A wet and windy Friday night on 5 December 2014 saw Lodge Caledonia from Canberra pay a Fraternal visit to Lodge Cooma Monaro for the purpose of raising Bro Paul Flynn to the third degree. The Master of Lodge Cooma Monaro, W Bro Berri Libauer conducted the ceremony with assistance from Brethren from The Mountain Lodge, Lodge Caledonia, Lodge Pambula Daylight and his own Lodge. Lodge Capitol from Canberra was also represented as was Lodge Bega Remembrance. In all some 40 brethren gathered for the occasion.

The Master of Lodge Caledonia, W Bro David Graham, and his brethren were piped in by their kilted piper who is shown in the photo on the left attempting to teach RW Bro Wal Hopkinson how to play the pipes, with some small measure of success, surprisingly. This activity took place in the South following a brief recital of Scottish music in keeping with the theme of the evening.

The work of the evening was of a high standard and Bro Paul Flynn proved to be an excellent Candidate who had obviously devoted much time to his preparation for the ceremony. 

The Festive Board which followed the ceremony was, as usual, excellent and totally enjoyable. Some of those attending arrived back home well after midnight and a wet and foggy drive. On the way to the meeting those who traveeled the Snowy Mountains Highway between Nimmitabel and Cooma experienced an unprecedented storm with blinding wind driven rain which flooded the road in numerous spots and made driving extremely difficult and dangerous. Surprisingly, Cooma itself was bone dry and knew nothing of the freak storm that occurred on their doorstep.

Our DGIW, VW Bro Neil Dawson congratulating the Candidate.

W Bro David Graham, Bro Paul Flynn, W Bro Berri Libauer and VW Bro Neil Dawson.

All waiting to hear RW Bro Wal Hopkinson attempt to play the pipes.