Manchester Unity

MANCHESTER UNITY INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODDFELLOWS

NORTHERN RIVERS INCORPORATED

Grand Master’s Address

2019

Grand Master’s Report 2018

Worthy Deputy Grand Master, my Grand Lodge Colleagues, Members of the Fraternal Council, visiting Grand Lodge Officers of Manchester Unity and Grand United, Sisters and Brothers, ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Northern Rivers Inc, I welcome you to our 8th Annual Moveable Conference and I thank you most sincerely for your attendance.

To all the members of Northern Rivers Inc assembled here today I remind you that our Order is based on the true principles of Friendship, Love and Truth and I encourage each and every one of you to participate in today’s proceedings and know that your ideas and opinions are valued by everyone.

REMEMBRANCE

Since our last AMC we have mourned the passing of a very dedicated and much loved member of our Order – Sis Mary (Peg) Van-Bael PDGM, my beautiful mother-in-law.  Would all present please be upstanding to observe a minute’s silence in memory of Sis Van-Bael and to also acknowledge the passing of any of our member’s loved ones during the year.

OFFICIAL VISITS

During my term in office I had the pleasure of attending the Mt Lindesay District Meeting but due to a change of date I was unable to attend the District Meeting of Loyal High Crows – as IPGM I hope to be able to rectify this next year. I thank DGM Sis Connell for representing me at this meeting and for installing the new team of District Officers. 

I thank the Grand Lodge Officers and members of the Queensland and Victorian Orders for making myself and Bro Van-Bael so welcome at their AMGC in Ipswich and the BMC in Sale.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, made new friendships and caught up with old friends from both Orders as well as members from our sister order in NSW.

Unfortunately I couldn’t make it to the South Australian conference but I appointed Sis Betty Hann PGM to represent our Order.

SOCIAL VISITS

I have been able to attend many Lodge Meetings and functions but not all unfortunately.  Some of these include Loyal Trilogy Junior Lodge Picnic at Boonah, with 4 Juniors, 7 Adult members and 4 visitors present – a great achievement for this Lodge, Loyal David Mills and Wollumbin District Lodges Xmas Parties, Loyal Murwillumbah Lodge BBQs and dinners, BBQ Dinner at Evans Head Caravan Park with members of Mt Lindesay, Summerland and Bonalbo Lodges, Happy Wanderer’s Lodge camp at South Ballina and the Camp Oven Dinner at Ettrick, Loyal Hope of Enoggera Lodge’s Xmas in July at Killarney

FRATERNAL COUNCIL

I have had the pleasure to preside over 5 meetings during the last 12 months and would like to take this time to thank the members of the Fraternal Council, and the associated committees, for the work they are doing. It is with great pride that I can confirm we are in very good hands.

DEGREES AND PRESENTATIONS TO MEMBERS

Minor Degrees were conferred on Bro G Phelps and Bro V Crowley.

In June I presided as Master at the Purple Degree in Kyogle and Bro P and Sis N Smith received their Degree and were presented with their certificates.  A wonderful rendition by the whole team of a very meaningful degree.  At this meeting we surprised Bro P Keevers with the presentation of a Merit Jewel. I think it’s about the first time I have ever seen Phil at a loss for words – a well deserved Jewel for a very dedicated Oddfellow.

Bro N and Sis M De Vries were each presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by me at the Mt Lindesay District Meeting in August to recognise all their hard work for the Lodge, District and Order.

ANZAC DAY SERVICE AND LODGE OF REMEMBRANCE

I had the pleasure this year to chair our Anzac Day Service and Lodge of Remembrance in Murwillumbah and would like to thank and congratulate the team for their participation at this meeting.  Thanks also to Petty Officer Christopher Van-Bael from the RAN for his very informative and at times humorous address – for me a very proud and memorable Mum moment.  I believe  his ability to deliver this address comes from his attendance as a Junior Member of Manchester Unity.

GRAND MASTER'S CHARITY -  THE CANCER COUNCIL

The last 12 months have been very busy with the Lodges and Districts organising fundraising events for this very worthy cause.  As I said last year when I announced my Charity at the AMC I doubt that there would be anyone in the room who had not been affected by this horrible Disease. 

My heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed in any way to raise the amount of $1471.05.

Some of the activities held included Sausage Sizzles at local businesses, Raffles, Camp Oven Dinner, Masquerade Afternoon Tea Party and Casserole Night.

FRATERNAL LONG WEEKEND FARMSTAY - JUNE

This year we opted for something different for our Fraternal weekend and stayed in the Shearer’s Cottage at Roseneath Station in the Dumaresq Valley near Tenterfield.  What a fantastic, relaxing weekend it was with being able to roam the property at will, visit local Wineries, the Glen Lyon Dam (very little water unfortunately) and went on a road trip via Texas to Stanthorpe and back to Tenterfield.  Thank you Sis Worthington for introducing Theo and I to Corn Cakes, you’ve got us hooked!  Although disappointing with numbers, socially it was one of the best camps I have attended and in essence that is the purpose of this weekend.  Looking forward to next year’s camp wherever it may be and ask as many as possible to support it – you won’t regret it.

WOLLUMBIN DISTRICT

My District may be small in numbers but the support and love you all share and have shared with me is our greatest strength. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart I wouldn’t have had such a successful and memorable year without your help.

THE FUTURE

Our Order continues to prosper and our membership has increased over the last 12 months to 100.  We have learned to “think outside the square” and I believe that this coupled with maintaining our traditional values and ritual is the key to our success – there is something to suit everyone and if there isn’t, tell us and we will find something!!!!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my Grand Lodge Colleagues, what a wonderful, harmonious, fulfilling year we have had.  I couldn’t have asked for a better team.

Sis Connell I commend you for elevation to the position of GM and pledge to return the support you have given me – you are going to do a great job. 

Sis Ross, the feather duster, its nearly my time to take that title, thanks for all the work you have done for our Society, its definitely something that has been bred into us.  I would say enjoy your “retirement” but I know that you will be busy supporting Margaret over the next 2 years.

Bro Keevers we go back a very, very long way and our friendship has never faltered, it has only got stronger.  You are the “constant” for the Grand Lodge team and are always there to give advice and support us. I value your contribution to Manchester Unity, you always give 110% and I love you for that.

I also take this opportunity to acknowledge 2 very important people in my Manchester Unity journey who are no longer with us – my parents – Bro Bill and Sis Gladys Taylor who were both PDGM’s.  I must admit I wasn’t very happy when I found out that I was being initiated into Loyal Cudgen Lodge back in 1972 as I was told that my sister Lorraine was joining, but the FS of the Lodge Bro Kevin Keevers (Phil’s dad) said I was old enough to join too and the rest is history.  I will be forever grateful for all they taught me about Manchester Unity and for giving me the love of reciting Ritual.  I know their hearts would be bursting with pride if they were here today.

Theo, what can I say. You are my rock and my soulmate - your support and love is unconditional and you are always at my side – even a 3300km return trip to Sale by car didn’t phase you.  There are no words that can truly express how grateful I am to have had your support through my term as Grand Master – I love you and thank you with all my heart.

It has certainly been a very busy year, but I don’t regret one minute of it.  If you commit to something you have to give it your all.

I am indeed honoured to have served as Grand Master of the Northern Rivers Order, a position I thought I would never attain and which I have thoroughly enjoyed, and if my work has met with your approval, then I am satisfied.

In Friendship, Love and Truth

Denise M Van-Bael

Grand Master