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What’s Inside:

• Wellington Update • 150th Celebration • Upcoming Events • Wanganui District Conference • Special Conference 2010

Grand Master’s Message

Greetings to you all majority to go ahead with the consolidation. Well winter is now truly with us and I really do hope Lodges around the country are being asked to that you are all keeping warm and snug. consider consolidation and several have moved At this time of year I know that many of our to consolidate, while several more are discuss- members find it difficult to get out. I would hope that ing the proposal. When your lodge decides to members who are mobile during these winter days discuss the proposal, I hope you give it careful will keep our housebound members in mind and consideration. check if they can do anything to assist. I know that just a friendly phone call can sometimes be all that I look forward to meeting with you in the future. is needed.

At the last Fraternal Council meeting in Napier, we Yours fraternally worked through a busy agenda and following the meeting the Council visited Loyal Peter Courtney Napier Lodge. The principal item Grand Master on the agenda for their meeting was consolidation on Society. After some lively discussion, it was agreed by an overwhelming

August 2010 www.manchesterunity.org.nz Society Office Hours Mon-Fri - 8.00am - 4.00pm ti

Fraternal Manager

At the time of publishing Ian is currently overseas. No doubt he will supply us with a wonderful article/photos of his trip and attendance at the MU International Conference in Manchester and also the UK Order’s National Conference.

If you want to contact Ian here are his details:-

Free phone 0800 MUSO4U (0800 68 76 48) Cell phone 021 419 425 email [email protected]

Ashley District

Plans are well in hand for the 150th Celebrations for Rangiora Lodge. This to be held in October and Registration forms have now been sent out. If you did not get one and would like to come, contact Sis Anne Tull 03 313 8692 and she will post one to you.

We have made some grants from the Unity Concern lately - to the local Fernside Netball Club for bags $450; North Canterbury Bowls $200 for sponsorship; Past Grands Lodge in $50 to help with their meeting costs; Rangiora Girls Brigade $320 for sashes for the girls to put their badges on; for a cultural group to travel to Japan $500; Jaye Atkin $300 to travel overseas for athletics $300; Rangiora Boys Brigade (see photo) $400 for uniforms; Rochelle Fidler for a tracker for her dog Bounce $700 who is involved in Search and Rescue and Georgina Palmer who was representing New Zealand overseas in horse riding $500. So you can see there is a demand for grants to people and organisations still coming, in which is what we like to see happening in the District.

At present there is a lot of preparation for the Conference in just under 3 weeks and then the Installation 3 days later.

Sis Janet Sheppard

2010/11 Upcoming Events

30 August Fraternal Council Meeting – Wellington (attending Britannia Lodge after meeting) 11-12 Sept Marlborough Lodge 150th celebrations 16-18 October Rangiora Lodge 150th Celebrations 29 October MU Special Conference – Wellington 30 October Grand Master visit – Wellington District 22-23 Sept 2011 Riccarton Lodge 125th Celebrations

If you would like more information on any of the above, please contact the Fraternal Manager. ti

Nelson District

District Grand Master Sis Betty Lark attended Nelson District Past Grands Lodge on Wednesday 12th May forward to the 23rd May. This year a restaurant in and installed the Officers for the next term: President Richmond named “Robbie’s” was the venue. This Sis Lorraine Shirley, Vice President Sis Julie was an excellent meal served in new and Tomlinson, Warden Sis Phyllis Ager and Guardian comfortable surroundings. Bro Eddie Johnson. Nelson Lodge held a Special General meeting on District Deputy Grand Master Sis Julie Tomlinson Wednesday 19th May to consider a special resolution installed Sis Betty Lark as Immediate Past President to consolidate on Society by transferring all assets and thanked her for the service to the Lodge. She and liabilities. Attending members and proxy votes also presented her with an engraved bar for her Past were counted and just over 91% voted in favour of President Jewel. the resolution. The Lodge will now be focusing on the fraternal and social aspects, leaving Society to invest A seniors’ luncheon has been started by District our funds for the benefit of the members. Grand Master Sis Betty Lark for those members who enjoy socialising over a meal. A different hotel or restaurant is chosen each month in Nelson City Bro John Simpson or suburbs. The last one on 18th May was at The Fraternal Councillor Pheasant Plucker restaurant and was enjoyed by 18 members.

