The Grand Master & Team



GRAND MASTER

 

ADRIAN BURTON

The supplementary Ritual of U.G.L.Q. clearly states and is a constant reminder to the Grand Master:

"Although elevated above his fellows he should never forget that he has been elevated by them".

Adrian was born the second of four children in Gympie on June 24, 1945, and raised in Kandanga in the Mary Valley.
The Burtons were farmers at Kandanga and Kenilworth. Adrian's mother, Hilda Stephens, was from a prominent pioneering family in the Mary Valley. The Stephens family settled in the valley three years before gold was discovered at Gympie in 1867. Gympie was known by the local Aboriginals as "gimpi gimpi". Adrian's grandfather spoke the local Aboriginal dialect.
Adrian said that some of the happiest recollections of his childhood included riding his pony to school with his sister Carmen. The added discipline of riding in shows was a most rewarding experience.
Three days after his election as Grand Master at the December Communication he returned to Kandanga for his grade 1 class reunion.  "Our class was a tight knit unit and we still share those experiences some 57 years on."  The land for Kandanga State School was donated by the Stephens family to the Education Department in 1915.
Adrian's grandfather J. S. R. Stephens was the Worshipful Master of Telford Lodge in 1934 which meets at Imbil; and his great-grandfather J. H. Sandercock was the Worshipful Master of Gympie Lodge in 1907.
One of Adrian's greatest thrills happened in 2008 when, out of the blue he was contacted by V.W. Bro. Geoff Packer P.D.G.D.C. of Caledonian Lodge. Bro. Packer, courtesy of his daughter had come into possession of the Past Masters jewel presented to J.H.Sandercock in 1908 and his 50 year jewel from 1947. These he subsequently gifted to the then Deputy Grand Master. Adrian  reflects with great pride on the history of V.W. Bro. Sandercock who was born in Cornwall, England, emigrated to Australia due to ill health, joined a Scottish Lodge, and died an Australian aged 90 years. The jewels are kept with his great-grandfather's Bible circa 1884.
Unfortunately neither of these men were alive to see Adrian initiated into the Craft. Still it stayed in the family as Adrian's proposer Bro. Frederick Rappolt was his wife's uncle and seconder was Bro. Albert Rappolt both of Maree Lodge.

The Grand Master was initiated into Maree Lodge No. 345 in 1979 and installed in 1986 and 1989.  He affiliated with Charles Stumm Lodge No. 367 in 2001.

He has been a Grand Officer since 1990 and has served seven Grand Masters.
Offices he has occupied in Grand Lodge:
• Grand Sword Bearer 1990
• Senior Grand Deacon 1992
• Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies 1994 1995
• Grand Director of Ceremonies 1996 1997 1998
• Senior Grand Warden 1999
• Assistant Grand Master 2003
• President Board of General Purposes 2005 2006
• Deputy Grand Master 2007 2008 2009
Conferred Grand Rank:
• Past Junior Grand Warden 1998
Board of General Purposes:
• Elected member 2001 2002
Board Committees
• Ceremonial Committee
• Committee of Enquiry
• Education Committee
• Finance Committee
• Grand Officers Selection Committee
• Grand Installation Committee (Chairman)
• Magazine Committee (Chairman)
• Membership Committee (Chairman)
• 150 year Committee
Representative:
• Cooloola Lodge No.524 (Tin Can Bay)
Other Orders:
• Member of Royal Arch
• Member of The Ancient and Accepted Rite

The Grand Master is married to Regina who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and who proudly became a naturalised Australian in 1966. Regina is also very proud of her Jewish heritage and speaks Spanish as well as German, her father's native tongue. The Burtons have two adult children, a son, Adam and daughter Rebecca, and grandson, Daniel.
For the last ten years they have lived in Kuraby, a southern suburb of Brisbane.

The Grand Master has extensive commercial experience with State, National, and Australasian Boards, and dealings with family businesses, national companies, and large international manufacturers.
He has held senior positions as:
• Group Operations Manager
• State Manager
• General Manager
• Chief Executive Officer and
• National Manager
He has spent the last 36 years in the furniture industry in the retail management sector as well as the wholesale and importing area. "This period has been a most rewarding and challenging experience; the added bonus of making some life long friends, and seeing on occasions the exceptional quality of new generations entering and leading in the industry is most satisfying."

Adrian Burton was educated at:
• Kandanga State School
• Gympie Central State School
• Gympie State High School
• University of Queensland (Gatton Campus)
Adrian is looking forward to Gympie High's centenary in 2012 and Kandanga State Schools centenary in 2015.

