Facelift at Bridgetown Freemasons Lodge

Over the past few months, the lawn area at the front of the Masonic Lodge building in Hampton Street has been transformed with a covering of paving.

The small grassed area which has been maintained for many years by volunteer Freemasons and most recently, for the last 30 years or so, by local resident Doug Lynn.

The ongoing increase in costs that affects us all has prompted the local Freemasons to rethink the purpose of this area, for current and future use.

The second-hand book sale the Freemasons hold every few months is well supported by Bridgetown residents and visitors. This enables the Lodge to continue to provide charitable support in various ways to the local community.

The members of the Bridgetown Lodge, led by Steve Norris, hatched a plan to pave the area. In the first instance to reduce maintenance costs and secondly, to offer the locals an alternative place to rest in our busy main street. By doing this, the Freemasons are giving back to all members of our community a pleasant place of rest.

Steve explains the significance of the paving design, “The area is paved to include a representation of what the inside of our Lodge room looks like. Four pillars are fixed in position with brief explanation of their significance to Freemasons. The black and white tiled design with its fringed edge is a typical pattern.

“The bench seating will be added for public use once it has been completed.

“The local Freemasons sincerely hope that residents and visitors will feel free to pause and rest for a while and enjoy the space.

“We would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their support with this project: Nick Maxfield, Johno Lines, Danny Farquhar, Ron Green, Lok Hatswell, Construct Engraving, and Jidalinbee.”

Steve Norris and his wife Rosalind, first came to live in Bridgetown in 1981, building a nine-sided home on Bussell Street whilst both working as registered nurses at the Hospital.

Their three children were born and raised in Bridgetown.

Steve joined the Bridgetown Freemasons in July 1990 and has remained a financial member to this current day.

He accepted the post of Master of the Bridgetown Lodge around two years ago.

Steve concludes, “Although I am a member of several Lodges in W.A., the Bridgetown Lodge is my ‘mother’ Lodge, it will always be a special place to me.

“Both my son, my father (deceased), my brother and two nephews joined Bridgetown Lodge.

“Freemasons, although shrouded in a bit of mystery, live a good life as an example to others. A life which is honest, decent and charitable.

“By seeing the paving outside the lodge, which is a reflection of the ceremony inside the lodge, and by enjoying this resting place, we hope this may enlighten folks to the practices of the Freemasons.”

Steve and his wife, three years ago, have now retired to Karakin, in Lancelin. Their son Dylan now lives in the home they built many years ago, and he also remains an active member of the Lodge.