Grand Master visits Far South Coast
Our Grand Master, MW Bro Derek Robson, AM, visited the Far South Coast over the weekend of 14th-16th September 2018. He and partner Gael were accompanied by RW Bro Andy Conlon, the Grand Director of Ceremonies and his wife Barbara. The main purpose of their visit was to attend the Installation ceremony held at the Bega Masonic Centre on the Saturday night and also to visit the Pambula Masonic Centre to view the refurbishment of the kitchen to commercial standard for which the Grand Lodge provided funding.
Following is an extract of an article which appeared in the Bega News following an interview by the paper with the Grand Master:-
"Bega Lodge welcomed a very special guest on the weekend for its annual installation meeting and banquet".
Most Worshipful Brother Derek Robson AM is the Grand Master of the Freemasons NSW and ACT. It’s believed this was the first visit of the Grand Master to Bega in around 60 years.
He joined Bega Lodge’s Worshipful Master David Porter and other local Masons for the annual installation meeting – essentially a changeover meeting and a banquet with partners and families afterwards.
There’s a wide-held perception the Freemasons is a secretive society, inspiring many blockbuster films and best-seller books with their mysteries and links to antiquity.
Mr Robson said the “signs and secrets” of the Freemasons were a fundamental element of the group’s history and that one of the key values of the group is confidentiality, along with integrity, goodwill, loyalty and respect.
“If you’re not a member of the police, or a business firm, you wouldn’t expect to know everything that goes on in them – Freemasonry is no different,” he said on Saturday while visiting the Bega Masonic Hall.
“There has to be an understandable level of secrecy, but it’s more out there than it is in here.”
Mr Robson said the origin of the Masons lay in the building of King Solomon’s Temple in the mid-10th Century BCE, but it became more prevalent in the age of skilled stonemasonry during the Middle Ages.
With workers and skilled tradesmen coming from all corners of the globe to construct temples and cathedrals, secret code words and handshakes were used to indicate to the foreman at what level the person could be employed while avoiding any language barriers.
These days, the rituals, handshakes and code words are still used in the “theatre” of Lodge meetings, Mr Robson said.
“Everything has a message,” he said pointing to the various symbols and diagrams dotted around the Bega Lodge room.
“Everything we do is by the square, on the level,” he added, referring to the recognisable symbol of Freemasonry – the square and compass.
“And the compass is an indication of keeping passions within bounds, living a life of uprightness.”
Mr Robson said he had a particular interest in fostering closer ties between Sydney and regional Lodges.
He said there are 276 Lodges across NSW and the ACT, but that he was the first Grand Master from outside Sydney to have been elected to the role.
“There’s plenty of opportunity in Sydney itself, with Lodge meetings every night of the week,” he said.
“But I firmly believe in keeping rural members and Sydney together, gathering experience from each other and making sure everyone across the organisation is involved.”
For anyone interested in the Freemasons and what happens at the Bega Masonic Hall, an open day is taking place on Saturday, September 29, from 12-5pm.
There will be a free sausage sizzle and guided tours of the hall to see all its historic photographs and displays.
The Lodge room itself will even be open, offering the curious an insight into the organisation."