The Grand Master also holds membership and has a keen interest in:
• The  Royal National Association
• The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia
• The Gympie R.S.L.
Other interests include:
Horse riding, bird breeding, military history, athletics, boxing, Rugby League.

General Statement
The Grand Master stated that he is:
• Supportive of the I.P. Grand Master's initiatives
• That changes to structures will be a process and not an event and could be over the life of three Grand Masters, three Board Presidents, and three Grand Superintendents.  Strong support of the Grand Secretariat is necessary.
• A constant review of the Book of Constitutions.
• The Formation of a 2010 Strategic Plan.
• Maintenance of Master Mason membership
• A measurable "exit strategy".
• Re-visit the best use "of UGLQ properties
• Revisit the "best practice" of the roles of AGSWks.
• Endeavour to "add value "to an individual's membership.

Other
• Set up a "Pastoral Care" team from clergy and lay persons
• Establish a Masonic pipe band.
• Support the concept of re-establishing Debutante Balls in country areas.

The Grand Master stated that is it imperative that all Freemasons "act and think positively."

Thought;
Einstein said: "The thinking that has brought us to this point is not the thinking to carry us beyond it."

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER

 

GARY JOHN BACON

Bacon Road, Cedar Pocket, east of Gympie fronts the dairy/banana farm established by Sam Bacon, a 9th Batt ANZAC veteran after WW1. After army service in WW2 his son Jack Bacon entered the Police Service (and Freemasonry) at Burleigh Heads but returned to Gympie and took up forest logging.
His son Gary received a strict, C/catholic education at Christian Brothers College, Gympie by 'the disciplined men clothed in black habits' and was elected school captain in his senior year. A Queensland State scholarship permitted studies at the University of Queensland, Brisbane and at the Australian National University (ANU), Canberra where he graduated with first class honours in Science majoring in Forestry. He later returned to ANU and undertook a three year doctoral program in forest science receiving his PhD in 1978.

Carol Gormley, a local primary school teacher, and Gary were married in Gympie. They have two graduate children and two grandchildren who all live interstate.

Gary worked within both the NSW Forestry Commission and the Queensland Forestry Department, rising to Assistant Commissioner and Chief Executive respectively. These were large regionalised organisations with significant challenges transitioning from traditional public sector agencies to commercial trading enterprises. These experiences, and those derived from leading the Queensland Drought Secretariat within the Department of Primary Industries, firmed the concept that performance protocols within a program management architecture were essential ingredients for effecting sustained, strategic and successful outcomes; 'surely applicable to other hierarchical institutions, including Freemasonry'.
After having his fill of the 'machinations and incompetence of the ruling political cadre' Gary took to consulting and chair of the organising committee for the first world forestry congress held in the southern hemisphere; an event that brought over 2000 scientists from 90 countries to Brisbane in 2005. Currently Gary holds an adjunct Professorship within the School of Biomolecular and Physical Sciences at Griffith University (named after the profile Queensland Mason and lawyer, Sir Samuel Walker Griffith PProvGM (IC)).

Gary has held a number of appointments within his forestry profession, including National Secretary, National President and Deputy President of the International body. In 1989 he was made a Fellow of the Institute of Foresters of Australia and in 2000 he was awarded the Jolly Medal for services to Australian forestry.

Gary's journey through Masonry began at Beerwah. He was initiated into Tibrogargan Lodge in 1973 whilst resident at the local Forest Research Station. He tells the story of his boss complimenting him on the unexpected good relations that quickly developed with the Beerburrum forestry group and local orchardists. A 'no brainer' - farmers and forestry men made up the bulk of Tibrogargan Lodge in those days!! Gary became Master of Tibrogargan Lodge in 1981 and has been Secretary since 1995. He was SGD 1995-96 and AGSWks (1996-2000) - 'I thoroughly enjoyed this most rewarding, interactive position within the Craft'. He joined Triple Tau Chapter in 2000.
He served on the Ritual Committee which produced the 2006 rituals. Gary was elected to the Board of General Purposes (2007-09 and again 2009-10). He served on the Ceremonial Committee and chaired the Masonic Information Committee which revised and distributed the five 'blue' explanatory books for inclusion in New Members kits. He assisted in the compilation of the 150 years of Queensland Freemasonry book ('a most demanding task') as a member of the 150 yr Celebrations Committee. His recent focus has been directed at assisting in the renewal of the Grand Library layout and systems.

