Lodge invites its friends to get together

IOOF Lodge member Cedric Mann, left, receives a presentation
from fellow member James Graham.

A GATHERING will be held at the New Norfolk RSL Club this Friday night to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF).

The Derwent Valley is home to four lodges affiliated with the IOOF and they will meet this Friday to celebrate the organisation’s Founders Day.

Anyone associated with the local branches of the IOOF, either as a past or present member, supporter or beneficiary, is invited to attend the celebration, which will be held from 6.30-9.30pm. A light supper will be provided, and drinks can be purchased at the bar.

New Norfolk residents Sue and Cedric Mann are well known members of all four of the local lodges, having given long service to the Loyal Glenora IOOF, the New Norfolk and Bushy Park Rebekah lodges and the Derwent Valley Encampment.

Along with their fellow members, the couple has long been a familiar sight on stalls outside the Woolworths supermarket, raising funds for the many charitable causes that are supported by the local lodges. Both Mr and Mrs Mann have served at the highest level of the IOOF in the state, known as the Grand Lodge of Tasmania.

Another local member, James Graham, serves as the IOOF Grand Warden of Tasmania and will travel to the US later this year as a delegate to the bicentenary session of the Sovereign Grand Lodge in North Carolina.

“Founders Day this Friday will be a get-together for anyone who has supported us over the years,” Mr Mann said. He said the long history of the IOOF in the Derwent Valley goes back to at least 1907 when the Loyal Glenora Lodge was formed, followed by the Rebekah Lodges at Bushy Park and New Norfolk.

Each of the local IOOF lodges meets separately but they get together regularly and share fundraising activities. They have supported a young girl suffering brain cancer, provided support to the fire brigade during bushfires, donated to the Cancer Council and the Menzies Centre, as well as helping families affected by floods and fires.

The Loyal Glenora Lodge organises the annual Anzac Day service at the Bushy Park War Memorial Swimming Pool, which will be held this Thursday at 11am, followed by a light lunch and games afternoon.

Last year the lodges started an annual award at New Norfolk High School, named Wildey Colfax Community Service Award named after the IOOF founder Thomas Wildey and former US vice president Schuyler Colfax who was the force behind establishing Rebekah lodges for women.

For more information about the IOOF lodges contact Sue or Cedric Mann on 6261 3052.