As a number of members are going to Manchester UK for the 200th Anniversary of Manchester Unity in June, the Mid Winter Christmas luncheon was bought

Rangiora Lodge 150th Celebration – 16-18th October 2010

Rangiora Lodge have asked to have this reprinted, as a reminder to you all:

Saturday 16th October - catered dinner at Rangiora R.S.A. Kippenberger Lounge, Victoria Street, Rangiora commencing 5.30 p.m. Cost $25 per person.

Evening function will commence 8 p.m - Cost for the evening will only be $5 per person. Social time and dancing.

Sunday 17th October - meet and greet 10.30 a.m. 11 a.m - church service followed by finger food luncheon - cost $15 per person 2 p.m - annual senior members day and presentation of 50 year awards and any other special jewels etc.

Monday 18th October – 7.30pm - 150th anniversary lodge meeting.

All these functions are being held at the R.S.A. Club. All functions will be notified to Rangiora lodge members and all other lodges in N.Z. in mid-July along with a registration form to complete and return to the Rangiora lodge secretary by 1st October, together with the appropriate monies.

A 150th Anniversary Badge will be minted at a cost of $10 each. Please note your order on the registration form. First in, first served!

If anyone from other areas requires billeting and for any further enquiries, please contact Anne on 03- 3138692 or e-mail [email protected]

Manchester Unity Friendly Society: Level 6, 142 Lambton Quay, Wellington 6145 Manchester Unity Awards for Higher Education 2011

Applications for the 2011 Awards will open on Monday 19th July 2010 and close on Friday 8th October 2010. So look out for the brochures, which have been sent to Districts and Lodges and will also be available on our website (www.manchesterunity.org.nz). If you would like further copies, please call the Society Office on 0800 101 842 from Monday 19th July.

Special Conference 2010

Registration forms have now been distributed to Districts and Lodges and these are also available on our website

Special Conference for 2010 will be held at the Intercontinental in Wellington. The deadline in receiving remits and agenda items is 18th September at Society Office. Once co-ordinated, these will be sent out to Districts and Lodges by 1st October.

Rangiora Lodge

Kaikoura has two very busy people working tirelessly for their local community. Melville Syme, who joined Loyal Rangiora Lodge on 8th June 1957, is shown in the photo taking a break after he and other local Lions members installed a boardwalk from the beach to the carpark, which marks one end of the walkway over the peninsula. Melville is a long time member and District Governor for the Kaikoura lions

His wife Julie, who joined Rangiora Lodge on 1st November 1994, is the current District Governor and a charter member of the Seaward Lions and its show convenor for eight years for “Trash fashion”. This show runs over 2 nights and crowds pour in from near and far for the spectacle. A total of $80,000 has been raised for local emergency services thanks to the show, and this year’s event will provide another useful wad of money.

The bridal outfit, shown in the photo, is created from 58 preloved bras and 23 second hand petticoats. Julie’s family is heavily involved, as she and her daughter Gwenda Smith [ also a Rangiora Lodge member] were behind the wedding dress, and Gwenda and Julie have both made many outfits in their own right. Julie’s 5 granddaughters have all been models. Julie’s husband Melville, when not working on outside projects for Lions, is a regular model at the show and often something of a highlight. He just smiles secretively when asked if he will again tread the boards this year.

Sis Anne Tull

*Thanks to Hurunui News for supplying the two photos above. Wanganui District Conference 2010:

The FINAL Conference for the Wanganui District will be held on Saturday 21 August 2010

The Venue is Knox Presbyterian Church Hall, Corner Kimbolton Road and North Street, Feilding

FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE SENT OUT ONCE FINALISED

Rangiora Lodge Members take top Community Awards

In April, Sister Joy Tomblin P.D.G.M. and Brother Bernie Power were awarded community service awards by Waimakariri M.P. Clayton Cosgrove at a function held at the Working Mens Club. The awards recognised the contribution of people from all walks of life to their communities in the area.

