NewsThe Grand Master
GRAND MASTER
GRAEME ALBERT EWIN.jpg)
Graeme Albert Ewin, was born in Brisbane in 1941. He attended the Ithaca Creek Primary School. His secondary education was completed at Brisbane Grammar School where his English master in fourth form was John Broughton, Past Grand Organist.
At School, Graeme was an above average student as well as a very keen cricketer and tennis player. Graeme attended Sunday School and Church at St Barnabas' Anglican Church at Red Hill. He was a member of the Church of England Boy's Society.
On leaving school Graeme joined the family wholesale and retail butchery business A.E. Ewin & Co. After an early stint in one of the family retail shops (said by his father to be essential training), he specialised in the buying of sheep and lambs throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
He has judged Fat Lamb Shows in country Queensland and New South Wales over the past four decades and is honoured to have been asked to act as judge for the RNA Show on 12 different occasions.
Since 1984, in partnership with a friend, Graeme has been operating a sheepskin exporting business in conjunction with livestock buying activities.
Graeme married Pamela in 1964. They have been blessed with three children - one son and two daughters. They are also proud grandparents to three girls and one boy.
Graeme Ewin joined the Board of the Queensland Society for Crippled Children, known to many as Montrose Home, Corinda, in 1971. He was a Director for 29 years, during which time he served the Society as Treasurer, Vice-President, and President. He resigned from the Board in 2002 after being invested in Grand Lodge as President for the Board of Benevolence.
In May, 1963, Graeme was initiated into George C. Davis Lodge No. 489 where his father, Albert Ewin, was a foundation member. He was installed as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in September, 1979, service a second term in September, 1998. He currently a member of Prince Albert Lodge No. 248 and is also a Companion in Sandgate Royal Arch Chapter No. 47.
Being Past President of the Board of Benevolence, he is very passionate about our aged care facilities and the Craft's commitment to charitable activities in this jurisdiction.
He believes in the three "R" in relation to the future of our wonderful organisation...
- Revitalise - Our members, which in turn will revitalise our Lodges
- Restructure - Our Lodges must give more ownership to the younger members of our fraternity. For the future of any organisation lies in the hands of its younger members.
- Relevance - Our Order must become more relevant to today's society. The workings in our Lodge rooms, our teachings and our beliefs are sacrosanct. However, we must continue to strive to change the general community's perception of our organisation.
The Grand Master believes his aims during his term in office are not different to those held by all who have gone before him: "To attempt to improve the position of the Order in the community, to serve the Brethren well, and to expound the virtues of brotherly love, relief and truth".
DEPUTY GRAND MASTER
ADRIAN BURTON
Adrian Burton was born in 1945 at Gympie the second of four children. The Burton family were farmers at Kandanga and Kenilworth in the Mary Valley. Bro. Burton was educated at the Kandanga State School; Gympie State High School and the University of Queensland (Gatton Campus). He recalls that the happiest times were when he was a young fellow and rode his pony to school with his sister Carmen. The discipline of riding horses in shows was a most rewarding experience. Kandanga was a wonderful country community. His mother ran a traditional Methodist family household. His mother's family the "Stephenses" were the first European farmers in the Mary Valley. This was before gold was discovered at Gympie in 1867. His Grandfather and Great-grandfather were also Freemasons in the Gympie District.
He has spent the last 35 years in the furniture industry 31 in the retail sector and 4 in the importing/wholesale sector and has experienced some dramatic changes in the industry in recent years. He has wide experience with State, National, and Australian Boards. Senior company positions he has held include Group Operations Manager, State Manager, General Manager, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director, Company Secretary and National Manager.
Adrian is married to Regina and they have 2 children Adam and Rebecca. They have 1 grandson Daniel who is 3 (and is the apple of his Grandfathers eye.)
The Deputy Grand Master was initiated into Maree Lodge No. 345 in 1979 and served as Worshipful Master in 1986 and 1989. He affiliated with Charles Stumm Lodge No. 367 in 2001.
In Grand Lodge Bro. Burton has served as Grand Sword Bearer (1990); Senior Grand Deacon (1992); Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies (1994-95); Grand Director of Ceremonies (1996-97-98); Senior Grand Warden (1999); Assistant Grand Master (2003); President Board of General Purposes (2005-06) Deputy Grand Master 2007-08. In addition he is also the metropolitan representative for Cooloola Lodge No. 524 meeting at Tin Can Bay.
Adrian was an elected Member of the Board of General Purposes in 2001-2003 and has served on several Board Committees over the years. The rank of Past Junior Grand Warden was conferred in 1997.
He has also been Most Wise Sovereign for Fortitude Sovereign Chapter 18 Degree (1996), he is a member of Sirius Soverign Council 30 Degree Antient and Accepted Rite and a member of Prince of Wales Chapter No. 1 (RAC)
Other organisation that Adrian hold membership in are: Gympie RSL, Sporting Shooters Association and the Royal National Association. His interest apart from Freemasonry include Athletics, Boxing, Rugby League, Military History and Bird Breeding.
ASSISTANT GRAND MASTER
GREGORY JAMES GODING
Greg Goding was born in Childers in 1958 and was educated at the local primary and secondary schools. On completion of Grade 12 he completed an apprenticeship as a Diesel Mechanic in Bundaberg. Upon the sudden death of his father he took over the running of one of his late father's businesses at the age of 23.
In 1986 Greg entered the finance industry by joining a multi-national company which led him transferring to the Gold Coast in 1990. 1993 saw him move back into the world of self-employment when he bought a business in a newly developing industry and which he still owns along with his wife, Janelle. In the past 16 years that business has grown to 150 strong franchises across Australia and New Zealand with Greg still being heavily involved with the training of franchisees and the development of the business as it now moves into the USA.
Greg's Masonic career started in Childers when he was initiated in a double ceremony along with his older brother, the late R.W. Bro. Robert Goding P.J.G.W., on the night of their father's funeral. One of the biggest regrets for Greg was that he never got the opportunity to sit in Lodge with his own father.
Be that as it may, Greg's greatest delight is that he does sit in Lodge every month with his six sons and his nephew who are the seventh generation of Freemasons in the family. He also has a daughter, Amy who is married to Steve.
Greg's forte for the past 15 years has been providing assistance to Lodges in developing practices to make them successful in contemporary society. To this end, Greg has developed a keen insight into what the "modern Freemason" wants and expects from his Lodge, as well as those factors that have sadly ruined so many Lodges.
Greg's particular interest has been and continues to be providing help to overcome particular problems faced by Lodges and in assisting Lodges to grow and developed practices to achieve success in all aspects of their operations. This, Greg has done both through providing "behind the scenes" assistance to Lodges and through is "Order in the House" address.
Greg has served as Standard Bearer, A.G.S.Wks, and Senior Grand Warden, as well a member of Education (later) The Masonic Information Committees and Chairing of the Renewal and now the Membership Committees of Grand Lodge. Through his service Greg has attained a thorough understanding of what it takes to attract modern men to the Craft and retain them as long term brethren.
The accomplishments of Isis Lodge (Greg's Mother Lodge) and Burleigh Lodge are testament to the successes of the methods Greg advocates. As of August 2009 Meridian Lodge No. 404 (which was expecting difficult times) will meet at Burleigh which effectively allows Burleigh Lodge to split in two so as to accommodate its over 100 active members.
For the past two years Greg has served in the capacity of Special Envoy tot he M.W. Grand Master. In that role he has been able to present his "Order of the House" address over 75 times in Queensland, as well as to the Grand Lodges of South Australia/Northern Territory, Western Australia and New Zealand.
Greg will continue the work of the past years in his role as Assistant Grand Master.