Gary is passionate about the demonstrable good that Freemasonry can affect in individuals and the community alike. 'Brand Freemasonry has been 'formed and perfected' over multi-generations and we, the current custodians, are obligated to value add and pass on the baton. We all bring different skills and intents to the practice of Freemasonry and it is this energetic, synergistic assemblage, where the outcome is more than the component parts, which can assure success. Just as a welcoming forest is comprised of, and valued by the keen observer for its diversity, so we ought promulgate and affirm the value we place on the diversity of our Craft constituency. Each working member is of intrinsic value to the well being of the whole and he must be made so aware. Satisfied, enthused and valued members are the best promoters of our Order and philosophy.
Brand Freemasonry lives!'

Reference Mottos
Ex Gympie Brothers: Levavi oculos in montes - I have lifted my eyes to the mountains.
Ex Tatts Club: Amicitia vita est - Friendship is life.
Ex Institute of Foresters: Non nobis solum - Not for ourselves alone.
Ex UGLQ: Recte et Fideliter - Right and faithful.

 

 

ASSISTANT GRAND MASTER

 

ALAN MAURICE TOWNSON

Alan Townson was born in Surrey, England in 1945. His family moved to Australia in 1951.

Alan was educated at Wynnum State High School and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Alan holds a degree in electrical engineering (Hons 1) from the University of New South Wales, a post graduate diploma in Management from the Cental Queensland University and a graduate diploma in Technology Management from the Royal Military College of Science, England.

Alan graduated from Duntroon in 1967 as a Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Australian Engineers and served in the Army for 24 years attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He had various appointments in the Army's field and construction engineering units and at senior levels in logistics and operational capability development.

His early regimental appointments included construction troop and support troop command. In 1969 and 1971, he saw active service in South Vietnam involved in mine clearance operations and engineering construction work.

He served two years in PNG 1974/76 and was the Director of Works for the Papua New Guinea Defence Force during its formation at the country's independence in 1975. Lt Col Townson served at Army Headquarters as a Project Manager in the Material Branch responsible for the acquisition of radar and night vision equipment. As a senior contingency planner in the Army's Logistics Branch, Alan was responsible for planning the logistic aspects for Army operational force deployments. He was the Works Manager at the 1st Military District, Queensland from 1984 until his retirement from the Army in 1987.

On leaving the Army, he worked for short period as Deputy Grand Administrator for the Board of Benevolence where the key role was to assist the Board with the redevelopment of the McLuckey and Langtry wings at the Sandgate Homes. 

Alan joined the Industry Capability Network Qld and  worked with the organisation for 16 years. He was employed as a Senior Engineer providing engineering and procurement services to mining, mineral processing and power generation projects in Queensland. 
He worked on the Sun Metals Zinc Refinery and the Australian Magnesium Refinery projects as an Australian Industry Participation Manager.

Bro Townson was initiated into Celtic of Ithaca Lodge, No 84, on the 9 Nov 1987. He was installed as Master at the centenary of Celtic of Ithaca Lodge on the 9 July 1994. Alan has served his Lodge in most offices and as Secretary for 5 years and Director of Ceremonies for 3 years. He is a member of Sandgate Sovereign Rose Croix Chapter No 169.

Alan was appointed to the Board of Benevolence 1995 and has served as the Chairman, Property and Central & Southern Homes Committees. He was Vice President of the Board from 2002 to 2004 and President from 2004 to 2007.  Alan says that his time with the Board was a most satisfying and rewarding experience during a period of enormous change in the service. He maintains a strong interest in the Board's activities.

Bro Townson was conferred PSGD in 2001 and PSGW in 2007.

Alan met Robyn, a high school teacher from Brisbane during a posting to Rockhampton and they were married in 1969. Robyn was born in Mackay. Her family travelled throughout Queensland from Cairns to Warwick finally settling in Brisbane to meet the demands of her father's education postings. Her father was a member of Teviot Lodge No 147. Robyn trained as a high school teacher and served in Brisbane, Rockhampton and Canberra. Alan and Robyn have two adult children, Sonya and Martin and three grandchildren.

Alan finds some relaxation as a golfer and he will sometimes be found on his mountain bike. He follows rugby union, soccer and cricket and maintains his interest in military history. He is a member of the RSL Qld and Wantima Country Golf Club.

Alan is honoured to be appointed AGM and looks forward to furthering his contribution to the fraternity.