The Goffs Oak Lodge No.7169
Travelling Gavel 2:
"The Australian Adventure"

Page Added 17th June 2009

While planning his holiday to Australia, Bro. Steve Goan hoped that he might be able to attend a Masonic meeting (or two !)  When he asked a few of the Lodge Past Masters about the protocol it was suggested that, if a visit could be arranged, he might take a Travelling Gavel.  The result was that Bro. Steve visited Ashton Lodge 218, United Grand Lodge of Queensland, in the city of Brisbane where he brought greetings on behalf of the Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of the Goffs Oak Lodge and presented the Right Worshipful Master, Bro. Peter Casper with a Goffs Oak Lodge Travelling Gavel.

This gavel, like the first one, was made by W. Bro. Ron Gibbs.  It survived the long journey intact, and it will be passed on to visiting brethren for use by other lodges in the Brisbane area - and beyond (hopefully).

The meeting was memorable for being a double Initiation of the Right Worshipful Master's twin sons, John and Andrew Casper into Freemasonry and was attended by over 160 masons including the Grand Master of Queensland, V W Bro. Graham Ewin with attending Grand Officers, two visiting lodges and other brethren from Brisbane.

Having returned to the UK, Bro. Steve has told us all of the warm welcome and generous hospitality he received in Australia.

Update:

Here is an extract from an e-mail received by our secretary:
"My name is Wor Bro Terry Keane, WM C H Harley Lodge 281, holden under the United Grand Lodge of Queensland, Australia.  Just this last Evening (Saturday 13^th June 2009) at our regular meeting I was approached by Rt Wor Bro Bob Haigh (Sir Wylie Norman Lodge) and he presented me with a Travelling Gavel in a beautifully presented wooden box, the gavel was of extremely high quality and looked like it was of Oak. It was also suitably inscribed with the Lodge name Goffs Oak Lodge 7169 Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.

I was honoured to use it for the nights work which was an Initiation for (now) Bro Andrew Fisher into our lodge. It had an accompanying Booklet which was quite new and described its use. As per the enclosed instructions, at the end of the proceedings I presented it to Bro Roy English of Dunellean Lodge, a dear friend and frequent visitor to our lodge, who had recently been installed as JW of his lodge.

The accompanying book listed I think 4 Lodges from memory, and was used in Aston Lodge (Scottish Workings) when W Bro Casper initiated his twin Boys and included Sir Wylie Norman and now of course ours."

So it appears that Travelling Gavel 2 has made a sound start to its Australian adventures !

If you have any information on the whereabouts of the second Travelling Gavel, or can remember seeing it at a Lodge meeting at any time, please contact the Lodge Secretary.  We would be especially delighted to receive photographs.

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