FreemasonIssue 2 (Vol. 48), June 2020 - NEW ZEALAND - 2020 Freemasons Scholarships - Freemasons New Zealand
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Freemason
NEW ZEALAND
Issue 2 (Vol. 48), June 2020
Freemasons
virtually
everywhere
2020
Freemasons
Scholarships
www.freemasonsnz.org
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In this issue
From the Editor 2 HEALTH & WELLBEING
Hot Off the Press 3 Staying healthy as you age:
Tips from an expert 17
Grand Master’s Visits 3
Covid-19: A really frightening
From the Grand Master 4 wake-up call 18
Keep calm and carry on 19
News clips 6
Thank you Freemasons! 20
From the Executive
Director 8 FREEMASONS
Time for change at National Office SCHOLARSHIPS
The 2020 College of Scholars 21
FREEMASONS IN ACTION Post Graduate Awards 22
Women’s Refuge Van donated Freemasons University
by West Coast Freemasons 10 Scholarships 24
130 Years for The Grand Lodge of New Zealand 10 Lawson-Smith Freemasons
Facebook Live session with Grand Master and Education Trust Scholarship 28
Deputy Grand Master 11 Heartland Bank Freemasons Scholars 2020 29
Grand Master produces a series of weekly videos Masonic Knowledge 33
during Covid-19 11
Freemasons virtually everywhere 11 THE FREEMASONS CHARITY
Riding with Rosehill School 34
Shelley Newson 34
Rules of thumb to reduce
falling sum 35
Lodge birthdays being celebrated 12
Otago Masonic Charitable Trust help foodbanks
A brighter future for the
throughout the Otago region 12 marginalised 36
Lodge Whitianga helps with the shopping 13 Sixteen Lodges combine to support
housing the homeless
‘Thinking of You‘ packages from Lodge Parahaki No 269 13
Freemasons Foundation
One man and his beard – reprise 13 Report 38
Antarctic adventure – Diary of a Masonic Villages Trust 42
Covid-19 Freemason to his Lodge 14 Royal Arch 44
60 Years and a well-travelled
Freemason 46
ANZMRC update 46
Welcome to our newest Freemasons 47
The Last Word! 48
Service Awards 49
ANZAC Day 2020
A virtual commemoration 16
www.freemasonsnz.org 1
FREEMASONS NEW ZEALAND
National Office
From the Editor
Unit 2, 22 Tacy Street
Kilbirnie, Wellington 6022 The good things to come out of Covid-19
PO Box 6439, Marion Square
Besides the big effort made by all New Zealanders in stamping
Wellington 6141
New Zealand out Covid-19 here are some of the good things have come out
of our self-isolation and the subsequent move down the Levels
Ph: +64 4 385 6622
Fax +64 4 385 5749
from 4-1.
Email: membership@freemasonsnz.org Firstly, lockdown provided most of us with more time to
communications@freemasonsnz.org connect with our families, friends and those who may have
www.freemasonsnz.org needed our assistance. Because life was not getting in our way
so much we were able to concentrate on the simple pleasure of
The New Zealand Freemason is the official journal of the reconnecting even more with those nearest and dearest to us.
Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of New Zealand.
This applied also to all our Lodge members as we checked
Unless otherwise indicated, the opinions expressed and the
advertising content are those of the authors and do not that they were in good health and didn’t need any assistance.
necessarily reflect the policy of Grand Lodge. By all accounts our telephone calls, emails, virtual masonic
Articles appearing in this journal may be reproduced gatherings or socially distanced assistance was greatly appreci-
without permission provided acknowledgement of the ated. None more so than those who we do not always get to see
source is made and a copy of the publication is forwarded at our Lodge Meetings.
to the Grand Secretary (secretary@freemasonsnz.org). Virtual Masonic Gatherings by Zoom and other social
Queries or comments regarding subscription or distribution media apps have been used by many Lodges to stay connected
should be addressed to membership@freemasonsnz.org and engaged with their members and had the added benefit in
or the Executive Director, PO Box 6439, Marion Square,
allowing those member who could not physically attend, our
Wellington 6141. Queries and comments regarding content
and advertising should be addressed to the Editor. country members and our overseas members to join in and
catch up with the members of their Lodge. We all probably
Contributions to the magazine, preferably in electronic
form (e.g. MS Word documents) are greatly appreciated learnt a lot more about our own members than we manage at
and should be of interest to a wide audience. Photographs our physical meetings and refectory as many of them brought
should be high quality, preferably in jpg or tif format. us up to date themselves and their situation and their lives. It
Contributions may be edited in order to fit space available turned out to be easier than we thought.
and to achieve overall balance. Letters to the Editor It also provided the opportunity for Standing or Business
should not exceed 300 words. A guidance sheet for Committees to meet virtually in the comfort of their own
preparation of publishable material is available on request homes instead of coming in for another meeting. Decisions
from the Editor. Contributions should be forwarded to
still having to be ratified at the next Regular Meeting. A better,
communications@freemasonsnz.org
more efficient and pleasurable way of doing business.
Freemasons NZ contributions to Duane Williams, Editor It also provided opportunities for masonic education and the
communications@freemasonsnz.org expansion of our masonic knowledge thanks to our Research
Royal Arch contributions to Duane Williams, Editor Lodges and Divisional Grand Lecturers.
gsn@royalarch.org.nz Finally, it has put into our mind protocols and practices that
Magazines are distributed in March, June, September will stand us in good stead for seasonal illnesses like the flu, etc.
and December. The deadlines for contributions are the Hopefully we will always stay at home and not come to work or
first day of February, May, August and November visit if we are unwell and that we will seek early medical assis-
Layout by Bartlett Projects, Wellington tance, that we will be careful how we cough and sneeze, always
Printed by Fisher Print Ltd, Palmerston North practise good hand hygiene, think about social distancing and
Copyright © 2020 Freemasons NZ keep in mind how we can assist with contact tracing.
This issue features on Freemasons University Scholarships
including the Lawson Smith Scholarships and our Freemasons
Heartland Bank Scholarships, messages about our continuing
ADVERTISING RATES PER ISSUE journey to have good membership, good lodges and to be most
Description Height Width Base price Discounted respected fraternal organisation in the eyes of the public in
(4 Issues) New Zealand. Antarctic adventures and Covid-19, Freemasons
Full page 240mm 175mm $1250 $1000 in Action, increasing our masonic knowledge and lots of inter-
Half page 240mm 85mm $650 $500 esting, entertaining and informative articles.
