News & Events
On 1 November, Hand Heart Pocket, the charity of Freemasons Queensland, launched its 2016 Christmas Appeal to lay the foundation for a brighter future for North Queensland’s most disadvantaged primary school students.
The 2016 Christmas Appeal will benefit the Joyful Foundation Inc., a Masonic initiative which supports North Queensland’s most disadvantaged primary school students to reach their full potential by providing access to basic essentials like stationery packs, uniforms and costs for extra-curricular activities and excursions which they would normally go without.
Read more on the Hand Heart Pocket website.
Freemasonry incorporates many symbols. The Bennu (“ben-oo”) bird is the mythological phoenix of Egypt, an ancient deity linked to the sun, creation and rebirth. Thus, it represents renewal, creation and life. The Bennu is emblematic of the strategy behind Bennu Lodge No 538 in creating vibrant and viable Queensland lodges via transformation and renewal.
The idea for Bennu Lodge was formed out of a commitment to look for ways to create viable lodges and possibilities for the future. The process for forming the Lodge was designed to reduce the discomfort and resistance that often accompanies change. Under the Bennu model, Sunnybank Lodge No 264 and William McLeod Lodge No 241 formed an alliance to create a new entity.
Bennu Lodge No 528 is Queensland’s newest lodge. The Lodge was consecrated on Saturday 29 October 2016 at the Stones Corner Masonic Centre. It was open to the public and was the first consecration The United Grand Lodge of Queensland has held in fifteen years.
Read more about Bennu in our upcoming December magazine.
A personal invitation from MW Bro Allan Sangwell, MWGM, Grand Lodge of Tasmania:
I extend a cordial invitation to Freemasons of other jurisdictions together with their partners to join with Freemasons of Tasmania and their partners for the installation of RW Bro John William Slore as the 38th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania.
The installation and associated social functions will be held in Hobart from Thursday, 23rd February through to Sunday, 26th February, 2017.
The programme of events will commence with a Civic Reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Ald Sue Hickey, at Hobart’s historic 150 year old Town Hall. The official events will conclude with a church service at St David’s Cathedral followed by a farewell luncheon.
Tasmania’s temperate climate makes February and March an ideal time to tour our scenic island. Experience its clean air, diverse landscapes, historic towns, and enjoy its fine food and wine.
Together with my wife, Pam, RW Bro Slore, and his partner Dot, I trust you will accept this invitation to join with us for this significant Masonic occasion in Hobart next February.
Allan Sangwell
Grand Master
On 17 August 2016, Queensland Freemason VW Bro Peter Horn was awarded one of the nation’s highest honours for heroic conduct in the face of peril.
A Group Bravery Citation was awarded to Senior Constable Peter Horn and other members of Queensland Police who assisted in the apprehension of a man armed with two knives at Dalby, Queensland on 29 November 1997.
Congratulations Peter.
Find out more on the Queensland Government House website.
Following the tradition of the UGLQ ladies group, Mrs Robyn Townson has chosen the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Foundation (LCCHF) as a most worthy Queensland charity to raise funds.
Queensland children of all ages, both in the cities and rural areas, are cared for and nurtured back to health by wonderful team of doctors and nurses, carers, parents and volunteers working for the LCCHF.
Through selling sno cones at the EKKA festival in Brisbane, Freemasons Queensland managed to raise $2000 for LCCHF. Bro Michael Rooney, a representative for the numerous Freemasons Queensland volunteers, presented a cheque for the funds raised at the September Quarterly Communications event.
Read more about Robyn’s charity choice in the September edition of the Queensland Freemason magazine.
Any lodge interested in raising funds for LCCHF would be most welcome.
Construction of the townhouse development at Skew Street, Sherwood has been completed.
RW Bro Duncan Walker, RW Bro David Carter and Mr Mark Jackson enjoyed their visit to the townhouse this week.