Brother Bernie is retiring as president this year of the Rangiora R.S.A. after years of involvement in different capacities. He has also been involved with St. John Ambulance for 50 years, starting as a junior cadet and now permanently employed by the organisation. His other passionate interest is with the McAlpines North Canterbury Pipe band, currently as its drum major, and also been a member for 50 years. Bernie thanked his family for supporting him in both his paid and voluntary jobs over the years. He joined Loyal Rangiora Lodge on 4th December 1961, so will receive his 50 year membership certificate as a member of Manchester Unity next year. As Clayton Cosgrove said in his address “It has been a pretty formidable workload.”

Sister Joy joined the ladies section of Kaiapoi R.S.A. in 1987 and has held several positions with the section, both as president and as treasurer. She is currently the secretary. She has also been involved with the Red Cross Meals on Wheels for 20 years and was an associate member of Nurse Maude for 19 years, as well as supporting and collecting for a range of charities. Sister Joy joined Manchester Unity on 7th October 1987 and became a Past Grand of Loyal Rangiora Lodge in 1992. She is a Past District Grand Master of Ashley District and has received her lodge merit jewel in 1996 and a district merit jewel in 1999.

As can be seen with both of these very busy people,they certainly deserved the recognition they received.

Sis Anne Tull

Dues Payments

A reminder from the Society Finance team for those who pay on-line, to please pay your dues into the following BNZ 05 account:

02 0536 0065080 05 Wellington District

It is quite a while since Wellington District has put in an article in Fraternally Yours. We have been quite busy with Lodge meetings and fraternal events, some of which have been an afternoon at the pictures, followed by dinner at a chartered club.

Our MUnch Club continues to meet most months for a luncheon at different places around the greater Wellington area. The last one being held at the Hari Krishna Restaurant in the old BNZ building. Other lunches have been held at the Lady Norwood Rose Gardens Café and The Jasmine Chinese Restaurant. These MUnch Club lunches are always held at 12 noon and at a place which is reasonably priced and has parking nearby.

The next MUnch Club will be held on Sunday 15 August, the day after our District Conference. It is at 12 noon at Southwards Car Museum. If anyone is interested in joining us, please contact Dawn Raxworthy on 04 563 8949. The Project Concern Sub-Committee has given two presentations this year. Both of these were presented at a Loyal Britannia Lodge meeting night. The first was a presentation of a cheque for the replacement of the puppet “Harold the Giraffe” to the Life Education Trust. This organisation has programmes throughout the country and each region is responsible for its own fundraising. “Harold” and Jenae Ryan, the educator for the Trust, go around all the schools in Wellington teaching the children life skills and safety. This is part of the school’s curriculum. Unfortunately the old “Harold” was worn out so a new one needed to be spe- cially made.

In June a cheque was presented to the Foundation for the Blind for the training of a Guide Dog. Wendy Isaac and Linda Scott attended the meeting with their puppies, “Fletcher” a 6-month old golden retriever and “Ginny” a 5-month old black Labrador. These two puppies were learning life skills such as getting used to riding on public transport, planes, going shopping, going to the pictures and so on. The puppies were extremely well behaved staying for most of the meeting. They stay with their puppy minders until they Marie Permain (Convener) and are about 12-months old, when they go Jenae Ryan (Educator) on for processing and possible training as a fully fledged guide dog.

The Foundation has its own breeding programme and breed 100 dogs per year of which 50% will make it through. Of the others who are rejected they are passed on to the Police, Drug Squad, Airport security, Bomb Squad or get given to a good home as family pets. The Guide dog has a working life of 10-years after which it is retired.

Sis Beth Cowie

Foundation for the Blind Seeing Eye Dogs with Wendy Isaac & friend Linda

Wendy Isaac receiving the cheque from Marie Permain