(vertical)
Stay warm and safe this Winter.
VWBro Duane Williams
Half page 120mm 175mm $650 $500 MBE, JP, KLJ, GSec
(horizontal)
Banner 75mm 175mm $350 $250
Quarter page 120mm 85mm $350 $250
All figures GST exclusive. For full advertising details contact
communications@freemasonsnz.org Grand Secretary at front counter
of National Office, with Covid-19
measures.
2
Hot Off the Press
Covid-19 health and safety starter pack
In recognition of the reopening of Arrangements are in place for on-
Lodges, the Grand Master MWBro going supplies, if Lodges require, this
Graham Wrigley, through the Board of includes other emergency and first aid
General Purposes has arranged a ‘one requirements. Your Lodge Secretary has
off ’ free Covid-19 Health and Safety the details for ordering.
starter pack for your Lodge. Thank you for all your efforts during
This will assist with your Lodge risk Covid-19 over the last few months,
Mitigation Plan, for Covid-19 Health with your members, partners, fami-
and Safety, now that Lodges can re-open Cross, as part of our members benefits lies, friends and widows on behalf of
from 1 June 2020. programme. Freemasons New Zealand.
National Office has secured a bulk This has been delivered by courier to
purchase discount, on behalf of Lodges your Lodge Secretary at the beginning of
and Members from New Zealand Red June.
Covid-19 resources for lodges on website
GRAND MASTER’S VISITS
24 Jun Official Visit to Mother Lodge 9 Jul Official Visit to and Third Degree 11 Jul Stokes Valley Lodge No 460
and Installation at Lodge at The Avon Shirley Lodge No Installation, Lower Hutt
Zetland No 312, Wellington 185, Christchurch (previously 4 Aug Mana Lodge No 352
(previously postponed postponed Covid-19) Installation, Porirua
Covid-19)
www.freemasonsnz.org 3
From the Grand Master
Brethren adapt well to Covid-19 unique experience. It gave me the
virtual environment opportunity to talk directly with
We could all be forgiven for thinking Brethren and to hear from them
Freemasonry came to a halt when the on what they and their families
announcement was made that Lodges were up to during this period. I
had to close due to the government’s found this refreshing and encour-
Covid-19-related social gathering re- aging, and on all occasions, there
strictions. This was far from the truth as was nothing but positivity.
we all found different ways of working, As we now re-enter the
connecting, and simply being good Lodge room, reconnect with our
Freemasons. Brethren, and work to catch up
I have continued to reflect on ear- on those ceremonial activities
lier decisions and have become quite that we have missed, there is the
comfortable that the decision to close opportunity to continue the con-
Lodges was timely and correct. There nection with our Brethren who
was no doubt in my mind that we did are unable to attend a physical
the right thing, but what was more en- Lodge meeting, but who are able to
couraging was to see how our Brethren remain engaged through a virtual
continued to work within the principles gathering. That is not to say we will
of Freemasonry and remain connected move to the filming of our work in
to their Lodge and to their community. the Lodge room, but it does mean
I do think we have all learnt from this that outside of that room there is
experience. For many Brethren, attend- the possibility, and I encourage it,
ing meetings in a virtual capacity, by sit- for Lodges to engage in gathering
ting in front of a computer and engaging on a virtual basis to cover the so-
in Masonic activities, was perhaps some- cial and perhaps business activities
thing they had never envisaged. Clearly, of the Lodge. This is an excellent
many Brethren had not used this format way to keep everyone engaged in
for any purpose in the past. But it was Freemasonry. well able to connect and to achieve our
interesting to see how quickly Brethren goals using modern technology.
Achieving our goals using modern On a personal note, the first six
came to terms with this new means of
technology months of my tenure as Grand Master
communication. We also accepted that,
while we were unable to conduct any As Grand Master, my connection with the was not as I had planned. Not that I ha-
ceremony in this virtual environment, it Lodges was also through virtual means. ven’t been busy, but my connection with
did provide the forum for re-connection Using technology, I was able to make 11 the Lodges and the ability to implement
and social activity, and engagement with short videos to stay connected with the the direction and activities that I think
those whom we know well. Brethren, and I was encouraged to hear are important as we move ahead has
During the 10 weeks of lockdown, the positive response to my messages. been limited. Brethren will have read
I had the occasion to join several of Our Facebook Live question and answer the comments that I made in my address
these virtual gatherings and each was a session and our ANZAC Day commemo- at the Grand Installation. I was clear in
ration service also showed that we were my thoughts that we needed to work
together as a team to achieve the com-
mon goals that are essential for success.
In short, I wanted to ensure we continue
to Speak Up for Freemasonry, and that
we communicate well and talk openly
about Freemasonry. I then added Step
Up as another element of this campaign.
To Step Up means engagement and do-
ing what we say we do. Simply put, this
means being proactive. My third point
was to Show Up. By showing up I meant
we need to be visible in the community
and therefore seen and recognised for
what we do and what we can offer.
None of this can be achieved without
robust planning and the implementation
4 www.freemasonsnz.org
of those plans. To continue to do the Focusing on our people
same old thing without recognising the From my personal point of view, I want to
world has changed could well be to the focus on our people. It is the people and
detriment of some Lodges. I want to see the culture that make a Lodge. Working
growth and engagement, and I want us to together creates the opportunity to show
do this together, working as one united we are an organisation worthy of merit
fraternity of committed Freemasons. The and worth being a part of. Again, simply
future is certainly ours and the past is put, if members of the community like
our strength. and see what we do, then they are likely
Last year we finalised our strategic to be interested in joining and support-
direction, and this has been well cir- ing our fraternity.
culated to all Lodges and has been well I have no doubt the Covid-19 expe-
documented in our magazine. A range of rience has given us an opportunity to
tools has been supplied to each Lodge to rethink and to implement a kick start
assist in the preparing of a plan that suits that will ensure the next generation
your environment and your community. of Freemasons have a solid platform
The time is now right to further enhance to build upon. And we need to do this
those plans and I’ll refer you back to the I do want to get these roadshows under- together.
