fraternallyfraternally yours What’s Inside: • Wellington Update • Rangiora 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 Christchurch $50 to help with their meeting costs; Rangiora Girls Brigade $320 for sashes for the girls to put their badges on; Rangiora High School 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 Kaiapoi 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.