engage! Newsletter No. 129

Special Presentation for Police

Officer Bro. Gary Jenkins

A Freemason for 27 years, police officer Bro. Gary Jenkins was installed in the Chair of King Solomon

at Elrona Lodge No. 384 on Tuesday 16 August during a special ceremony. The installation,

conducted by former Victorian Assistant Police Commissioner MWBro. Vaughan Werner PGM and

the Victoria Police Unanimity Ceremonial Team, took on special meaning for Gary, who has served

Victoria Police for over 22 years.

Bro. Jenkins admits that he was very fortunate to be granted dispensation from Grand Lodge to

enable the Victoria Police Unanimity Ceremonial Team to conduct his installation, which proved to

be very personal and poignant.

Gary’s installation was made even more memorable with the presentation of a unique gavel made

for the occasion. The gavel came from the president of Victoria Police Unanimity Club, WBro. Pete

Henry, and was crafted to resemble an early style police baton.

Throughout his policing career, Bro. Jenkins has held several positions, including work in the Water

Police Squad, Mill Park Crime Investigation Unit and various squads within Crime Command. Bro.

Jenkins is currently attached to the E-Crime Squad of Crime Command.

Gary was initiated in the Maritime Lodge No. 569 at Williamstown Masonic Centre on 27 May 1989.

He was passed and raised in the same Lodge.

At the time of his initiation, Bro. Jenkins was a train driver. In 1990 he took a change in direction in

his career and became a Park Ranger at Eildon State Park. As a result, he joined the Albert Edward

Lodge No. 59 in June 1990, which met at Alexandra Masonic Centre. Here he continued for several

years to the office of Junior Warden.

In July 1994, Bro. Jenkins joined Victoria Police and upon returning to Melbourne, obtained a

clearance from the Albert Edward Lodge.

Bro. Jenkins remained out of Freemasonry for 22 years until he overheard a work colleague talking

on the phone about Freemasonry. Consequently, he joined his peers at Elrona Lodge No. 384 in 2014

and took up the office of Junior Warden later that year.

Congratulations Gary and we wish you a successful year as Worshipful Master of Elrona Lodge.

Joe’s Last Night

WBro. Joe Cincotta completed a two year term as Worshipful Master of the Marnoo Lodge No.360

on 13th September. Last December, Joe was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease, a progressive

disease involving degeneration of the motor neurons and wasting of the muscles. He was assisted

through the last ten months of his duties by Past Masters of the lodge, especially WBro. Lyle

Johnson, IPM.

Thirty five Freemasons celebrated Joe’s

last night even though flood waters and

inclement weather prevented another

fourteen who were apologies.

Joe was presented with a Mallet and Base

handcrafted by WBro. James Livingstone,

a retired Master Builder from Scotland

and a member of Marnoo.

VWBro. Clive Hardiman, Bayside 112

District Co-ordinator and RWBro. Garry

Bradd, both members of Gardenvale

Mobility Lodge No. 243 and long-time

friends of Joe, travelled from Melbourne

for this most important occasion.

Joe’s arrival in the Wimmera in 2010 brought a breath of fresh air into Freemasonry. A Brother well-

loved and respected throughout.

Vintage Display Held by Masonic

Unique Vehicles Group

An interesting and attractive display of vintage and classic vehicles was held on Sunday 21st August in

Nar Nar Goon by the Masonic Unique Vehicles Group.

Set in picturesque surroundings, complete with views of the local area, the Unique Vehicle Show was

one not to be missed.

This was one of four outings the group holds each year alongside special occasions in support of

Masonic events.

The hosts of the day were Graham and Sheryl Winsor. They had assistance from their daughter and

son-in-law of Bro. Trevor Moore, a Past Master of Peace and Loyalty Lodge.

In total there were twenty-four vehicles on display. Ten of the vehicles were driven in on the day by

group members. The rest of the vehicles which were owned by Graham and Sheryl and a friend of

theirs, were placed on display from storage for the occasion.

Another feature of the day was a static display of a Vintage Rolls Royce Merlin engine of World War

Two. The engine was used in tanks and spitfire fighter aircrafts, and was significant in turning the

result in the favour of the allied nations.

There was also two Indian motor cycles on display that were of the same era as the engine.

Following on from the event, the Masonic Unique Vehicles Group alongside Graham and Sheryl

hosted a luncheon at Club Officer which provided a perfect sequel to a very pleasant day.