last magazine where we talked about our way sooner rather than later. This will be The next few meetings of your Lodge
road map to ensure that we implement an opportunity for us, and particularly will be critical for your future. Connect
the strategic plan in an effective an en- Mark, to connect with each District and and look after those who are unable to
couraging manner. with the Lodges to ascertain your needs physically attend, put in place a system
and to outline how we can work to assist that encourages members to attend and
Refreshing how we operate engage. Put the last 10 weeks behind, but
you in growing and supporting your
To do this we will continue to refresh the Lodge. Certainly, this is not intended to remember the experience gained. Look
way in which we operate. Our national be a talkfest or an opportunity to tell you at the new energy that is in front of us all
office in Wellington is starting to refocus about things that we want, but rather an and grab it with both hands. Understand
on how it supports our Lodges and our opportunity to engage and plan and for the pillars of strength we have established
Brethren. This is a critical component Mark to learn more about the issues and over many generations, and together –
of our strategic direction and national opportunities you face. It is essential for make sure that they continue for future
office understands the importance of us to put in place systems and processes generations.
working more collegially and collabora- to modernise the way we want to work My personal heroes made this clear to
tively with Lodges. Its plans to do so are but also to protect our landmarks, our me and this is now my task.
well advanced and Lodges can expect to ceremonies and their rituals that have
see changes in the way national office evolved over the last 300 years.
operates.
To support the national office imple-
ment this new direction, the Board will
be looking at significant investments
soon to ensure we have the right tools
that will enable each Lodge and each
member to reach their own potential.
Modern systems and empowerment to
the Districts, Lodges and Brethren will
be critical for the years ahead.
To achieve this, it is our intention
to commence a series of ‘roadshows’
involving recently appointed Executive
Director Mark Cassidy and I. We had
planned for this earlier in the year, but
Covid-19 put a stop to those plans. Now
www.freemasonsnz.org 5
News clips
Queen’s Birthday Honours List
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Merit (MNZM) for services to mountain-
Second, Queen of New Zealand made eering and outdoor recreation. David
the following honours to our members is a member The Ashley Lodge No 28,
and Freemasons New Zealand congratu- but resident in Dunedin and has been a
lates the recipients. Freemason since 1996.
Professor WBro John Nacey was WBro Noel Sheat was honoured with
honoured with a Companion of the New a Member of the New Zealand Order of
Zealand of Order of Merit (CNZM) for Meir (MNZM) for services to ploughing
services to health and education. John is and the community. Noel is a member of
a member of The Saint Andrews Lodge The Palmerston Lodge No 26 in Otago,
No 32 and the Research Lodge of received his 25 badge in 2007 and has
Wellington No 194 both Lodges been a Freemason since 1982.
situated in Wellington and has VWBro Dick Scadden
been a Freemason since PDistGM was honoured
1984. with a Queen’s Service 121, The Baden Powell Lodge No 381
Bro David Crerar was Medal (QSM) for services and Top of the South Research Lodge
honoured with a Member to the community. Dick is a No 470 and has been a Freemason since
of the New Zealand Order of member of Lodge Torea No 1972.
Crossword solution
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6 www.freemasonsnz.org
Where in the World?
I recently visited a very cold climate, Founded in 1946 Aspen is now
whist New Zealand basked in the midst home to many billionaires but still has a
of a heat wave. ‘homespun’ culture, retaining somewhat
During my visit to the Rocky of a throw-back culture compared to
Mountains in Colorado, USA, the daily the others in the area. This is reflected
temperatures were around –10C with with lustre in the numerous homemade
regular snow falls. On more than one memorials and tributes that dot the trees,
occasion temperatures dropped to –20C created in honour of John Denver.
whilst my hometown of Rangiora, NZ, VWBro Michael Wooding,
hovered around +30C District Grand Master – Canterbury
On the ‘blue bird’ day shown in the
Editor’s Note: Do you have an inter-
photo conditions were pristine and I
esting photo with the New Zealand
decided to take our Grand Master for
Freemason magazine from around
coffee at the Aspen Mountain Ski Resort
New Zealand or overseas send it to
in Pitkin County, Colorado, USA, just
communications@freemasonsnz.org
outside and above the city of Aspen.
Masonic Car Stickers
Masonic Car Stickers (transfers) are available from Lodge Whakatane
No 198 for $1 plus postage and handling $1.50.
Contact whakatane198@gmail.com or 07 308 7086
A great way to ‘Speak Up, Step Up, Show Up’ for Freemasonry!
The value of social media
Social media is another tool, over and If you are interested you should ‘like’ Liking, or following and sharing our
above ‘word of mouth’, in making the our posts, ‘follow’ Freemasons New posts spreads the message of your enjoy-
public more aware of Freemasonry in Zealand and ‘share’ the good stories about ment of Freemasonry and what it means
New Zealand and engendering an inter- what Freemasons and Freemasonry is to you – to your friends and a wider pub-
est in our organisation, which has played doing in New Zealand. lic audience. You are virtually spreading
an important part in the fab- the word!
ric of New Zealand society. Struggle with social
Freemasons New Zealand media? - ask a younger
has a website presence member of your Lodge
www.freemasonsnz.org and or a family member to
just, if not more impor help you and you will be
tantly, Freemasons New surprised at how easy and
Zealand can be found enjoyable it is. It is the
on Facebook, Twitter, new way of connecting
Instagram, LinkedIn, with the world.
YouTube, etc.
www.freemasonsnz.org 7
Time for change at National Office
National Office needs to embrace change and “do things differently”
to better support Lodges and better support Freemasonry, says the
Executive Director of Freemasons New Zealand, Mark Cassidy.
I n the job just on six months now, Mark
says it’s definitely time for change in
terms of National Office’s priorities.
He says these are all positives that we In terms of a
can continue to use to our advantage and ‘progress
build on to help Lodges become even Mark says National
report’,
“When the Board of General Purposes more connected and unified in their Office has been very active:
finalised the 2019-2023 strategic direc- approach to delivering on the strategy. Developing a national communica-
tion, they were very clear on Freemasons In fact, if there was any upside to tions strategy to help ‘provide posi-
New Zealand’s purpose and the role that Covid, it brought into sharp relief just tive media exposure’.
