FV News

No. 205. Tuesday, January 18, 2022
• From the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team, Freemasons Victoria

• Email: editor@FVNews.com.au or Ash@Long.com.au

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• FVNews is also available at the website: www.FVNews.com.au

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In This Issue

1. Grand Master’s Doings
2. Pithy Paragraphs

3. Fun Newsletter
4. Grand Almoner Reports

5. New Subscribers

6. Sincere Thanks

7. Please Send Your Summons

8. World News

9. Things To Do
10. What’s On (31 listings)

1. Grand Master’s Doings
• Grand Master Richard Elkington extends New Year greetings to all across the state.
• Richard has started the year at a busy pace. He was emailing key personnel on Boxing Day (Dec. 26), such is the enthusiasm for 2022.
• Acting Grand Secretary Don Reynolds has also been on deck throughout the entire holiday period. The office staff are back at work, but working remotely because of COVID-Safe concerns.

• The Grand Master participated in the Feast of St John on December 27.

• Richard has presented a $20,000 donation to The Smith Family.

2. Pithy Paragraphs
• Richard Skinner of Gregorios Lodge confirms that a Rotary-Freemasons Gala Dinner Dance, planned for early February 4, will now be held at a later date so that it can be held with confidence, hopefully later in 2022.
• Kerri Rivett, CEO, Royal Freemasons, says the Homes are struggling to fill all staff shifts due to ill health associated with COVID-19. All efforts are being made to fill shifts with many of the staff working double shifts, overtime and being relocated across the program to try and maintain safe levels of staffing.

• Alan Tyndall, Grand Pursuivant, has advised “all hands on deck” for Grand Lodge Ceremonial Teams for Saturdays, February 12 and 26, and March 5, when there are three installations on each day.
• Graham Berry has circulated an approved protocol for receiving heads of Grand Mark, and Grand Chapter in Regalia into a Lodge Meeting. Worshipful Masters and Directors of Ceremonies should take note.

• Ken Calder of St George Lodge says the January 18 meeting will be replaced with a Second Degree rehearsal.
• Last week’s Brighton District Lodge meeting was replaced with a Zoom get-together.
• Tony McDonall advises Samaritan Lodge (Daylight) will not be holding a February meeting. An on-line zoom meeting will be held in lieu.
• We are very saddened by the passing of Gary Edwards, a big supporter of FVNews.

• Ross Martin says Sunbury Lodge will not proceed with its January 28 meeting due to the the COVID situation.

3. Fun Newsletter

• Freemasons New Zealand have published another Fun Newsletter. Our thanks to John MacDonald. READ HERE

4. Grand Almoner Reports

• David Thompson says: “The new year continues to bring us challenges. Particularly concerning is the wave of the Omicron strain of COVID which is sweeping through the whole country and which threatens to further disrupt all our attempts to return to something like normal life. I have had confirmation that the virus has affected a few members of our Grand Teams, so it mean that we shall have to be even more careful than before, to do all we can to avoid infection, or to minimise its effects, in our lodges and our personal and private lives. Please be reminded that help is available for any brother, or members of your families if the current situation is causing you distress. The virulence of the new strain is such many of us are very wary about any form of personal contact. We run the risk of deepening existing isolation. So please make a special effort to keep in touch by any means you have, short of visiting, with your friends (masonic or otherwise) and loved ones. More than ever, the need for brotherly love must be foremost in our minds at this time. I’m happy to talk to anyone by phone (0417 423 577). Your Grand Almoner, David.”

5. New Subscribers

• We are building FVNews to be a vital guide to Masonry in Victoria. You can have your free copy emailed to your inbox. Use the ‘Subscribe’ option at www.FVNews.com.au 

6. Sincere Thanks

• Amongst those who assisted with contributions and encouragement have included: Rhys Webb, Richard Skinner, Anthony Bucca, Richard Elkington, Don Reynolds, Kerri Rivett, Glen Richards, Graham Berry, Richard Shelly, Keith Klooger, Ken Calder, Greg Crew, David Thompson, Tony McDonall, Wayne Smith, John MacDonald, Andrew Geary, Harry Adlerstein, Peter Weeding, Rob Layton, Ross Martin, Rahim Samat, Arthur Tan, Ken Porter, Peter Baziotis

7. Please send your Summons
• Lodges can assist FVNews by sending emails about every lodge meeting and event to editor@FVNews.com.au – please include us on your Lodge Summons mailing list.

8. World News• The Nazi archive of Freemasonry at Polish university library containing 80,000 items amassed by Heinrich Himmler could shed light on the society, researchers say. READ MORE in the Daily Mail
• The charter of a long-closed lodge in Texas has been resurrected. READ MORE

9. Things To Do

• WATCH Drone vision of the aftermath of a fire that destroyed a Masonic Temple in Zanesville, Ohio. WHIZ-NBC
• READ about Nickel Masonic Lodge’s annual Winter Clothing Appeal which received a generous donation from Peavey Mart. The hardware company donated 500 pairs of woollen winter socks for this year’s campaign.
• READ how Dorset Freemasons (UK) have supported people affected by the Philippines typhoon.

