Calendar of Activities for November 2018

03 Nov, Saturday - Lodge Victoria Cross No 928

05:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre 
[Pls double check with Secretary, WBro Bill Nash]

04 Nov, Sunday - Centenary of Armistice

10:30 AM for 11:00 AM start, Balcombe Heights Estate 

90-97 Seven Hills Rd, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

[Lounge suit/smart casual with Regalia]

06 Nov, Tuesday - Elysian Lodge No 418 Emergent
Mark Man Ceremony
06:00 PM, Fairfield Masonic Centre
6 York St Fairfield NSW 2165

07 Nov, Wednesday - Burnside No 729

06:00 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre 

08 Nov, Thursday - District 25A Wheelchairs Turnover

02:00 PM, Blacktown Hospital

18 Blacktown Rd, Blacktown NSW 2148

Smart casual/lounge suit

08 Nov, Thursday - Lodge Beecroft No 359

07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre 

09 Nov, Friday - Lodge Alpha No 970 [Raising]

07:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre 

09 Nov, Friday - Lodge West Epping No 731

07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

10 Nov, Saturday - Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045 Installation

04:00 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

Installation Banquet - Castle Hill Bowling Club [RSVP]

79 Castle St, Castle Hill NSW 2154

$50.00 per person, Ladies and family invited [children menu available].
Please use CBA BSB 062 293 Account Number 10198775

11 Nov, Sunday - Bella Vista Farm BBQ [Remembrance Day]
04:00 PM for 05:00 PM, Bella Vista Farm

13 Nov, Tuesday - Lodge Blacktown Kildare No 393 
Turnover of Charity Donation to Nepean Hospital
09:00 AM, Nepean Hospital 
Derby St, Kingswood NSW 2747

14 Nov, Wednesday - Lodge Victoria Cross No 928 [1st]
07:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre

16 Nov, Friday - Lodge Blacktown Kildare No 393
07:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre

16 Nov, Friday - Lodge Millenium Installation
05:45 PM, (18:45 GL) Eric A Primrose Centre Epping NSW

17 Nov, Saturday - Elysian Lodge No 418 Performing
Flight of the Winding Stairs at Lodge France No 1021
06:45 PM, Turramurra Masonic Centre
1247 Pacific Highway, Turramurra NSW 2074

21 Nov, Wednesday - Lodge The Hills No 1025
07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

22 Nov, Thursday - District 25/25A Association Meeting
07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

24 Nov, Saturday - Lodge Parramatta City Daylight No 1014
10:00 AM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

24 Nov, Saturday - Lodge The Star of Australia No 200 Installation
06:00 PM, (19:00 GL, LS, Ladies invited) Castle Hill Masonic Centre

26 Nov, Monday - Parramatta & The Hills Lodge of Instruction
07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

28 Nov, Wednesday - Lodge Resurgo No 223
07:00 PM Dinner, 07:30 PM Tyling, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

District Wheelchairs Turnover Schedule

30 Oct, Tuesday - District 25 Wheelchairs Turnover

01:00 PM, Hawkesbury District Health Service

2 Day St, Windsor NSW 2756 

Lounge suit or smart casual

08th Nov, Thursday - District 25A Wheelchairs Turnover

02:00 PM, Blacktown Hospital

18 Blacktown Rd, Blacktown NSW 2148

Lounge suit or smart casual

For more details please liaise with your respective DGIW:

VW Bro Simon Oliver [25] or VW Bro Don Pandes [25A]

 or contact RW Bro Bill Driver.

Centenary of Armistice, 4th Nov Sunday

To All Masons and friends,

If you have at anytime a connection with the "William Thompson Masonic School" at Baulkham Hills; now called the Balcombe Heights Estate, that wonderful Masonic establishment that cared for children of Masons in their time of need.

You are invited to attend a special Centenary of Armistice Sunday, for a dedication and commemorative service at the Soldiers Memorial, 4th November 2018.

Please come and bring your family and friends, 10:30 AM arrive for a 11:00 AM start of the ceremony.

Dress: Lounge suit/smart casual [Regalia to be worn].
Entrance: 90-94 Seven Hills Road, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

Morning tea will be provided.

-----------------

William Thompson Masonic School - Balcombe Heights Estate

"Long before the idea was conceived of establishing a school for orphans or other children in need, the Lodge members of the Freemasons had established a charity devoted to those children. In 1918, William Thompson thought that the wide open spaces and rolling landscape of Baulkham Hills would be a good location to establish homes for children who had been orphaned or left in poor circumstances following World War I. The project was funded by the Masons.

