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Published 9 September 2020 |
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Staying Safe and In Touch
Brethren, We now have a number of lodges that are Stage 3 compliant. Some of them have already held small meetings cautiously and responsibly. To those who have attended, I thank you for your understanding in placing the safety and well-being of your brethren first. With large numbers waiting for their initiation and progression, we must adapt to our COVID Safe environment and be very careful not to let the excitement of such ceremonies take away the importance of our carefully crafted safety regulations. A well thought out, responsible and safety conscious meeting can still be very meaningful and enjoyable for the brethren, and indeed, so can we also gain much from our continual online meetings. I am very pleased that we are starting to hear of some wonderful stories from lodges experiences of face-to-face and online meetings. One such story is from Lodge Ballina United on our far north coast and you can read it in this Newsletter. If you can share a short story, and an appropriate photo, I will see that they are mentioned in later Newsletters, or perhaps the Freemason magazine if more appropriate. This is also a time to reconnect with old acquaintances and check up on each other. I took a nice call from 91-year-old RW Bro Neville Simpson, from out at Bourke, letting me know how he was coping. Neville passed on greetings from himself and his lovely hard-working wife Pam, and he asked to be remembered to all his old (no pun intended) friends. In a similar vein, our Grand Chaplain, RW Bro Rabbi Dr Samuel Tov-Lev has been regularly checking on his flock, and I also know that our OSM friend, Past MWGSR Ian Newbery has also been active in this regard. How good would it be if more of us were involved in considering others, and perhaps we could include regular reports on this activity, alongside the Masonicare Caring Officer reports, in our meeting agendas, whether they be online or otherwise. Please consider showing similar respect to your old friends - it will be much appreciated by them. As always, whether meeting in small numbers, socially or by Zoom, please take care and take special care of yourselves and your families. Derek Robson AM |
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Ballina is Back It was after dark but the brightness shone as 24 brethren returned to an almost normal lodge meeting at Ballina last Tuesday after a 5 month hiatus. With our COVID-19 plan firmly in place we were all looking forward to getting back to "Work". On the agenda was a second degree for Bro Rod Flor. All COVID protocols were in place including a temperature check, sign in sheet, an ample supply of sanitizer and appropriately spaced seating in the lodge room and at the banquet, where individual table service prevailed. The excitement of the brethren who attended was evident, Bro Rod was a fantastic candidate and we all enjoyed an excellent ceremony at a most memorable event. Masonry has lost nothing to the COVID-19 break. I thank those concerned for the well thought out, 3 Stage plan that allowed for our safe return, and we all look forward to the joys of masonic meetings once again. J A Andrews |
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September Freemason is out
The September magazine is out and it features the Freemason Photography Competition Freemason Fotos. To participate check the back page of your magazine and submit your photos.
Our magazine is also published digitally and can be downloaded from the Grand Lodge website and issuu.com. |
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From the Grand Treasurer Capitation Fees Lodges are reminded that capitation fees are required to be paid in full by 31 October 2020. Finance and Audit Committee have been meeting weekly throughout the pandemic and, like everyone else, we have also been through a difficult period. I am pleased to say that there are only around 30 lodges that have not taken up the 31 August 2020 early payment discount, on behalf of myself and our Finance and Audit Committee, I thank you all for your assistance and understanding during these unprecedented times. As Grand Treasurer I must report any non-payments to Board of Management and Executive Council by 31 October, any lodge who believes they cannot make the payment by that date can make application to make more than one payment for the 2020/2021 financial year. Applications for an extension need to be made before close of business 30 September 2020, they should be addressed to the Grand Treasurer via the Grand Secretary and accompanied by: 1 Financial Statements to 30 June 2020 comprising of:
2 The Lodge must be up to date with the following:
Richard Collins PDGM |
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Upcoming events "Final Charge 1st" continuation again Fellowcraft Freemasons Q&A "TBA" "Speculative Heart" examination Entered Apprentice Freemasons Q&A |
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STAGE 1 - PREPARE THE BUILDING All Masonic Centres are required to register as a COVID Safe business and prepare the building in accordance with steps that will be provided to them by the Grand Secretary. NOTE: Once all buildings have been prepared we can then move on to Stage 2. |
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STAGE 2 - PREPARE YOUR LODGE Once all Masonic Centres have completed Stage 1 it will then be necessary for each lodge to prepare their meeting place (lodge room) in accordance with further steps provided to them by the Grand Secretary. NOTE: When lodges have completed Stage 2 and following further directions from the Government Health Authorities we can then move on to Stage 3. |
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STAGE 3 - RETURN TO LODGE Once lodges have completed Stage 2 requirements and after ensuring we comply with all regulations directed by the authorities, the Grand Secretary will advise those lodges that they may consider their return. NOTE: The Grand Secretary will provide further advice on any meeting restrictions that may apply as a result of further directions from the Government Health Authorities. |
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Are your contact details up to date?
To continue to receive the Freemason magazine, emails and invitations to online meetings it is important your contact details are up to date. Please update your details on the Grand Lodge website or with your lodge secretary and urge your fellow brethren to do the same. |
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How is your lodge staying connected?
Write a paragraph or two, add a good large photograph and send it to news@masons.org.au. Your story will be considered for this newsletter, the next Freemason magazine and might even feature in our official facebook page. Just make sure you have permission from all mentioned and depicted for their image to be publicly published.
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Hosting a zoom meeting? If you are hosting an online meeting and want to invite other brethren, send the meeting link to news@masons.org.au and we will publish it in the next GM's Newsletter.
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The Grand Master's Newsletter Please submit your articles and photographs to news@masons.org.au and make sure you have permission from all mentioned and depicted for their image to be publically published. Download print versionUnited Grand Lodge of NSW & ACT
IMPORTANT: This email remains the property of The United Grand Lodge of NSW and the ACT. The information contained in this email is for the intended recipient and may be confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, interference with or disclosure of this material is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, you are requested to immediately contact the sender by email or telephone and then delete the message. The message is NOT to be copied, further distributed or disclosed to other parties without the express permission of the author. |