10. What’s On (31 listings)
UPDATED EACH EDITION

Please notify us about your event. 
Please include date, time, talk details, attire, and a link or location.
Email: editor@FVNews.com.au

Details below are published in good faith, according to latest available information. E&OE.
Because of COVID-19, arrangements are subject to change at short notice.
Please check with Lodge Secretaries.

Tuesday, January 18

• 7.30pm. Admiral Collingwood Lodge. Business Meeting. Attire: Casual. At Freemasons Ivalda.
• 7.30pm. Moorabbin Lodge. Talk by Shawn Momen. At Freemasons Bayside.

Wednesday, January 19
• TBA. Supreme Grand Chapter. Grand Convocation. ZOOM. Meeting 829 3497 8794 Passcode 717210

• 6.30pm. Horsham Masonic Centre General Meeting. At Freemasons Horsham.

Friday, January 21
• 7pm. SEAVIC Lodge. Talk: ‘What It Means To Be A Freemason’ by Barry Brooks. By ZOOM – link TBA.

Saturday, January 22
• 3pm.  Lord Somers Australasian HRA Chapter. Convocation. Ceremony of the Vacant Chair. At Freemasons Melbourne. Dining at Il Duca Restaurant, East Melbourne.

Monday, January 24
• 12 Noon. Wimmera Lodge. Master’s Luncheon. At White Hart Hotel, Firebrace St, Horsham.
• 7.30pm. South Gippsland Mark Lodge. Talk: Masonic content. At Freemasons Wonthaggi.

Tuesday, January 25
• TBA. Middle Park Lodge. Attire: Casual. ZOOM Meeting ID: 857 2336 7612, Passcode: 717474
• 6pm. Wimmera Lodge. Installation of Ian Brilliant. Ar Freemasons Horsham.
• 6.30pm. Admiral Collingwood Lodge. Installation of Damian Byrne by Barry Reaper with Northern District Installation Team. Dining: $25 per person. BOOK by Jan. 20.
• 7.30pm. Mount Scopus and Collegians Lodge. Talk: ‘Order of the Free Gardeners’ by Ben Quick. ZOOM Meeting ID: 859 6122 2982 Passcode: 070171

Wednesday, January 26 – Australia Day
• 11.30am. Combined Grand Teams Australia Day Barbecue. At Freemasons Baxter.

• 11.30am. Lowan Lodge. Australia Day Barbecue. BYO drinks and seat. Meat and salad supplied. At Jaypex Park, Nhill. RSVP by January 25 : Rhys on 0410 232 996. 

• 12 Noon-5pm. Australia Day Barbecue. At Freemasons Bayside.
• 6.30pm. Zetland Lodge. At Zetland Masonic Centre, 3 Piper St, Kyneton.
• 7.30pm. Freemasons Victoria Statewide ‘Australia Day’ Celebration. By Zoom. Details TBA.

Thursday, January 27
• 7.30pm. Sir John Quick Lodge. Third Degree. 50-year jewel to Ian Buntin by Rob Layton. At Freemasons Bendigo.

Saturday, January 29
• 8am-4pm. Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge. Bunnings Epping Sausage Sizzle.

Sunday, January 30
• 6pm. Wimmera Lodge. Family Barbecue Social Event. At Horsham Botanical Gardens.

Thursday, February 3
• 7.30pm. MAP1. At Freemasons Brunswick.

Thursday, February 3
• 7.15pm. Ivanhoe Grammarians Lodge. First Degree. At Freemasons Ivalda.

Monday, February 7
• 7.30pm. Commonwealth Lodge. At Freemasons Mirboo North.

Wednesday, February 9
• 7.30pm. Berwick Balcara Lodge. Double Second Degree. At Freemasons Berwick.

Saturday, February 12
• 10am-4pm. Conducting A Masonic Commemoration Ceremony. Cost: $25. At Freemasons Box Hill. RSVP Jan. 31: John Glover, 0416 180 820 or  jglover@bigpond.net.au

Saturday, February 19
• 4pm. Lodge Bharat. Consecration by Richard Elkington and 2021-22 team. Cost: $75 per person. Freemasons Bayside.

Sunday, February 27
• 10am. MAP1. Ivalda Lodge of Instruction. At Freemasons Greensborough.
• 11.30am. MAP2. Ivalda Lodge of Instruction. At Freemasons Greensborough.

• 1pm. MAP3. Ivalda Lodge of Instruction. At Freemasons Greensborough.

Saturday, March 19
• 4pm. Revival Lodge. Installation of Ethan Holmes by Richard Elkington and Team. At Freemasons Greensborough.

Friday, March 25-Sunday, March 27
• TBA. Grand Re-Installation.

INFORMATION TO KNOW
FVNews is published by VWor. 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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