National Office would play in achieving how important and urgent this work
Developing strategies ‘for national
the goals set out in the strategy,” Mark now is.
communications’.
says. “The strategic plan’s supporting docu-
“The directive we were given was to ments state clearly: Developing a national strategy ‘for the
develop strategies and plans that will attraction and retention of members’.
achieve two inter-related objectives. ‘We will need to work as a team Those ‘mini strategies’ will also be shared
“The first is to actively assist Lodges – Brethren, Lodges, Districts, with Lodges.
to play their part in delivering on the Divisions and National Office all Then there is the new digital commu-
strategy. have a role to play to achieve the nications strategy (also required as part
“The second, related objective flows over-arching Vision’. of the strategic plan), which Brethren
neatly from that, and that is to help make will have seen very much in action
Freemasonry in New Zealand flourish, “So, for our part, we want to put our during lockdown, and which has already
so it attracts good candidates and can Brethren and our Lodges front and centre generated very positive engagement and
better showcase the valuable contribu- in our thinking. We want to partner with feedback.
tion it makes to our community.” them to shape both how our strategy is The number of views of the Grand
To achieve its objectives, National implemented and shape how we deliver Master’s weekly video and the en-
Office is ushering in something of a new the implementation initiatives. gagement in the digital ANZAC Day
era which will see it identify ways of “And by us all working together on commemoration service were excellent,
working more closely and collaboratively that we will be shaping the future of which proves Brethren are embracing
with Lodges to actively deliver on the Freemasonry.” this form of networking.
strategic vision: Mark is focused on creating an And there’s a planned investment in
environment where Grand Lodge and a new IT and website platform to drive
“To add value to society by Lodges can ‘come together’ as ‘a team of much-needed efficiencies and improve
supporting good men, their five thousand’ to work collegially in the the user experience with Freemasons
families and communities” best interests of Freemasonry. NZ’s core infrastructure. This was an
The groundwork for this new ap- issue highlighted by our members in a
Mark says the Covid-19 lockdown and proach from National Office has already survey.
the associated social distancing re- been laid through the member surveys Mark says with the new financial year
strictions helped expedite some of this that identified key issues and opportuni- looming, now is the time to start actively
change in approach. ties for Lodges. rolling out these mini strategies.
“Covid meant we had to adapt to new This feedback was hugely valuable The first step, he says, is for him to
conditions, become more innovative, in shaping our strategic direction and visit as many Lodges as possible along
embrace new ideas and adopt new ways National Office is currently using it to with the Grand Master.
of doing things, so that we can maintain inform the activities it was directed to He wants to meet Brethren, brief
the fellowship and values that are core to undertake as part of its role in executing them on the strategic implementation
Freemasonry.” the overall strategy. plan and gain a deeper
8 www.freemasonsnz.orgunderstanding of how National Office findings and feedback taken to the Board “Existing research shows the public is
can best support them in developing and of General Purposes immediately after by and large ‘aware’ of Freemasonry and
implementing their own plans. that. that it has a ‘neutral’ perception of us –
He expects the Board to then make neither positive nor negative,” he says.
“I think it’s hugely important that decisions that will further guide how “Our goal here is to lift awareness lev-
National Office connects more National Office refines its strategies and els and to shift the dial on the perception
closely and more personally with interacts with and supports Lodges. ranking – to ensure that, rather than
Lodges, and the Grand Master Mark stresses that while he wants to being a five out of 10, we are more like a
agrees. work more closely with Lodges, he ac- 7.5 out of 10.”
knowledges the important role that the Again, Mark sees Lodges as an inte-
Divisional and District Grand Masters gral part of this externally-focussed pro-
play and appreciates National Office will file-raising and he wants to work closely
work through and in tandem with them. with them to bring this initiative to life.
“We recognise their role and respon- “The better National Office works
sibilities and appreciate the importance with Lodges at a local level, the more
of working alongside them primarily to we can do as an organisation to benefit
provide the support Lodges need.” ourselves nationally.
He says the Covid-19 crisis has high-
lighted how serious the situation is for “And the more profile we
some Lodges and those issues need to be have nationally and the more
tackled quickly to help ensure Lodges’ favourably we are perceived as
ongoing sustainability. a ‘national organisation’, the
Also on the agenda is more regular more Lodges will see the benefits,
research among Brethren and agreeing both in terms of community
“We want to break down the ‘tyranny of key indicators so National Office can engagement and interest in
distance’ between National Office by en- better measure and report outcomes, membership.”
gaging directly with and listening more and so Brethren and the Board have a
closely to Brethren, better understanding better understanding of progress with So, this is the job National Office has
your needs and more actively delivering the strategic plan. been given. To better support Lodges
on what you are telling us. Mark says National Office is also to come together to better support the
“That’s an integral part of making planning more research of the public to Grand Master to achieve the goals he’s
Freemasonry stronger and more sustain- better gauge awareness of Freemasonry, laid out for our Craft in New Zealand.
able in New Zealand.” perceptions of the Craft and interest in Whatever Lodges need to do that, we
He wants this roadshow underway joining. are here to help, Mark says.