A Sizzle Success!

Since 2011, Lodge Belvoir has been holding weekly Sausage Sizzles at Woolworths store in Wodonga.

The initiative to get involved was primarily down to WBro. Frank Walsh, a member of Lodge Belvoir.

Between 24th and 25th June, the store

closed for rebuilding purposes, and as

part of the celebration of the

development, the store management

and senior management team held a

thank you weekend for the store

customers. This included a Sausage

sizzle manned by members of Lodge

Belvoir.

With the assistance from the Board of Benevolence, the Lodge has distributed more $45,000 to local

charities and causes, including Belvoir Special School, Relay for Life, District Scouts and CFA. But their

generosity does not stop there- each year they also provide bursaries to 10 local secondary school

students, helping to ensure the youth of their community hold a bright future.

The presentations are made each year at the Lodges

annual birthday meeting in October.

While the store is being rebuilt, members of Lodge

Belvoir plan on continuing their Sausage sizzles every

Friday at Arnold’s Fruit Supplies in Wodonga. This is a

group of generous men who are giving up their time

for their community and their efforts will most

definitely continue to pay off.

Recent New Zealand Visit

Collections Manager Samantha Fabry, recently flew to

Auckland, to visit the United Masters Lodge No. 167 and to

meet up with Museum Curator and Librarian Bro. Alan

Bevins, PGLec., PM to discuss collection and management

issues as well as ways to clean Masonic Regalia through

using simple methods which are freely accessible to many

Freemasons. The study of cleaning Masonic Regalia grew

as part of an experiment which has been undertaken by

Conservators within the Freemasons Victoria Library &

Museum on metal, leather and satin. This information and

Guidelines will shortly be available on line to assist those

wishing to clean their regalia. If Lodges are wishing to

undertake workshops on cleaning their regalia please

contact the Collections Manager at Freemasons Victoria.

Bayside District Church Service On Sunday the 2nd of October the Bayside District Church Service was held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Freemason’s Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and District Co-Ordinator, as well as a large contingent of the current Grand team, their wives and partners, and the local Bayside Lodge representatives were in attendance.

The service was conducted by the Rev. Jonathon Chamberlain who spoke of the importance of putting the community first and ignoring self. The Freemason’s Community choir assisted by the Bellarine Community choir led the singing and presented an anthem – Break Forth into Joy by Caleb Simper. At the conclusion of the service, Wor. Bro. Brendan Edmonds of Hearts of Oak Lodge #681 presented a cheque for $1,000 to Mr. Ray Blessing, the CEO of the Taskforce Community Agency. The Taskforce Community Agency provides food for those living on the streets, training for young people on how to provide for themselves as well community services for alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

The Grand Master, MWor. Bro. Don Reynolds presented the Mr. Ray Blessing, with another $1,000 from the Freemasons Benevolent Fund and promised a further $1,000 donation to come. These

donations will be used by the Taskforce Community to support art therapy classes for those who are recovering from addiction. The congregation of the Church provided morning tea after the service and approximately 20 GL Officers and Brethren of the local Lodges enjoyed lunch at Milanos’s restaurant at Brighton Beach. The Bayside District Church Service was a huge success and greatly appreciated by all.

Secrets of Early Creswick as Revealed by the Masons

This Exhibition comprises artefacts and documents recording the establishment and early pursuits of

the Havilah Freemason’s Lodge in Creswick. Most of the items displayed were recently discovered in

the undercroft of the Lodge, an area under the foyer.

The Lodge commenced in 1859, with authorisation being received from England for its founding, and

the building itself was constructed in 1890 by local tradesmen, after previous assemblies were

temporarily held at The American Hotel.

The papers, photographs, letters, receipts, and the wealth of artefacts contained in this display, are

all original and date from 1859 onwards, and serve to demonstrate the close relationship between

the Lodge and the people and businesses of the district.

This Exhibition has been mounted through cooperation between the Havilah Lodge and the Creswick

and District Historical Society, to enable the Creswick community, visitors, historians and

Freemasons from everywhere to examine and evaluate their find.

When: 16th October to 6th November, 2016

Times: 10:00am - 4:30pm daily

Place: Creswick’s Havilah Masonic Lodge

Contact: Mrs Val Lawrence

Phone: 03 5345 1310

Email: valanlaw10@iinet.net.au