Manchester Unity

 

Bro Paul Kitchin

GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS 2016

 Worthy Deputy Grand Master, Members of the Fraternal Council, Distinguished Guests, Brothers and Sisters, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for your support over this last year.

It has been a year of great learning for me but also one of warmth and friendship that has proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Manchester Unity is still as vibrant and relevant as it was when it was first conceived.

Our membership may be smaller in number than some other Orders but our members are no less dedicated.

I welcome you to this, the fifth Annual Moveable Conference of the Northern Rivers incorporated Order of Manchester Unity.

And I thank you for your attendance.

Remembrance

It was a bittersweet duty for me earlier this year when I was asked to deliver our Funeral Address for Sister Eileen McEachran.

Eileen was known to many of our members and loved by all that knew her.

I shared this service with Manchester Unity NSW and with the Order of the Eastern Star.

It was a very moving and poignant service for all three orders and one I will remember for a long time to come.

So please stand, place your right hand over your heart and join me in a minute of silent reflection for Sister McEachran and her family and for all those who have lost loved ones.

Official Visits

A year just didn’t seem long enough to get to visit all our members and their Lodges and Functions. Everybody seemed to have so much fun planned this year.

From A car rally, sorry, an observation car trial that finished with a great afternoon of food, gumboot tossing and watching Bro. Van Bael falling in the creek. To an Afternoon tea fit for a royal visit and cooking sausages in a storm.

I have had the company of the Deputy Grand Master and the Immediate Past Grand Master on some of these visits and the Grand Secretary with me on others. Each Lodge is different and unique yet all strive to live up to and maintain the ideals of Manchester Unity.

It has taken almost a year to get the Wollumbin District Lodge set and functioning and is now ready and raring to go.

It took some doing, but the Members of Wollumbin District have done a sterling job and by taking a little longer to get it right, have got it right and it will flow smoothly from here on out. It has been my pleasure to install the district officers for both the Wollumbin District and the Highcrows District and congratulations to each and everyone of those officers for stepping up and taking the lead for their Districts.

A special thank you to those who have taken office for the very first time.

In my own District I installed two new Officers at District and Lodge level as well, so it shows that we are still going forward.

I was honored to attend all the District Meetings and I was impressed at how well run and enjoyable each one was.

Our Anzac Service and Lodge of Remembrance was again well attended and the Address by the RSL Sub Branch President, was both moving and informative.

The need for a review of out Ritual books became evident at our Purple Degree Meeting as there were some anomalies that made for a little confusion in parts. But this did not phase the District Grand Master who took it all in his stride and created a Purple Degree that was both Serious and warm hearted. Thank you Bro Ross.

The Anzac Service in Qld. was very special and was well attended by both QLD and Northern Rivers Members.

I Attended the Manchester Unity of Victoria AMC, and was very warmly welcomed by the Grand Master Sis. Hill and then met the Victorian heir apparent, the deputy Grand Master Bro. Davis, I was chaperoned by. Bro. and Sis. Hann and Bro. Bennett. It was great to be treated like a member of their family again, as always. Brother Davis is now settling in to his term as Grand Master and I know he has the support of all of his members.

Qld’s AMGC has Played out and we can now congratulate Bro Ashley Newton on his elevation to Grand Master of MU in QLD. I don’t think we could wipe the smiles off Ashley and Emily’s faces for a long time to come

Bro Charles Lee is now the Deputy Grand Master and will be a great asset to the Order, congratulations Charles, you know you have our support.

Fraternal Weekend

Our Fraternal Weekend this year was held in Ballina and in spite of the rain the weekend was a Hoot, everyone enjoyed themselves and the Golf Tournament had all of us in stitches. It was agreed unanimously, that because everyone had such a great time last year in Stanthorpe that we would return next year.

 

Fundraising

My chosen charity this year was Cancer Council NSW. Thank you to all members who helped put this together and helped raise the $1,256.40 that is being donated on our behalf, again, thank you to everyone who contributed to our fundraising efforts.

New and innovative fundraising ideas are getting harder to come up with each year and I ask all members to have a good long think of new and fun ways to raise funds for all our chosen charities.

Presentations and Degrees

As I mentioned earlier, we held a Purple Degree Meeting that was a little different. Thank you to all who attended and took a role in the proceedings. Congratulations to Sister Dale Gibson for taking her Purple Degree and again thank you to Brother Robert for getting us through without a lot of fuss.

It was a great afternoon and I hope Sister Gibson enjoys her new role as Deputy District Grand Master as well.

We have new Members joining our Lodges and I look forward to encouraging them to become Initiated.

Mount Lindesay District

I sincerely thank all the members of my District for having the faith in me to take on the Grand Mastership, I will thank each and every one of you personally over the course of the next few weeks.

We have a great District with a big heart and an even bigger capacity for supporting one another as I have ever felt. Thank you all, and a thank you to all the Members of our Order for your support as well.

The Future

Our Future is looking solid and we are growing steadily not only in membership numbers but in many other ways. There have been times that many of us have asked ourselves why we keep doing this.

I’ll tell you why, its because we are actually becoming more relevant as an Organisation again.

Look around you at what is happening in the world, and I’m not just talking about natural disasters. There are now so many displaced peoples looking for a new start and a place to call home.

We are the “Lucky Country” and we can well afford to share our good fortune with those that genuinely come to us and to our Country for help and support. If we open our hearts to them who knows, they may just become oddfellows and become part of our future.

My Family

How do you thank those you love without sounding like a hollywood movie script?

My family here in Kyogle and my Parents and Siblings all have encouraged me and given me the strength to stand up and do this. Without you all I wouldn’t have had half the fun I have had.

My extended Oddfellows family, and I say that because not all of them are only Manchester Unity. Thank you for laughing with me when I tried to tell a silly joke, thank you for keeping watch over me to make sure I did things correctly and for believing in me.

Brother Keevers, Lord Philip and simply, my Rock.

Without you I would never have said yes to this in the first place. I know life with me hasn’t been easy at times this past year but you were always there, quietly in the background doing what you do best. Encouraging me when I needed it and kicking my butt when I needed it too.

Thank you so very much, my heart swells with Pride and love when we accomplish things together and I know that we will keep on accomplishing great things together.

This Organisation of like minded people, sometimes funny, sometimes serious but always determined to make a difference, is so many things to so many people. If someone was to ask me what makes Manchester Unity what it is, it would be easy to say it’s about what we do. But that would only be half right, look around you.

It’s you, you are Manchester Unity , you are Oddfellows and that is what makes us who we are and what we do.

Thank you for a great journey and thank you all for your Friendships, your truths and your love.

Paul Kitchin

Grand Master.