within the next two months, with
www.freemasonsnz.org 9Freemasons in action Women’s Refuge Van donated by West Coast Freemasons West Coast Freemasons have presented goodwill gesture and in appreciation of Freemasons have supported many Women’s Refuge with a new van for their Women’s Refuge. charitable organisations and other wor- use. The vehicle will be used to transport thy causes on the West Coast for over Three Greymouth and Westport women and families in times of need, and 150 years. Nationally, almost $5 million Lodges combined funds to purchase a for general use such as grocery shopping, is donated, supporting education schol- $10,000 Nissan El Grand eight- seater appointments and moving furniture and arships, cancer and medical research, coach from Greymouth Car Centre. The household goods. and many other important regional and grant was also supported by the Westland local projects. Masonic Charitable Trust. Freemasons van organiser Leon Dalziel said the vehicle will be used on the Coast to support the important work Women’s Refuge does in the community. “We heard Women’s Refuge were looking for a vehicle, and felt it was a worthy charitable cause, and a men’s organisation helping a women’s organi- sation”, Mr Dalziel said. Greymouth Car Centre Manager, Phil Campbell, also donated a tow bar as a Back, Peter Robertson (Advance Mawhera No. 61), Ray Moroney (Phoenix No. 1690), Phil Brewer (Greymouth No. 1233), Phil Campbell (Greymouth Car Centre), with Trish Smith of Women’s Refuge and Leon Dalziel of West Coast Freemasons. 130 Years for The Grand Lodge of New Zealand The Grand Lodge of Antient, Free and Pandemic’ just towards the end of World of our core values: Accepted Masons of New Zealand War 1, which killed over 20 million integrity, charity was constituted on 29th April around the world then, but we and goodwill. 1890 in Christchurch, New hope because of today’s meas- We look for- Zealand. The next day the ures will not do the same this ward too many first Grand Master Most time around. more years of being part of our commu- Worshipful Brother Henry Our Installation and nities, developing ourselves, and those Thomson of our Grand Degree Ceremonial and around us. Thank you to everyone who Lodge was installed at the other masonic activities has been a part of our organisation and first Grand Installation. will be tightly fitted into the continues to be. Our 130th Anniversary latter half of 2020 with health Some interesting information can will go down in history as the and safety restrictions on social be found in past issues of the New year of the ‘Covid-19 Pandemic’ distancing, hand hygiene, large Zealand Freemason magazine online at and one of the few years in our long gatherings and responsibility towards www.issuu.com/fmnz especially from New Zealand masonic history (which our more vulnerable members. December 2015 until March 2016. Also stretches back to 1837), where masonic In those 130 years, our princi- go to your Divisional Websites: lodge meetings were suspended for a ples and learning’s have helped www.themasons.org.nz/ndiv or period of time (late March through to thousands of New Zealand cdiv or sdiv as a lot of history is end of May 2020). Although we did meet men to become better with- contained in the back issues with ‘virtual masonic gatherings’ using in themselves. The effects of of the forerunners of the various social media apps throughout this have flowed on to their New Zealand Freemason the country. partners, families and the magazine. New Zealand faced a similar situa- New Zealand community tion about 100 years ago with the ‘Flu through the demonstration 10 www.freemasonsnz.org
Facebook Live session with Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master
Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley and They also answered questions Missed the livestream? It can be
Deputy Grand Master Jim Watt were submitted in real time by viewers of found here: https://bit.ly/gm-live
interviewed on Facebook Live by Daniel the Facebook Live interview. It is was This was arranged by National Office
Paul who put to them a series of ques- supposed to be a 30-minute session but along with the promotion of the event on
tions on a number of topical issues facing lasted nearly an hour. the website and in social media.
Freemasonry.
Grand Master produces a series of weekly videos during Covid-19
Our Grand Master Graham Wrigley Meetings and in the masonic tradition; the importance of staying in touch with
produced a series of weekly video during all our members and those who might
Lockdown and Levels 4 to 1. need assistance.
This was done from his home in the Missed any of the videos? Find them
nearly two months of self-isolation and at www.freemasonsnz.org/covid-19 –
restricted movement and activities. just tap on any of the red buttons.
Our Grand Master talked us through These were arranged by National
the issues, the need to follow govern- Office along with the promotion of
ment regulations at each level, preparing the videos on the website and in social
ourselves when we could resume Lodge media.
Freemasons virtually everywhere
During Covid-19 Freemasons embraced not regular attenders, country mem- If you have not yet embraced Zoom
apps like Zoom to have virtual masonic bers and even those member who were here is a Freemason Toolbox tool on
gatherings in lieu of our Lodge Meetings overseas. https://bit.ly/zoom-your-brethren
that had been cancelled from late March Going forward it gives us the oppor-
until 31 May 2020. tunity to do some ‘meetings’ differently
Freemasons virtual meetings brought without having to physically turn up to a
us all together including those who are Lodge Room.
www.freemasonsnz.org 11Freemasons in action
Lodge birthdays being celebrated
Freemasons New Zealand has start- was constituted, effectively the Lodges’ (history, constitution, anniversary or
ed featuring Facebook posts on our birthday. installations) and historical photos from
Lodges throughout New Zealand and We are using the resources of the your local area. Send this information to
published on the date that the Lodge Grand Lodge Library and the internet communications@freemasonsnz.org
and a couple of dedicated researchers
who are digging out interesting infor-
mation about your Lodge along with
photos, programmes, important visitors
and your Lodge history.
We are always looking for help with
interesting photos of your members, your
lodge and lodge buildings, publications
Otago Masonic Charitable Trust help foodbanks throughout the Otago region
Due to the Covid-19 situation the Otago given $50,500 in grants to foodbanks Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell and
Masonic Charitable Trust, after consid- across Otago. Cheques have been Alexandra.
eration, decided in March to cancel the mailed today to foodbanks in Oamaru, It is hoped that this will help them to
2020 Community Grants round with Dunedin, Milton, Balclutha, Lawrence, provide the necessities of life to those
regret. members of our
The Trust has each year given $5000 c o mm u n i t i e s
in total to local foodbanks in Dunedin who have been
and the wider Otago. adversely affected
We have recognised that due to the by this unprecedented
unfortunate situation around the event.
Covid-19 virus, foodbanks Those foodbanks
are finding there is an spoken to in the last few
increased call on their days are very grateful for this
services, and this will assistance, as they are expecting
possibly get worse as the demand for their services to
time goes by. increase, and potentially get worse
Therefore the for some time to come, particularly
Otago Masonic as government assistance, such as the
Charitable Trust has today wage subsidy, ends.
12 www.freemasonsnz.orgLodge Whitianga helps with the shopping
Our Lodges around NZ are consistently widows and brethren over 70. This It’s important that we all work
out in the community, demonstrating involved the reimbursement of delivery together, especially with all that is going
our fundamental principles of integrity, costs for online shopping, ensuring these on in the world at the moment.
goodwill and charity. orders arrive on time and placing orders
In March, the Whitianga Masonic for those who might struggle to do so on
Trust aided with grocery orders for their own.
‘Thinking of You’
packages from Lodge
Parahaki No 269
With great contributions from mem-
bers 28, 500 gram packs of West Coast
Whitebait are making their ways to
members, their families, neighbours, and
members of our community under a bit
of pressure at times like this.