“Hopefully this will be the first of more income generating opportunities to come.” – RW Bro Duncan Walker, President General Board of Directors.
For more information or to submit an expression of interest, please contact Peta at Trendall’s Real Estate, Tarragindi, (07) 3848 0202
On Saturday 22 October 2016, United Tradesmen’s Lodge will host their unique annual “dine in the dark” event in Ipswich.
Guests are invited to enjoy a meal … blindfolded!
“Some guests, who are really committed, blindfold themselves for the duration of the event. Other guests choose to be blindfolded just during their meal. Either way, it is a unique experience,” says Wor Bro Ian Brown, secretary for United Tradesmen’s Lodge No 12.
Tickets are available for $35 each and include a two-course dinner and entertainment. All proceeds go towards Guide Dogs Queensland.
For bookings and more information, contact:
Ian Brown 0431 034 852
Steve Palmer 0414 078 909
Have you heard about our new Member Advantage program?
If you’re a member of Freemasons Queensland, you’ll now have access to a range of valuable discounts and benefits through the Member Advantage website.
Use your Member ID number to log in and access your Digital Benefits Card. If you don’t know your Member ID number, email us at membership@uglq.org.au.
For any other enquiries, contact Member Advantage on 1300 853 352 or info@memberadvantage.com.au.
For the second year in a row, Freemasons Queensland was present at Brisbane’s Royal Queensland show, the EKKA festival.
Our Mobile Display Unit, equipped with a modern flat-screen, lots of brochures brochures and beaut new a sno cone machine, was located in the Emporium from 5 to 14 August.
Membership Manager, Malcolm Campbell, along with other volunteers sold hundreds of sno cones to raise funds for Mrs Robyn Townson’s charity of choice, the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Foundation (LCCHF).
The EKKA was a unique opportunity to increase the visibility of Freemasonry in the public sphere, reconnect with past members, and meet others interested in joining.
Our Mobile Display Unit is available to all UGLQ lodges. For bookings, contact Malcolm Campbell at mcampbell@uglq.org.au or (07) 3229 3533.
Congratulations to Wor Bro Peter Fleming who was recently awarded the Australian Police medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honour List.
Superintendent Peter Fleming was recognised for his operational experience in the leadership and management of staff. He has served in a range of areas including intelligence, counter terrorism, major events, traffic operations, specialist crime commands, ethical standards and official corruption investigations. His roles include key management and investigative appointments and most recently as the Commissioner’s Chief of Staff.
Our annual Anzac Day ceremony was held on Monday 25 April at the Masonic Memorial Centre.
The Grand Hall was near capacity for this special occasion in the presence of both the MW Bro Dr Gary Bacon and H.E. the Governor of Queensland, Paul de Jersey AC.
Lest we forget.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system that affects the brain, spinal cord or optic nerve. It is the most common chronic neurological condition affecting young adults in Australia.
MS Queensland is a non-profit organisation that provides MS information, education, treatment, care and support across Queensland.
On Sunday 19 April last year, Dunellan Lodge No 480 held a fundraising event at the Sandy Gallop Golf Course. With the help of the community and the Ipswich City Council, the members raised $650 for MS Queensland. The Board of Benevolence generously matched dollar for dollar taking the total to an amazing $1 300!
As the Queensland heat affects people living with MS, particularly with fatigue, Dunnellan lodge chose to donate their money towards cooling vests. MS Queensland was able to purchase a total of nine vests to aid people living with MS. In February this year a special function was held to present the vests to MS Queensland.
Each year several tertiary students with Masonic family members are awarded a bursary to support them in their academic endeavours.
Congratulations to our 2016 bursary recipients. The above photo shows those students who were able to attend the presentation night on Thursday 10 March in the Grand Hall.
The Master of Victoria Lodge Wor Bro Rod Single served 20 years in the Australian Army as an engineer, so becoming involved with the RSL backed charity Mates4Mates is no surprise.
