IN PREPARATION FOR OUR 150TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2017, WE ANNOUNCED AN INVITATION IN THE LINK AUTUMN EDITION CALLING FOR STORIES COMMEMORATING ROYAL FREEMASONS ‘INNOVATING TRADITION” DURING OUR FORMATIVE YEARS.
The following story was submitted by well-known Freemason, Jim Mitchell, who reminded us of the enormous achievements and dedication of the Masonic Order in Swan Hill in the decade from 1977. Masonic Court, later renamed Murray Gardens Court, remains a thriving 16-unit retirement village which has served Swan Hill since 1987.
It was first mooted some 10 years earlier when an emerging need was identified and members from the Murray Lodge and others formed an Action Committee to make it happen.
They were true to their name, ‘Action’, as over the decade from 1977 the Committee was relentless in working for this and other positive outcomes for Swan Hill. Besides professionally engaging with builders, local council and community in making ‘Masonic Court’ a reality – and creating a very valuable asset – they conducted Masonic open nights, one attended by 285 people, and they fundraised, contributing significantly to local and Masonic charities.
‘Pleasant Sunday Afternoons’ for the elderly and countless seminars, schools presentations and projects involving Freemasonry contributed to Swan Hill’s development.
By 1989 the village complex housed 22 elderly people, Masons and non-Masons on the 2¼ acre site valued, at the time, at nearly $1 million. Such was the pride in Masonry’s success in the region, that in 1988 a Lodge room was constructed and furnished as a pioneer town Masonic Temple at the important Pioneer Settlement tourist attraction. Masonic memorabilia was located to display Masonry as a facet of Swan Hill’s history.
The project was sponsored and paid for by the United Grand Lodge of Victoria to mark the centenary of that Grand Lodge and it became one of many historical museums in the State to create displays of Freemasonry to broaden understanding of our role over the years. Thank you Jim for a fabulous story and a reminder of the true meaning of Freemasonry!
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