A simple pack containing the white-
bait, a lemon and the recipe below
hopefully will bring some please and
happiness at the dinner table over the
coming weeks.
One man and his beard – reprise
Following up on the results of ‘one man are in Level 1, contact will be
and his beard’ in the March 2020 issue of made with their managers to
New Zealand Freemason magazine. determine what equipment
Colin Heyward managed to raise we purchase for them.
$7259 through donations to this impor- We have, before the
tant organisation by having his beard of shutdown, had an octagonal
47 years shaved right off. table built for the Napier
The funds will be spent to provide unit to have clients sitting at
equipment for the Napier and Hastings for board games and puzzle
units of Dementia Hawke’s Bay to assist activities. We are looking at
in their daytime care of clients that give chairs, BBQs and garden implements to
their families some respite time complete the project.
With the Covid-19 shutdown the two Colin tells us the beard is re-growing
units have been closed but now that we ready for the coming festive season!
www.freemasonsnz.org 13Antarctic adventure – Diary of a
I have just had 18 days stuck in a ships
cabin, been diagnosed as having
Covid-19 or Posso as the Australians
so we weren’t leary enough. That cruise
ship was the probable source of infec-
tion that got onto our ship. Speaking of
say and am now in another 14 days of which, here it is. The magnificent Greg
quarantine in Auckland. Mortimer, specifically built for polar
At the beginning of March, when the expeditions. Owned by Aurora our ex-
world was still operating, Linda and I, to- pedition company. There were about 120
gether with two friends headed off to the expedition passengers. Some like us were
bottom of Argentina in order to catch an to go kayaking, a few climbing and the
expedition ship to Antarctica and have rest zooming around in zodiacs
an adventure. You can see in the picture But first we had to cross the dreaded
4 healthy types with Ushuaia and the Drake passage. Two days of up and down
Beagle channel behind. Incidentally the although the ship was pretty comfortable.
land on the other side of the channel is We had no sooner spotted Antarctica on
Chile. the horizon when we were all called to a
Ushuaia is south of Magellan Straits meeting. Aurora advised that the world
and the last city before Cape Horn. was closing down rapidly and that they
Young people still drive there all the way felt the cruise needed to be shortened
down Argentina in combi vans – perhaps so that we could get home. Aurora un-
we aren’t so old. dertook to get us all home and to that
We took a trip on the train to the end end had organised a charter out of Port
of the world. Stanley, the Falklands in 8 days’ time. So,
I think this was possibly the begin- we could have 5 days adventuring then
ning of our Covid story. We caught the we would have to head back north to
train with a pile of passengers off a large take us home.
cruise ship. That ship is currently stuck What followed was 4 magnificent days
in the Caribbean, riddled with Covid. as we visited and explored different parts
Anyway on the day there was only one of the Antarctic peninsula.
case in Argentina and none in Ushuaia We got kitted out in dry suits and off
we went paddling. What a buzz. We had
to keep our distance from ice cliffs and
bergs. (A variation on social distancing!)
They were very active peeling off great
chunks all the time with waves that could
swamp us if we got too close. The photo
following shows Linda and I paddling
amongst the ice.
On the first day of paddling the con-
ditions were about as good as you could
get.
On our second day of kayaking we had
a great moment with a pod of humpback Still in Antarctica we got to see two
whales. They seemed to be as curious types of penguin. We weren’t meant to
about us as we were of them. They circled get closer than 5m to them but it was ok
us for about half an hour. I can tell you if they approached us.
that when they blow, the smell is akin to They seemed be constantly on a
that of a flatulent human mission.
In the next photo on the right you Anyway, after several great days we
can sort of see some penguins zooming headed for the Falklands. Unfortunately,
through the water. They seem to fly just this is as close as we got.
above the water. The night before arriving at Port
Some of the floes had resident seals Stanley disaster struck. One of the pas-
sunbathing. sengers came down with a fever. It looked
We paddled close to the ice berg below like the dreaded Covid had arrived. The
and shortly after it collapsed. Falklands wouldn’t have a bar of us. This
14 www.freemasonsnz.orgCovid-19 Freemason to his Lodge
was the beginning of our real troubles. the Uruguayan officials sent a team on
We went into lock down mode, stuck board and we were all tested for Covid.
in our cabins. Temperature taken every Linda and I tested positive along with
day. But it wasn’t all grim. They sent me 60% of the ship. We had had no symp-
a birthday cake to celebrate another year. toms, so this was a bit surprising but on
We sailed up the coast to Uruguay. reflection at least now we don’t have to
For 14 days we were anchored off worry about getting it.
Montevideo. The city was tantalisingly After an awful lot of discussions be-
close. tween countries Aurora agreed to hire
In that time we were stuck in our a charter flight to get the aussies and
rooms. We had an outside balcony and kiwis to Australia and Uruguay agreed
250 lengths of it meant we had walked we could disembark to catch the flight.
a kilometre. That got boring. We went Australia doesn’t have a good record of
through all the movies on our TV. Played allowing kiwis home through Australia
cards. Tried to get on the internet but so we contacted everyone we could think
mostly that didn’t work, read the kindle of to lobby. Suddenly we got an email
and, in my case was seasick for two days from a person at MFAT saying she was
in heavy weather with the ships motion in charge of getting us home and we
restricted by the anchor. were top of their priorities, and they had
All the time Aurora continued to agreement in principal with the Aussies.
promise to get us home, but the first This had us dancing on the balcony.
problem was to get us off the ship. Eight So, on 12 April we disembarked into
people were evacuated to hospital. 4 buses, two ambulances and escorted by
Watching this vessel tie up in the swell to 10 police cars and umpteen police motor
take off sick people was very entertaining bikes we were transported, sirens going
and involved lots of shouting. Eventually to our chartered flight. Along the way
many Uruguayans came out to wish us
well. They waved Uruguayan flags, we
even saw a white banner with a heart in
the centre being waved in our direction. people, moved quickly to our room and
They wished us luck, they welcomed us. checked out. All the kiwis receiving
It was very heart warming to have such us were welcoming, pleasant, smiley,
encouragement. thoughtful and sympathetic. All arrange-
Our charter flight was carefully seg- ments were smooth. We are in a spacious
mented with plastic partitions so that room and well looked after.