The charity was introduced to support soldiers who have suffered wounds and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after service in Afghanistan. Many soldiers saw three and four tours in the country.
Part of the fund raising, which includes a sailing program on an ocean racing yacht, is a series of long distance treks over a weekend by teams of four trekkers in relays through the ranges to the west of Brisbane.
Challenges are held in March, May, August and October. So far the challenge has raised some $27,000 for M4M. The October trek, in which Rod took part in with 118 others, raised $5,915 for the charity.
Rod joined three other friends for the trek. His leg of 38km started at 9.30pm on the Saturday night and didn’t finish until 8.15am the next morning.
“It was tough, not one for the faint hearted or unfit,” Rod admitted.
During the trek the teams carried a brick on which was engraved the name of a fallen WWI Queensland soldier. Rod’s team carried a brick with the name of 6511 Pte Joseph Raine MM who was killed in action at Passhendaele 4 Nov 1917. Following the Grand Master’s initiative of publishing the names of 113 fallen soldiers, who were members of Queensland Lodges, in the June edition of The Queensland Freemason, Rod is now challenging brethren from other lodges from which their brethren did not return from WWI to take part in the treks.
There will be four more walks every year until the end of 2018. Then on 11 November 2018 it is proposed to unveil a memorial at the Gap, built from the bricks carried in the treks. Each brick will carry the name of a Queenslander killed in action in WWI. The 100km trek starts at the Gap, off Waterworks road at Enoggera Reservoir, up through the D’Aguilar National Park to a check point at Mt Nebo State School.
The trek continues and extends into the early evening upwards to White Cedar. The next section is from White Cedar to Mt Mee. This is the hardest and longest part of approximately 36km and was the leg Rod challenged and completed. From Mt Mee the final leg is to the finish at Neurum Creek Bush Retreat; from there a bus collects the trekkers and takes them to the Woodford RSL.
The event is not a race. It is a physically testing, but empowering journey that commemorates Australia’s fallen soldiers of WWI and supports our ‘Mates’ in need.
Rod Single started his army career as an apprentice at Balcombe in Victoria. He retired 20 years later as a Staff Sergeant in the works office of 21 Construction Squadron.
Every Wednesday afternoon, rain, hail, or shine, Bro Mark McDonnell is at West End providing food to the less fortunate.
His charity initiative, Community Friends organises donations from local suppliers so that people in need know they always have a dependable place to get a meal every week.
This includes people living rough, in their cars or in temporary shelters, as well as homeless people with nowhere to live.
On visiting Mark last month there were individuals from all walks of life in attendance and sadly, even children.
Last week Freemasons Queensland donated over a dozen large boxes of cutlery, cups and plates for Mark to distribute. These basic items were readily accepted by the local homeless refuge in Brisbane.
Mark was initiated into Prince Albert Lodge 248 in August this year. He is looking forward to his Masonic journey and building new friendships.
Read more about Mark, his masonic journey and his charity work in the December issue of the Queensland Freemason magazine.
To get in touch or to support Mark visit his Facebook page:
Community Friends
On 23 January the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Scotland, Province of South Queensland installed a new Deputy for the Province for the first time in 10 years.
V. Illustrious Brother Allan Verran 33° installed V. Illustrious Brother Keith McElligott 33° as his successor.
The ceremony was attended by members of both the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Scotland and for Australia. Also in attendance were representatives from the Scottish Orders in Queensland, the Royal Order of Scotland, the District Grand Priory of Queensland and members of other Orders.
Late week the slab was finally poured for the housing development at Skew Street, Sherwood.
Formerly the site of a Masonic Centre, Freemasons Queensland are building six three bedroomed and two four bedroomed townhouses on this site and kind weather meant that the slab was laid without any major hurdles with work now commencing on the above ground fabrication.
Work is on schedule and is due for completion in the third quarter of 2016.