Grand Lodge Officers 2018-2019
Grand Lodge Ceremonial Team 2018-2019
| Grand Master | MW Bro D J Robson AM |
| Deputy Grand Master | RW Bro A R G Fraser MP |
| Assistant Grand Master | RW Bro J E Armfield |
| Senior Grand Warden | RW Bro L A Reyes |
| Junior Grand Warden | RW Bro O J Parry |
| Grand Chaplains | RW Bro L P Carter OBE |
| RW Bro R J Searle | |
| RW Bro Rev P B Kilkeary OAM | |
| RW Bro Rabbi Dr S H Tov-Lev | |
| Grand Treasurer | RW Bro R K Collins |
| Deputy Grand Treasurer | RW Bro C Wong |
| Grand Registrar | RW Bro W S Whitby |
| Deputy Grand Registrar | VW Bro T Tsavaridis |
| Chairman, Board of Management | RW Bro R Moore |
| Chairman, Grand Charity | MW Bro D J Robson AM |
| Grand Architect | RW Bro P Zeilic |
| Deputy Grand Superintendent of Works | RW Bro P E Robinson |
| Grand Secretary | RW Bro S M Green |
| Deputy Grand Secretary | RW Bro C J Craven |
| Grand Director of Ceremonies | RW Bro A B Conlon |
| Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies | VW Bro B K Albano |
| Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies' | VW Bro P F Barber |
| VW Bro J R Cutler | |
| Senior Grand Deacon | W Bro N Grego |
| Junior Grand Deacon | RW Bro J R Plumridge |
| Grand Sword Bearer | W Bro T Gara |
| Grand Standard Bearer | W Bro L J Parsons |
| Grand Director of Music | RW Bro I N Cox |
| Grand Organist | RW Bro R Littlefair |
| Deputy Grand Organist | RW Bro J Baldwin OAM |
| Grand Herald | W Bro K S Christmas |
| Grand Pursuivant | W Bro J J S Newman |
| Deputy Grand Pursuivant | W Bro C J Tejada |
| Grand Stewards' | VW Bro J B Bertram |
| VW Bro A C Boyden | |
| W Bro J D Corrigan | |
| W Bro J R Donald | |
| W Bro J P Ellis | |
| VW Bro Dr R S Haron | |
| VW Bro L W C Jarman | |
| W Bro A Kfoury | |
| VW Bro R J Long | |
| VW Bro B G Maples | |
| W Bro R Martinez | |
| W Bro S W Massey | |
| W Bro M L Radford | |
| W Bro H A Rahman | |
| W Bro C Reyes | |
| W Bro N K Rola | |
| W Bro C D Rose | |
| W Bro C J Ross | |
| W Bro P J Saunders | |
| VW Bro L B Smith | |
| VW Bro R T Smith | |
| W Bro B J Tubridy | |
| W Bro R E Turnbull | |
| Grand Tyler | W Bro G J Rees |
Contact Us
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Nardy House Project
Nardy House is specifically designed to meet the needs of people with profound disabilities. Their disabilities are physical and intellectual and they are wheelchair-confined. These people require care 24 hours a day.
Their movements are restricted; they need assistance with bathing, toileting and feeding and they are dependent on others to maintain their quality of life.
Nardy House provides a home base designed to maximise the potential of each resident. Residents interact with their local community, thereby promoting and enhancing the role of people with disabilities in our community.
The Nardy House site is located centrally on the Far South Coast, on the Princes Highway close to the small township of Quaama. Residents are able to access the major centres of Bega, Narooma and Bermagui . Each centre is about thirty minutes by car.
Landscaping has commenced of the five-acre site to allow for wheelchair access to the area surrounding the permanent accommodation, separate respite houses and additional facilities. The features of these landscaped areas will be designed to stimulate sensory responses and maximise the residents’ abilities to enjoy their gardens, their guests and their home.
The story of Nardy House and the problems the organisers have faced and what has been achieved is all told on their web site at http://nardyhouse.org.au
Nardy is also on Facebook 
This video clip is also worth watching:- https://youtu.be/JyWoHfTW9TM
District 49 Fund Raising Project - Car Raffle
The Freemasons of District 49 have adopted Nardy House as an ongoing project to raise money for the purchase of much need specialised equipment which is necessary for the care of their residents.
The District Inspector of Workings, Neil Dawson, is coordinating the current fund raising effort which is a raffle with a motor car as first prize. It is planned for tickets to be available for sale in the near future with a drawing date of 2nd April 2016
The support of the community in our Masonic district is being sought for this wonderful and necessary facility. Our District covers the South Eastern part of New South Wales from Cooma, Bombala, Pambula, Baga, Moruya and Batemans Bay.
First Prize.......and the winner is.............
Ticket #1227 - P Cowan of Malua Bay, sister of W Bro Bill Woolridge, Worshipful Master of Lodge Eurobodalla Daylight, who is now the custodian of the car as his sister has returned home to Canada. A list of all winners follows:-
2nd Prize. Ticket #1669 – Fay Campbell of Dapto
3rd Prize. (1) Ticket #1715 – Russell Smith of Tura Beach – a member of Mountain Lodge
(2) Ticket #0303 – Carol Wilkinson of Eden
(3) Ticket #0956 – Jim Butterworth of Bega
(4) Ticket #1968 – Neil Mudge – no address but phone number provided
(5) Ticket #0510 – Bonnie Sheridan of Giralang ACT
(6) Ticket #0984 – Nardy House – several tickets were purchased in the name of Nardy House from donations received during the course of the raffle
(7) Ticket #1761 – Christina Anastasi of Nelligen
(8) Ticket #0843 – S&A Foote of Surfside
(9) Ticket #1662 – Fay Campbell of Dapto – also 2nd prize winner!