those without Covid sat up front, we sat All this contrasts with our poor Aussie
in the middle and the really sick at the Expedition companions who were treat-
back. We eventually arrived at Melbourne ed as pariahs, took 4 hours just to be
airport. The plane was surrounded by processed at the airport (by which time
masked and gloved people. After some we were in our hotel room) and are now
mucking around they let the kiwis off. placed in an old, dingy, dirty hotel with
We were told to follow the cones. Off we no natural light or opening windows and
went on a ramble, unescorted around small rooms. Man its great to be a kiwi!
the airport, into a building where a chap Two days ago we were tested again,
asked if we were all right and sent us out and, dammit, we are still Covid positive.
the other side. 500m of cones later we got However, we get to exercise twice a day
to our ride back to Auckland, right next and as you can see I am not sick.
to the jet we had landed on. We were Tonight we were told we can go home
ushered on, no preliminaries. Talk about after 2.30 on 26 April. Now we have a
flash. All organised just for us 13 kiwis by target.
MFAT. How good is that. Cheers to you all, healthy, I hope.
We arrived in Auckland, no formali- WBro Geoff Todd
ties, whisked off by bus to our quarantine
Editor’s note: Only New Zealand
hotel. We were met by a bunch of MOH
Freemason known to have got Covid-19.
www.freemasonsnz.org 15ANZAC DAY 2020
A virtual Commemoration
Freemasons New Zealand were pleased to support New Zealand’s national
day of remembrance – ANZAC Day and also RSA National as part of our
Memorandum of Understanding with them. Lodges have had a presence
at many public ceremonies over the years and in some cases conduct
their own at special lodge meetings commemorating ANZAC.
Freemasons Virtual Freemasons ANZAC Day ANZAC Poppy sent with
ANZAC Day Poppy Appeal New Zealand Freemason
Commemoration With individual and lodge magazine
donations and a substan-
Freemasons New Zealand Freemasons New Zealand wanted all
tial donation from The
arranged a short virtual readers of the New Zealand Freemason
Freemasons Charity we will
ANZAC Day Commemoration magazine to receive an ANZAC Poppy to
be giving the RSA National
on Saturday 25th April 2020 at help commemorate ANZAC Day and so
$12,112.57 to their very impor-
10am via Zoom and Facebook one was enclosed with the March 2020
tant RSA Welfare Fund, assisting
Live (see https://bit.ly/anzac-com- magazine. A donation for the cost of the
with the income they missed out on, be-
memoration). This was because Poppies was made to RSA National.
cause of the cancellation of their Poppy
Covid-19 prevented everyone from It turned out to be doubly fortuitous
Day Appeal due to Covid-19.
attending ANZAC Day Ceremonies. Its (and perhaps with some premonition)
lasted just over 15 with ANZAC Day
minutes and was itself having to be
watched live and commemorated in
as a video after- a more individual
wards by many and self-isolated
Freemasons and way by all New
New Zealanders. Zealanders.
Others assembled We hope you
at their gates for were able put your
a virtual Dawn ANZAC Day poppy
Service and radio to good use.
broadcast.
16 www.freemasonsnz.orgHEALTH & WELLBEING
Staying healthy as you age
TIPS FROM AN EXPERT
Many of us tend to become more vulnerable as we
age – it’s one of those unavoidable side-effects of
getting older! But there are lots of things we can
do to stay healthy as possible. In this article, the
Medical Director of the Royal New Zealand College
of General Practitioners, Dr Bryan Betty, gives us some good advice.
Y our general health is always impor-
tant, but especially so in times like
this. It’s important that you maintain
the flu jab is just one way you can help
ensure your immune system is as strong
as it can be, and up to the task of fending
good dose of vitamin D does wonders
for muscle strength, mood, and overall
health.
your health throughout the year, to en- off cold and flu. You should also be get- Exercising daily is a great way to
sure your immune system is strong and ting your shingles vaccine if you’re over improve your cardiovascular health,
you’re able to recover quickly from any 65, so please consider this too. cholesterol, blood pressure and sleep
winter illnesses. If you do have a medical quality, and it can also help with arthri-
concern, don’t hesitate to call your GP tis. Practising Tai-chi has been shown to
and arrange an appointment. GPs are be particularly beneficial for balance and
“open for business”, and while they may muscle tone.
be operating according to the necessary In terms of diet, having three balanced
social distancing protocols, they’re here meals a day is a tried and true way to
to help. Don’t delay getting the care you ensure you are getting enough nourish-
need, no matter how small the issue may ment from your foods. Think high fibre
seem. fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and
Seeing your GP for regular check-ups foods which are calcium rich – calcium
is especially important if you have any will help improve your bone strength,
ongoing health issues – skin conditions, and high-fibre foods can help with bowel
heart conditions, and everything in Building and maintaining health in health. Small portions of lean meat such
between. Again, your GP is just a phone your daily life comes down to physical as poultry and seafood will give you a
call away. activity, diet, and social connection. healthy dose of iron, protein and other
If you’re over 65 years of age, you’re Keep active during the week (at least 30 nutrients. Keeping up your fluids is ex-
eligible for your yearly flu vaccinations, minutes activity per day) and get out and tremely important, and this should be a
so please make sure you arrange an ap- about for a walk when you can. Soak up routine part of your day.
pointment with your GP for this. Getting the sunshine where you can get it, too – a It goes without saying that you should
avoid activities such as smoking, which
is harmful to your lungs, heart and blood
circulation. Similarly, you’ll want to keep
your sugary foods to a minimum, and
drink alcohol in moderation.
Finally, maintaining social con-
nections is important for your mental
health. Whether that’s with family,
friends, neighbours or your local volun-
teer group, stay in touch with others –
whether that’s in person, over the phone
or via video call. Maintaining social con-
nections improves overall mental health,
and it’s a great way to boost your mood.
Dr Bryan Betty
MBChB, FRNZCGP, FACRRM
Medical Director
The Royal New Zealand College of
General Practitioners
www.freemasonsnz.org 17HEALTH & WELLBEING
COVID-19
A really frightening wake-up call
I t’s called Coronavirus because the
proteins on the virus’ outer ‘coat’ are
shaped like a crown – hence the term
She also warns against the dangers
of the anti-vaccination brigade. “Isn’t it
ironic that we are living through a global
resistance that actually increase the like-
lihood of future pandemics.
