “Hopefully as the Spring approaches we will be able to resume our visiting to other Districts. Those who ventured  away for the weekend were Bill andCatherine Miller, Rob and Marietta Herni, Alan and Phillipa Beebee,Merv and Wendy Moon.

$270,000 for bursaries …
with more to come• Freemasons Foundation Victoria has given Secondary & Tertiary Awards to more than 120 students. Applications had been invited in February. More than $270,000 was awarded.
• Bursaries: In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, there is a limited number of bursaries available for eligible tertiary students who are experiencing financial difficulties. Applications for a bursary close on June 4 and will be assessed on a student’s need and the impact the current pandemic has had on them. LINK

£½-million doubled
• Freemasons across England and Wales have raised more than £1 million to support those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the continuing lockdown preventing Lodges from meeting and holding charitable collections, Freemasons have used technology to keep raising money to support its national response. Online and text donations have been pouring into the Freemasons’ COVID-19 Community Fund from Freemasons up-and-down the country. The half a million pounds raised from individual Freemasons and their Lodges is being doubled by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, the Freemasons’ charity, bringing the fund’s total to more than £1 million. The total could exceed £2 million as donations continue to flood in. DETAILS

Thousands of computer tablets
• Saint Cecilia’s Care Group has received a donation of some computer tablets from the United Grand Lodge of England. They are using them to make video calls between their residents and their family and friends during the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of personal computer tablets are being provided by Freemasons across England and Wales to more than 50 hospitals, care homes and hospices to help families stay in touch with their loved ones.DETAILS

What’s On: online meetings

• Friday, May 22. 7.30pm. Victorian Lodge of Research. Guest Speaker: John Molnar. ‘What Is Freemasonry For?’ LINK

With thanks to www.masonsconnect.com
Please advise us of online meetings, so we can publicise in FVNews.

World News
• Ramsay McGhee, Grand Master Mason of Scotland, emailed his members to rejoice in several good news stories of Brethren being released from Intensive Care into High Dependency wards. “Unfortunately, however, we have been notified of several more deaths among our Brethren from COVID-19… We try to understand how difficult it is for all who are grieving, given that you are unable to have proper funerals, unable to have even a wee hug to console each other or unable to celebrate the life that has been taken in the way that you would wish.” (Thanks to Graham Berry for sharing this.)

Masonic Mailbag
• Ange Kenos writes: “Friday night. Lodge of Research. Hosting a great speaker in RWor. Bro. John Molnar, PDGM. Brethren, register to watch and listen, and be prepared to ask questions as this is where this Lodge really shines – in answering your questions.” LINK

Masonic Trivia
• The oldest known Masonic writing, the Regius Manuscript or ‘Halliwell Poem‘ or ‘Poem of Moral Duties‘, was discovered to be a Masonic document by a non-Mason, J. O. Halliwell, in 1839. It was written about 1390 and was given the name ‘Regius‘ because it was found in the Royal Library of England. It is now a part of the British Museum. Some common Masonic Ritual terms in use today are found in it such as “So Mote It Be“.

Masonic Wisdom
• “”Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish. Push it, and it will go nowhere at all.” – Dwight Eisenhower

INFORMATION TO KNOW
FVNews is published by Bro. Ash Long, Chair of the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team of Freemasons Victoria. 
Phone: 0450 399 932.
Web: www.FVNews.com.au Email: editor@FVNews.com.au
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