Worthy Deputy Grand Master, Members of the Fraternal Council, Distinguished Guests, Sisters and Brothers, Ladies and Gentleman.
It gives me Honor and Pleasure to speak to you today on behalf of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows Northern Rivers incorporated.
I welcome you to our 4th Annual Moveable Conference and thank you for your attendance.
During the year we have mourned the passing of some members to the Grand Lodge above. I would like us to take a minute to reflect and remember them and the families who have lost loved ones.
During this year I have enjoyed visiting each and every Lodge and have made many visits interstate to Queensland and one to Victoria for their AMC. The District meetings for our Order have been well attended and the District meetings that I attended in Queensland have been both informative and a great chance to see how others manage their duties.
My first official visit last year was to Loyal Highcrows district lodge for their Christmas Party at the Mill street Tavern, afterwards we joined the Newtons for a tour of the Christmas lights and trees and all had a lovely time.
Three days later Annette and I were back in Lismore for the combined District Christmas Party at the home of Bro. Nol and Sis. Merle de Vries, another gathering full of Christmas cheer.
January was a visit to Evans Head for a combined District planning Meeting and a social afternoon of excellent fish and chips from the beach cafe.
February was again a visit to Loyal Highcrows District Lodge to assist their District Grand Lodge and finished the evening with dinner at the City Golf Club in Toowoomba.
I made an official visit to Loyal Chillingham Lodge who hosted an old fashioned picnic and fundraiser at the tea shed in the park at Brunswick Heads and everyone enjoyed the day.
June was the Loyal Highcrows District meeting held in the Hall at Legume, it was well attended and another enjoyable day and thankfully not as cold as previous meetings there.
August was my own District Meeting in Kyogle and there were many surprises to come out of that meeting but happily all those surprises have been dealt with.
Later that month Annette and I attended the Wollumbin District meeting in the Autumn Club hall in Murwillumbah. It was a very productive meeting and the Fraternal Council has had much to do since.
Fraternal Weekend
This year the fraternal weekend camp was held in Stanthorpe QLD.
While the weather was cold, the warmth of the members wasn’t.
We all had a great weekend and the facilities provided by the Top of the Town Caravan Park were excellent and created a great atmosphere for all.
175th Anniversary Dinner
2015 was the 175th Anniversary of Manchester Unity IOOF in Australia, to commemorate this great milestone a dinner was held by our Order.
This was held in the Kyogle Bowling Club on the 14th of March.
Many of our members and visitors attended. The Grand Master Sis. Michelle Fowler and the Deputy Grand Master Sis. Margaret Fowler from MU Qld and their families.
Deputy Grand Master Bro. Peter Smith and his wife Sis. Norma from Grand United were there to represent their Grand Master.
A cake was baked and Sis. Juanita Henricks being the youngest member present, Sis Michelle Fowler GM Qld, Brother Peter Smith SGM Grand United and Myself all participated in the cake cutting ceremony.
I thank my family for being there with me to help celebrate this event. Everyone had a great night and most didn’t seem to want to go home.
The next day the members from Highcrows District Lodge and the Grand Master from Qld and family were invited to the home of the Grand Secretary for morning tea. The members from Highcrows discussed their plans for a venue for the AMC with the Grand Secretary and I.
Sis Michelle Fowler GM and her family stayed for lunch and a pleasant day was enjoyed.
Fundraising
This year the Grand Master’s charity is the Mater Foundation Paediatric Cardiac Research unit.
This year we ran two sausage sizzles, one at IGA Kyogle and One at Kyogle Country Store, Highcrows held a sausage Sizzle, Wollumbin District held a high tea at the home of Bro. and Sis. Van Bael.
With these and donations and raffles run over the course of the year we have raised a total of $1410.60
Fraternal Council.
It has been a mixed blessing to chair this fraternal council, we have had some heated discussions and lengthy debates and a great deal of fun and laughter as well. I am pleased to report that through all this we have achieved a good result for the members and the Order.
The Rules committee has been active and has a lot for you to go through today so please give them your full attention.
Presentations and Degrees.
This year we have been very active in this area,
Sis. Nicola Filipi received the Vice Grand’s Degree, we Initiated a new member Sis. Mel Griffin, Bro David Brain received the Past Elective Secretary’s Degree, Sis. Emily Veskova received the White Degree, Bro. Russell Acworth received the Blue Degree and over the course of two lodge meetings Bro. Garry Phelps, Sis. Annette Jones and Sis Dale Gibson received the White, Blue, Scarlet and Gold Degrees. Sis. Gibson also received the Past Officers Degree.
Sis. Barb Morris was presented with her Past Grand’s Jewel and a suit of Regalia.
Mount Lindesay District.
To the members of my District, thank you for your support and help during my term as Grand Master, without your support it would be much less enjoyable. To all those who travelled with me, thank you. Thank you for all the good times and for all the support and love this past year.
The Future.
We are now another year older and I hope, a little wiser. We continue to grow steadily and have lifted our membership to 92, 7 of those have become unfinancial and we will try and bring as many of them back as possible.
My Family.
I would like to thank my family Maureen and Graham Want and Philip Roy for the times you looked after my home and my cat, collected the mail and all those other little things you did.
The support you gave me was greatly appreciated,
many thanks, Dad.
My Partner, Annette.
Annette, thank you for taking this journey with me,
having you with me has made my time as Grand Master so much more enjoyable.
It’s the support of those close to us that makes everything we do, so much better, thank you again for being there by my side.
In Friendship, Love and Truth.
John Roy.
Grand Master.