GRAND LODGE
OF ANTIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS  OF
SOUTH AUSTRALIA AND NORTHERN TERRITORY

Inaugural Address

Your Excellency the Governor of South Australia, W. Brother Sir Eric Neal and Lady Neal, my fellow Grand Masters, Distinguished Guests, Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren.

Your Excellency, this Grand Lodge is again honoured by your presence at the Installation of a new Grand Master. I would be pleased if you would convey to Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth II the continued loyalty of the Grand Lodge as we move into the new millennium.

Ladies, Gentlemen and Brethren, this is a most auspicious day in the history of the Grand Lodge of South Australia and the Northern Territory - the Installation of its 29th Grand Master. I am honoured and humbled by my election to this high office and I thank all brethren for their confidence and their attendance here today together with their families, guests and friends to witness this special celebration.

I cannot let this occasion go by, Your Excellency and Lady Neal, without acknowledging your recently celebrated special occasion - for those from interstate and overseas who are not aware, Sir Eric and Lady Neal celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary just over a month ago. I am sure all those assembled would like to congratulate you both on that wonderful milestone in your lives.

The legacy of freemasonry

April 15th is a most significant date in the annals of this Grand Lodge, for it was on this day 75 years ago that the Foundation Stone for the Masonic Centre on North Terrace was laid in traditional Masonic manner by the then Grand Master M.W. Bro. The Hon. Thomas Slaney Poole and ceremonial officers of Grand Lodge.

Those 75 years have witnessed many grand occasions for freemasonry in South Australia and the Northern Territory. I wish to acknowledge the contribution made by our forefathers in leaving a legacy of freemasonry which still provides opportunities for its current membership to promote brotherly love, charity and honesty throughout the community.

I intend, with the assistance of the wider membership of the Craft, to ensure that this legacy will continue to be available to all men who seek to establish a better community so that our children and theirs will have the opportunity to grow and prosper in a social context where family life is revered and where acceptance of others views and tolerance of other ways of life are important attributes.

Theme for the next three years

My theme for the next three years is "Freemasonry fostering the Future". There are so many unknowns in the future that it would be impossible to specify all the things that I would like to concentrate on. However I would like to emphasise three main areas that I believe we as freemasons can influence and have a profound effect upon - they are Care, Youth and the Environment.

Care

We in South Australia and the Northern Territory are already recognized as world leaders in Aged Care. Our Masonic Homes under the energetic guidance of W. Bro. John Birkill continue to provide excellent care to the aged and infirm in the community generally. However we also have a responsibility to care for our own, and as our membership grows older we will need to do more - not just for our older members but for the younger ones and for the families of freemasons. Many lodges already do this well but there is always room for improvement. Charity is one of the distinguishing characteristics of every true freemason. May we through our care for others continue to practice this virtue. I strongly urge lodges to support the Masonic Foundation and through that body the Freemasons Medical Research Trust. This most worthwhile cause gives us the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves and at the same time to raise the image of freemasonry in the community. I wish to see our support for the AntiCancer Foundation and the Christmas Hamper Appeal continue as major objectives in every lodge together with the assistance given to local charities and local institutions.

Youth

The youth of today are the freemasons of tomorrow - how glibly that slips off the tongue - but it is true - for a number of reasons we have missed a whole generation of young men who have not seen freemasonry as relevant to them. For our very future it will be necessary to attract younger members to our ranks. All lodges have recognised this and a number are doing something about it. Those successful lodges are using the recommendations of the "Membership Growth and Retention Programme" which I strongly support and urge all lodges to take up the initiatives and challenges it offers. There are many lodges working with their local schools and other community groups to promote the image of freemasonry. I want to see lodges associating themselves with a wide range of youth groups - from skateboarders to sporting teams, lifesavers etc - the opportunities are endless. It is pleasing to see a netball team proudly wearing their tunics with "Sponsored by Hore Ruthven Masonic Lodge" emblazoned on their warm up jackets. Young people have parents and we should be proud to show them our support for youth and the family.

The provision of a forum for our younger members to indicate what they believe to be areas of concern that should be addressed by the administration was an excellent initiative - but we have not yet responded adequately to their recommendations. I pledge that this will happen in the year 2000 and I look to those younger members to continue to ensure that their concerns are addressed and that action is taken.

Environment

The environment is something that we should all be concerned about. I wish to see our lodges being more pro-active in working with local government groups in this area. "Trees for Life", bilby protection, "Tidy Town Awards", revegetation and railway station upkeep are worthy of our attention - the opportunities are endless if we are prepared to look for them - our environment is under threat and we as responsible citizens should take a leading role to ensure that our children's' future is protected. I commend the work being done by V.W. Bro. David Jones in an endeavour to establish a "sensory garden" in conjunction with the Adelaide Botanic Gardens - every effort is being made to bring this project to fruition. Its realization would provide a wonderful attraction for the impaired and at the same time promote the fraternity.

In order to continue the initiatives emanating from the original Vision 2000 concept I intend to concentrate on the issues raised at the last October Conference and with the various committees of the Board implement change where it is seen to benefit the craft as a whole. The corporate plan referred to by the Immediate Past Grand Master in the last Freemasons Journal will reflect the consensus reached by the wider membership. It will provide direction for the future and the committees of the organisation will provide the action plans to see that this corporate plan is implemented. 

I would like to acknowledge at this stage the way in which M.W. Bro. Stone has given me the opportunity to be involved with him in all matters affecting the administration of the Craft during his term of office. We have planned together, worked together, shared together and thank goodness we have had plenty of opportunity to laugh together. I will continue to value his wise counsel and look for his support in the years to come. 

Other matters that I intend to address during my term of office are - the viability of the Masonic Centre, improved communication with the emphasis on visits by senior officers to country areas in particular and to districts in the metropolitan areas, the provision of seminars for lodge officers and the management of the assets of the Association.

Concluding remarks

M.W. Bro. Fewster used to say, "Behind every successful man is a surprised mother-in-law". I have no mother-in-law, but if I am judged to be successful it will be in no small way due to my wife Pam and our family all of whom are here today. I thank them for their love and their support and patience. 

There is much to do. I am aware of the responsibility that rests on my shoulders - you can be assured I will not shirk it. With your support and co-operation this grand, fraternal organisation will be one that should be recognised for its endeavour in "fostering the future". 

GEOFFREY D. TUCKER
Grand Master

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