(10) Ticket #1606 – S. Ward of Surfside
DGIW Neil Dawson and Betsy Hilton drawing the prizes
Neil making sure the tickets are shaken but not stirred.
Denise Redmond Nardy's CEO, Neil Dawson and Betsy Hilton who started it all.
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The new wing for 6 permanent residents.
The respite centre for 6 temporary residents.
The space in between the two buildings for relaxation.
Cheque Presentation
The whole purpose of the car raffle was to raise funds for Nardy house and some weeks after the drawing of the raffle a formal presentation of a cheque to Denise Redmond took plave informally on Saturday 11th June 2016. The District Grand Inspector of Workings for the District, Neil Dawson, made the presentation accompanied by a small group of Brethren from several of the Lodges in the district, namely Cooma, Pambula and Bega. The staff at Nardy put on an afternoon tea and a tour of the premises for the visitors and new friendships were formed and older ones renewed.
Neil presenting a cheque to the CEO, Denise Redmond.
A You tube video clip of this presentation can be viewed here:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INgJl3I8cVA
Liz giving some of the Masons a guided tour
One of the three way bathrooms with overhead rails
Liz demonstrating how the overhead rail system works
Calorie free afternoon tea (except for the cream)
Freemasons, staff, board members, executives and residents. The "Happy House".
W Bro Ray Spencer, the District Masonicare Representative. Masonicare matched the funds raised dollar for dollar via an interactive grant. Neil Dawson who organised the car raffle and worked very hard in the ticket selling and promotion areas. Kevin Mulcahy who started the project when he was DGIW in 2014 followinga visit to see Bro Stuart Brennand who was spending a few days at Nardy in 2014. Liz, the manager of Nardy, showed Kevin over the premises, part of which was still under construction, and the idea of a District Fund Raising Project to assist this wonderful cause came into being.
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Lodges in District 49a
Bateman's Bay Daylight - meets at Bateman's Bay Soldiers Club at 10.30am on 1st Tuesday except Jan. Installation 1st Tuesday in March. Sec: W Bro Ken Trafford. 02 4472 8477
Coeur de Lion-Narooma - meets at Moruya Masonic Centre 2nd Thursday at 7.30pm. South at 6.30pm. Lounge suits. Installlation 1st Sat Oct. Sec: VW Bro Bob O'Callaghan 0448 930 085
Eurobodalla Daylight - meets at Moruya Masonic Centre, 4th Friday at 9.30am except Dec-Jan. Installation August. Sec:R W Bro Alan Brown.0412 963 678
Lodge Milton - meets at Milton Masonic Centre on 2nd Monday at 6 pm, Lounge suits. Installation 1st Saturday in May. Sec: W Bro Ken Sheppard 0428 638 611
Eurobodalla Lodge of Research & Instruction, Moruya Masonic Centre 7.30pm. Last Monday except Dec and Jan.
Lodges in District 49B
Bega Remembrance - meets at the Bega Masonic Center(Map), 3rd Wednesday, 6.00pm in Winter, 7pm Summer. South after meeting. Dress is lounge suit for regular meetings. Installation 3rd Sat. Sept. (Evening Dress, dinner suits or lounge suits. Tyling 4pm). Secretary - VW Bro Ray Spencer. 02 6494 4063, mob: 0458 944 063
Cooma-Monaro - meets at the Cooma Masonic Center(Map), 1st Friday, 7.30pm. Evening dress. Installation 1st Sat May. Sec: RW Bro Bruce Davies. 0418 162 106.
Mountain Lodge - meets at the Bombala Masonic Temple(Map) 2nd Saturday, 7.30pm. Evening (Summer) dress. Installation Nov. (Tyling 5.30pm). Sec: V W Bro Bernie Alcock. 0412 643 585.
Pambula Daylight - meets at the Pambula Masonic Center(Map), Last Saturday, 10am. Installation last Saturday November. Tyle 10am (Lounge suit). Sec: W Bro Alf Gallina. 0419 260 872.
DGIW: VW Bro Peter Davis
Mob: 0414 242 235
Royal Arch Chapter
Kosciusko Chapter
Meets at Cooma Masonic Centre on 3rd Monday at 7.30pm.
in March, April May, Sept October and November.
Scribe E: V Ex Comp. Bernie Alcock: 0412 643 585
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