On Wednesday, 3rd March, Bro. Zaine Bulot was Passed to the Second Degree at our daughter Lodge, Lodge Gowrie of Canberra. Lodge Commonwealth's support for Zaine was evidenced by a magnificent fraternal delegation numbering 16, believed to be the largest fraternal to be formed by our Lodge in many years.

Zaine was an exemplary candidate; his confidence and demeanor were representative of his character and reflected the excellent work delivered by Lodge Gowrie's WM, W Bro. Alan Carnall, and his Officers and brethren.

Lodge Gowrie is our daughter Lodge and this meeting was a significant occasion, not only because it marked Zaine's progress in the Order, but it brought the two Lodges together which further strengthened our fraternal bonds. The WM of Lodge Gowrie asked the WM of Lodge Commonwealth to present Zaine with the documents associated with this step in his Masonic education. The DGIW for District 104, VW Bro. Ron Jemesen, requested that the DC, W Bro. David Cook, escort him to personally congratulate Zaine. The DGIW made particular note of how impressed he was with Zaine's conduct during the Membership Assistance Scheme interview for which the DGIW was the chairman.

The WMs of Lodges Gowrie and Commonwealth Congratulate Bro. Zaine Bulot
(L-R foreground) W Bro. Roman Cholawinskyj, W Bro. Alan Carnall and
Bro. Zaine Bulot

The extraordinary number of brethren who attended from Lodge Commonwealth resulted in some practical issues while taking the fraternal photograph - the ante-room does not easily accommodate such a number and one Brother, Steve Wilde, was unintentionally cropped. Additionally, technical issues with the camera rendered several photos taken in the Lodge room and at the Festive Board unusable.

The Fraternal Delegation
(L-R) Bro. Ray Newcombe, Bro. Jeff Moon, VW Bro. Graeme Moller, Bro. Zaine Bulot,
Bro. Alex Slater, VW Bro. Irwin Prowse, VW Bro. David Slater, RW Bro. Ian Angus,
Bro. Alec Stevenson, RW Bro. Bob Nairn, W Bro. Roman Cholawinskyj, RW Bro. Warren Turton,
Bro. Russ Richards, RW Bro. Bob Perriman, RW Bro. John Le Mesurier and Bro. Steve Wilde (cropped)

Zaine Responds to the Newly Passed Brother's Toast
(L-R) W Bro. Mike Macnamara (WM Lodge Queanbeyan St Andrew),
W Bro. Roman Cholawinskyj, VW Bro. Ron Jemesen (DGIW104),
W Bro. Alan Carnall (WM Lodge Gowrie), Bro. Zaine Bulot and
W Bro. David Cook (DC)

An Item of Harmony
(L-R) Bro. Alex Slater, VW Bro. David Slater and W Bro. Russ Handcock

The Festive Board