Busselton Freemasonry last week was honoured by Grand Lodge when retired businessman Michael Berryman was appointed as the Senior Grand Warden at the Masonic Grand Installation last month in Perth,
In so doing Mr Berryman, a member of the Naturaliste Lodge, was elevated to the third most senior Freemason in WA with only the Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master outranking him in seniority.
The Grand installation, held every three years, was significant with the enthronement of Perth businessman Peter Kirwin as Grand Master, the youngest person at 50 years of age to hold that position in WA.
For Mr Berryman, a popular and well-respected member of the Busselton community, it is a deserved appointment having given almost 50 years’ service to the Craft filling every position within his own lodge while at the same time becoming a member of other orders in Freemasonry.
Migrating from Plymouth in 1965 he joined the Craft in WA in 1970 crediting the 70 years’ service his father gave to Freemasonry and his grandfather before that as an inspiration to continue the legacy.
“I thank the Grand Master for his confidence in me by offering the position I now hold,” said Mr Berryman.
“Freemasonry has provided considerable satisfaction to Freemasons throughout the country that spend much of their time supporting many charities such as building Masonic homes for the elderly, scholarships for schools, medical facilities and youth activities just to mention a few”.
One particular charitable event Mr Berryman recalls 10 years ago when the Busselton Lodges raised $150,000 to purchase two dialysis machines for the Busselton hospital eliminating the need for patients to go to Bunbury for treatment.
Freemasonry in WA has donated approximately five and half million dollars for charity in the past four years.
“Just as important are the friendships that the Craft fosters, friendships that have lasted a lifetime, defying time and distance whether you move to the Far North, or the South-West, to other States or in another country,” said Mr Berryman.
Freemasonry has a long history in WA initially establishing The Lodge of St John in 1843 growing, at one stage, in the 1960’s, to more than 350 lodges.
Busselton entered the Masonic family in 1900 with the consecration of Sussex Lodge that initially held their meetings in the Shire office with notable community leader Henry Yelverton installed as the first Master.
Freemasonry experienced an incredible expansion throughout Australia after World War II with an avalanche new lodges being formed to accommodate the stream of applicants for membership.
Sussex, a daughter Lodge of Bunbury’s Wellington Lodge No. 4, answered the call for expansion by sponsoring the Naturaliste Lodge in 1952.
Both Lodges with the addition of Nannup Day Lodge, who moved from Nannup to Busselton in 1994, are going strong today in their current premises in West Street built in 1938 by the members for the members while making it available to community groups.