“What I’d hope we can learn from
‘corona’. catastrophe for want of one vaccine. Covid-19 is that we need to mitigate both
So says well known microbiologist “This situation should send a very the short and the long-time scale issues.
and author, Associate Professor Siouxsie strong message that – holy crap – infec- “We know these things are coming,
Wiles MNZM, who adds that there are lots tious diseases are really, really important but are we doing enough to prepare? I’m
of different members of the coronavirus and really, really dangerous!” not confident we are.”
family. Some can cause the common cold Siouxsie says once we get through the Siouxsie talks about the opportunity
and others were responsible for the SARS Covid-19 crisis, we need to ensure we Covid-19 has given us to ‘reset’.
and MERS outbreaks. learn from it. She says part of the necessary prepara-
Siouxsie says scientists around the She says it’s almost certain the world tion that will help mitigate the effects of
world have for some time been warning will see another pandemic of some kind. future pandemics is the need to change
about this kind of pandemic, but coun- She agrees there are ‘flashing lights’ our values as a society. Stop doing the
tries have become complacent. that should be alerting us as a global pop- things that made this happen and learn
“We live in this golden age of antibi- ulation to a whole bunch of dangerous how to be more resilient.
otics. We’re living longer, we’re mostly issues that have planetary implications She says this might include changing
healthier and we’re largely infection-free. – some people are ignoring them, others the things we value. “Let’s look at our
“The focus for many countries, in- are trying desperately to get action hap- essential workers, especially supermar-
cluding New Zealand, is that infectious pening, but that action is too slow. ket workers, many of whom are paid the
diseases are not our priority anymore. “We can’t prevent the next pandemic, minimum wage.
We focus more on things like heart dis- but we can mitigate its impacts. We need “They are the people who will pull us
ease or diabetes. to invest in the capacity to identify issues through this, but society doesn’t value
“Then along comes Covid-19 and it’s quickly and invest in our capacity to them, or at least we haven’t until now.”
a really, really frightening wake-up call.” respond quickly otherwise future gener- The good news is she says NZ will
She says this pandemic and its global ations will be in an even worse situation.” come out of this Covid-19 situation
impacts should send a very powerful To illustrate her point, she describes relatively unscathed compared to other
message to politicians everywhere that Covid-19 is a catastrophe on a short countries and lots of other peoples.
they need to respect and listen to the time scale, and says we also have cat- But let’s use the new normal that will
scientists who are employed and paid to astrophic events that are happening follow this pandemic to get properly
study these kinds of things. on a really long-time scale. Events like prepared for the next one.
Because, she warns, the Covid-19 climate change and issues like antibiotic Assoc. Professor Siouxsie Wiles MNZM
pandemic won’t be the last time the
world has to deal with a such a major
public health scare and we need to learn
some crucial lessons. She says we need to
be prepared.
But she’s not overly hopeful. Siouxsie
says the World Health Organization is
incredibly important in the fight against
global pandemics but is woefully under-
funded and under-resourced.
“If we spent half as much on science
as we do on footballers …,” she laments.
18 www.freemasonsnz.orgHEALTH & WELLBEING
Keep calm and carry on
W hen the going gets tough, like it
is with Covid-19, the tough get
going, and one senior mental health
don’t realise it, how to cope
reasonably well with most
things life throws at us.
what’s happening in a general
sense, but if you immerse
yourself in all the bad stuff,
counsellor says most of us are tougher “In situations like the cur- you start thinking bad stuff.
than we give ourselves initial credit for. rent one, when people have And, lastly – and again,
She’s not advocating a harden-up pill, had their lives turned upside Robyn knows it’s hard to
but she does advise getting in touch with down and are stressed and do – remember all the times
your natural resilience. upset, we really have to look you had good things happen
Robyn McGill is a counsellor regis- inside ourselves for some of or did good things for others.
tered with, and former president of, the the solutions,” she says. “Lots of us struggle to find the good in
NZ Association of Counsellors (NZAC). “It’s natural to become emotional, our lives, especially when we are in the
She understands the tourism and pub- even to catastrophise, especially if your middle of something bad, but it is there,
lic transport industries are very hard-hit livelihood is in jeopardy, but giving in to often in larger quantities than we realise
by this pandemic and jobs – and even those feelings and responses isn’t helpful. until we really stop and think about it.
large transport businesses – are on the That just adds to the stress. “And taking the time to really think
line. “It may take a bit of effort – in fact a about your life, the good things in it,
Bus drivers and bus companies are lot of effort sometimes – but it’s far better the good people in it, really does help to
all doing it very tough and the stress – if a bit harder – to trust in the fact that, mitigate stress and emotional upset.
this causes is massive. And it’s not just in all likelihood, you’ve been there and “And don’t forget the old saying that
limited to individuals; the stress also af- done that before, or something vaguely a problem shared is often a problem
fects families, especially when everyone similar, especially if you have plenty of halved. It’s a rare person who doesn’t
is supposed to be in a bubble with no life experience. have someone they can talk to, who can
chance of escape. “Think your way through. Find a buoy them up and who can help them
But Robyn says all of us have experi- way of taking some control over what’s see a way through.”
enced tough times in the past – maybe happening in your life – a feeling of no Robyn says the government’s Getting
not quite as tough as now – and it pays control can be very upsetting.” through together campaign, which shares
to remember that most of us have got Robyn says she relies heavily on rou- ways to help Kiwis cope with the stress of
through them. tines to get her through. “I know what COVID-19 is a step in the right direction.
Maybe it wasn’t easy and maybe it works for me when I get stressed so I But so is looking in the mirror, taking a
seemed impossible at the time, but we make a determined effort to stick to my deep breath and carrying on. Remember,
did emerge on the other side, she says. ‘rules’ that help keep me mentally and you are tougher than you think.
“We have support structures, even if physically healthy.” Robyn McGill is a counsellor registered
we don’t consciously appreciate them, Added to that, she avoids too much with, and former president of, the
and we know from experience, even if we Covid-19 news, saying it’s good to know NZ Association of Counsellors (NZAC)
www.freemasonsnz.org 19You can also read