"On 11 November, 1922, (Armistice Day) the William Thompson Masonic School was opened. Fifty 'motor buses' helped transport 12,000 Masons and friends to the opening of the school.

"During World War II the children were moved into the countryside and the buildings became the 103rd Australian General Hospital. The school reopened on November, 8, 1947 as the Masonic School and functioned as such until the 1970s. In December 1973 Council signed a contract to pay for the property over 3 years with the final payment being made in 1977.

"Several of the original school buildings still exist including the dormitory buildings, classrooms, gymnasium, staff cottages and the Georgian Revival style central administration block. The main hall building was lost to fire and has now been replaced with a modern community hall suitable for hire.

"Other historic elements such as the memorial tree avenue of Brush box (planted in memory of soldiers lost in the World War I), sundial, fishpond and memorial garden compliment the properties heritage. Today many of the buildings are hired by community groups."
--------------------------

William Thompson (22 January 1862 – 6 October 1937) was an Australian politician.

He was born in Queanbeyan to surveyor James Banford Thompson and Margaret Carroll. From 1878 to 1885 he was a clerk in the Colonial Architect's office, before becoming a quantity surveyor and moving to Ryde in 1898. On 4 March 1885 he had married Florence Single, with whom he had two children. 

He owned a horse farm on the Hawkesbury River and was a founder of the William Thompson Masonic School at Baulkham Hills NSW, which operated from 1922 to 1972, and the New South Wales Masonic Schools Welfare Fund which, as A Start in Life, continues to assist indigent youth. He was a Freemason and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New South Wales 1914-1924.^[1] 

In 1913 he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Ryde, serving until his retirement in 1920. Thompson died at Ashfield in 1937. [Wikipedia]

Calendar of Activities for October 2018

03 Oct, Wednesday - Lodge Burnside No 729

06:00 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

06 Oct, Saturday - Elysian Lodge No 418 [Initiation]

06:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre 

07 Oct, Sunday - District Charity Barbeque
08:00 AM - 04:00 PM, Bunnings North Parramatta

08 Oct, Monday - District Charity Barbeque
08:00 AM - 04:00 PM, Bunnings Castle Hill

Event CANCELLED & rescheduled for March 2019.
10 Oct, Wednesday - Lodge Resurgo No 223 
Charlie Teo Foundation Fundraising Show and Banquet

07:00 PM, Centenary Hall, Newington College

200 Stanmore Road, Stanmore NSW 2048

Ladies & friends invited, $145 per person

11 Oct, Thursday - Lodge Beecroft No 359 Re-Installation

06:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

12 Oct, Friday - Lodge Alpha No 970 
07:15 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre

12 Oct, Friday - Lodge West Epping No 731 [Passing]

07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

13 Oct, Saturday - Lodge Jose Rizal No 1045 Family Day

11:00 AM, Warami Shelter, Bungaribbe Park

corner Holbeche & Doonsde Roads entrance, Bungaribee NSW 2767

14 Oct, Sunday - District Charity Barbeque

08:00 AM - 04:00 PM, Bunnings Blacktown

17 Oct, Wednesday - Lodge The Hills No 1025

07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

19 Oct, Friday - Lodge Blacktown Kildare No 393 [Raising]

07:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre

22 Oct, Monday - Parramatta and Hills District Lodge of Instruction

07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre 

24 Oct, Wednesday - Lodge Resurgo No 223

07:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

27 Oct. Saturday - Lodge Parramatta City Daylight No 1014 [Initiation]

10:00 AM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

27 Oct, Saturday - The Star of Australia No 200 [PM Night]

06:30 PM, Castle Hill Masonic Centre

27 Oct, Saturday - Lodge Victoria Cross No 928 Rehearsal

05:00 PM, Blacktown Masonic Centre

27-28 Oct, Saturday & Sunday - District 26
Cancer Council Blacktown Relay for Life

10:00 AM start and ends 10:00 AM Sunday

Blacktown International Sportspark
Eastern Road entrance, Rooty Hill NSW 2766

28 Oct, Sunday - District 25/25A  Family & Friends Picnic

10:00 AM [Approximate time], Balcombe Heights Estate

Entrance at the corner of Jasper & Seven Hills Roads
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153

$5.00 per adult, children free. Please RSVP to VWBro Ken Byrnes  [Cancelled as per VW Bro Ken Byrnes]

30 Oct, Tuesday - District 25 Wheelchairs Turnover

01:00 PM, Hawkesbury District Health Service

2 Day St, Windsor NSW 2756

Smart casual or lounge suit