Freemasons gathered in Belmont on Thursday to celebrate one of their most famous brethren: “Lodge Member 252” – also known as Charles Brownlow.
Geelong Lodge of Unity and Prudence exhibited its new replica Brownlow Medal in honour of the football legend – who joined the mysterious order in 1885.
Victorian Grand Master Don Reynolds said the replica would commemorate Brownlow’s contribution to Geelong and Freemasons.
“He played a significant role in the Geelong community in this period, being the secretary of the Geelong Cricket and Football Club in 1888,” he said.
“He was previously the captain of the Geelong Football Team and was still a member of the team when they played their first VFL match in May 1897.”
Mr Reynolds said lodges across the Bellarine and Otways had donated more than $100,000 to local charities in the past 12 months.
This included $37,000 to Hope Suicide Bereavement Service in Geelong and $10,000 for a blood storage refrigerator at Andrew Love Cancer Centre.
The Freemasons also exhibited an engraved ceremonial trowel, which laid the foundation stone at the Geelong Hospital and Benevolent Asylum – now the Geelong Hospital – in 1850.
Geelong Lodge of Unity and Prudence held its first meeting in 1948 at the Royal Hotel – now the office of Federal MP and shadow defence minister Richard Marles.
Other noteworthy local members include publisher and politician James Harrison and pioneer Thomas Austin – infamous for introducing rabbits to Australia.