On behalf of the Queensland fraternity we warmly congratulate Bro Darrell Thompson who recently received a 2015 QAS Commissioner’s Achievement Award for his selfless actions at the scene of the Ravenshoe café explosion.
His professionalism and commitment to duty is without equal and we are proud to have him as a Queensland Freemason.
Join Argyle Lodge for a day of fun at Laidley Bowls Club this weekend on Sunday 26 February.
The event begins at 10am for a 10.30am bowls start and will have a sausage sizzle and great prizes to be won in a multi-draw raffle. All funds raised will contribute to Blue Care, supporting aged care.
Teams of four players can register for $15 which includes a meal, and single players are also welcome.
To register your interest, contact membership@uglq.org.au ATTN Peter Hooper.
A personal invitation from MW Bro Allan Sangwell, MWGM, Grand Lodge of Tasmania:
I extend a cordial invitation to Freemasons of other jurisdictions together with their partners to join with Freemasons of Tasmania and their partners for the installation of RW Bro John William Slore as the 38th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania.
The installation and associated social functions will be held in Hobart from Thursday, 23rd February through to Sunday, 26th February, 2017.
The programme of events will commence with a Civic Reception hosted by the Lord Mayor of Hobart, Ald Sue Hickey, at Hobart’s historic 150 year old Town Hall. The official events will conclude with a church service at St David’s Cathedral followed by a farewell luncheon.
Tasmania’s temperate climate makes February and March an ideal time to tour our scenic island. Experience its clean air, diverse landscapes, historic towns, and enjoy its fine food and wine.
Together with my wife, Pam, RW Bro Slore, and his partner Dot, I trust you will accept this invitation to join with us for this significant Masonic occasion in Hobart next February.
Allan Sangwell
Grand Master
On Saturday 22 October 2016, United Tradesmen’s Lodge will host their unique annual “dine in the dark” event in Ipswich.
Guests are invited to enjoy a meal … blindfolded!
“Some guests, who are really committed, blindfold themselves for the duration of the event. Other guests choose to be blindfolded just during their meal. Either way, it is a unique experience,” says Wor Bro Ian Brown, secretary for United Tradesmen’s Lodge No 12.
Tickets are available for $35 each and include a two-course dinner and entertainment. All proceeds go towards Guide Dogs Queensland.
For bookings and more information, contact:
Ian Brown 0431 034 852
Steve Palmer 0414 078 909
Murilla Lodge No 265 will be hosting the annual MAN-UP! Prostate Cancer Awareness Night on Tuesday 26 July at 6.00pm at the Miles Golf Club.
There will be drinks and fellowship followed by a free BBQ. The MAN-UP! team will speak about how prostate cancer is one of the main killers of men but is not difficult to detect or to fix if caught in it’s early stages. The night will be one of good cheer with raffles and the opportunity for brethren, friends and ladies to catch up and enjoy a social night.
You are invited to the Masonic Family Expo, a free event that offers the chance to see all the different Orders associated with Freemasonry besides the three degrees in a Craft lodge.
The event will be held at our Masonic Memorial Centre at 311 Ann St, Brisbane, and the event is open to the public.
We extend to all a cordial invitation to attend the Grand Installation and associated functions in Brisbane from Friday 1 July to Sunday 3 July 2016.
Traditionally the venue of focus is the Grand Hall of the Ann St Memorial Centre and this ornate and cloistered space creates the appropriate ambience for our core event. Accommodation and most social gatherings are all central to the CBD.
Our Grand Master Elect is Right Worshipful Brother Alan Maurice Townson, Deputy Grand Master for the previous three years and who has the added experience of previously serving the Fraternity as an Assistant Grand Master and as President of the Board of Benevolence. Alan is a most experienced Mason.
This is another splendid opportunity to meet your fellow masons and extended family. For those who have added time available why not consider a longer stay with multiple scenic attractions within easy travel distance of the capital.
All our visitors can be assured of a hearty and warm Fraternal welcome from the local Brethren.
