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The Deputy Grand Treasurer, R W Bro lan Smart, PJGW has alerted
the Editorial Committee to a Brother who has, over many years,
promoted NSW and ACT Freemasonry in interstate jurisdictions and at
an international level. The Brother referred to is W Bro Rick Howes of
Lodge Wyong Tuggerah Lakes No. 247.
Bro Rick has a hobby making gavels (stand mounted) along with other
wooden artefacts, such as specially
designed clocks. The gavels are not just ordinary gavels. ln some cases thousands of individual pieces of
Australian timbers are used in making a gavel, each of which is a Work of art. One of his early gavels was
presented to The NSW Masonic Youth Welfare in Sydney and used to raise $2,788 for Youth Welfare. It is
currently on display at the Masonic Youth Welfare Headquarters in Sydney
(1) Victoria Gavel: The first presentation commenced in Australia in 1993
to Lodge Adastral No. 397 Victorian Constitution, and was subsequently
presented to 32 other lodges in Victoria and South Australia.
It returned home to Wyong in March 2003.
(2) Port Macquarie Gavel: A second gavel commenced its journey in 1993 from
Lodge Port Macquarie Daylight No. 991, NSW Constitution, and progressed through 25
NSW metropolitan and country lodges, it has since travelled to additional lodges in Scotland,
(2 Lodges), Orkney Islands (3 Lodges), Shetland islands (2 Lodges), Finland, (12 Lodges)
and Malta(3 Lodges), a total of 46 lodges.
I have received this Gavel back home.
(3) Tamworth Gavel: Also in 1993 a third gavel was presented to Lodge Tamworth. No. 652, New
South Wales Constitution, it has been to 12 other NSW country lodges, 11 Queensland
country lodges and from there was transported to Lodge Warwick No. 8011 EC. (1 Lodge)
From there it travelled to the USA - New York (to Warwick Lodge No. 544 (1 Lodge),
Rhode Island, to Warwick Lodge No.16, There are 4 Warwick Lodges in the world, this
Gavel has been presented into all 4. At the Rhode Island Warwick Lodge, all 4 W/Masters
were all present, even the one from Queensland. While in Rhode Island, this Gavel was
presented into Ionic Lodge No. 113,(2 Lodges O/A) Connecticut, (1 Lodge) Massachusetts,(3 Lodges) New
Hampshire, (2 Lodges) and Vermont, (5 Lodges) Quebec, (5 Lodges) New York Grand Lodge, Syria-Lebanon
Grand Lodge, (+ 1 Lodge) Cyprus Grand Lodge, (+ 4 Lodges) Greece Grand Lodge, (+5 Lodges) Italy,
Belgium, (2 Lodges) France, (2 Lodges) Even though this Travelling Gavel should have been returned Back to
NSW Australia. This gavel had around 46 engraving plates on it my last count it had been presented into at least
61 Lodges, and still going.
This Gavel has been returned back to me in NSW, Australia
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(4) England Gavel No. 1: A fourth gavel was presented in 1994 to
Lodge Lennox No. 123 EC This Travelling Gavel has been presented into
46 Lodge in England, 2 in The Netherlands, 14 in France, 5 in Belgium, 2
in germany, 1 in South Wales, 2 in North Wales. As of 2012 this Gavel has
been presented into approximately 70 Lodges O/A This gavel was
presented into;
Lodge Fidélité et Prudence:
11th March 2010, Geneva, Switzerland
I haven’t heard back from this Lodge or any other Lodge since 11 th March 2010
(5) Alberta Gavel: Gavel number five was presented to the Grand
Lodge of Alberta Canada in 1995 and has travelled to (16) lodges in Alberta,
(3) in Ontario, (1) in Manitoba and an unknown number in Saskatchewan.
This Gavel has been returned back to NSW, Australia
(6) Western Australia Gavel: Gavel number six was presented to
Lodge Champion Bay No. 130, WA Constitution in 1995, This Travelling
Gavel was presented into (49) Lodges in Western Australia
and (1) in Victoria, (Australia)
This gavel has been returned Back to me, here in NSW, Australia
(7) Ireland Gavel: Gavel seven, presented to Lodge Scrabo No. 714
Irish Constitution in 1995, (is moving very slowly) This Gavel has been to
38 Lodges, that I know of it has another (18) Lodges to visit before it’s return
back to Australia
(8) Malaysia Gavel: Gavel eight, presented to Lodge Tullibardine in
The East No. 1118 Malaysian Constitution in 1995, This Gavel was
presented into (14) Lodges in Malaysia. The Brethren in Malaysia wouldn’t
pas on the Gavel, they kept it in their Lodges for 12 months at a time. I
arranged with their Grand Lodge which is in Singapore, to return it back to me here in Australia. On it’s return, I
refurbished it and had it presented into Vancouver, Canada on the 17th December 2002. As of 17th March 2012 it
has been presented into (25) Lodges in Vancouver BC
(9) New Zealand Gavel: Gavel nine was presented to Lodge
Hamutama, No. 437 New Zealand Constitution in 1996. This Travelling
Gavel was presented into (56) Lodges through-out the North and South Islands
This Gavel has been returned back to me here in NSW Australia
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(10) USA Grand Lodge Gavel: Gavel number ten, referred to as the
‘Grand Lodge Gavel’1998 This Travelling gavel was to be presented into 56
Grand Lodges through-out America and Canada. It was presented into the
following Grand Lodges; New York G/L, Virginia G/L,
District of Columbia G/L, Massachusetts G/L, Connecticut G/L,
New Hampshire G/L, Rhode Island G/L, Vermont G/L, Ontario G/L,
Newfoundland and Labrador G/L,
New Brunswick G/L, Nova Scotia G/L, Quebec G/L, Prince Edward Island G/L, Alberta G/L, It was when it
was presented into the Grand Lodge of Alberta, that this Travelling Gavel started being presented into Craft
Lodges. It was presented into (6) Lodges in Alberta It was then taken to the top of Canada,
against the Alaskan Border and presented into
(3) Lodges in the Grand Registry of British Columbia & Yukon
Grand Region of British Columbia & Yukon in Inuvic and Dawson City
From there it journeyed over into Alaska and was presented into the Alaska Grand Lodge, which they then
presented this gavel into (14) Lodges in Alaska. It was then taken to Nevada and presented into (7) Lodges.
From there it was presented into (2) Lodges in California. The last time that I heard of this Gavel was 13 th
January 2011, when it was presented into;
Elk Grove Lodge #173
13th January
2011.
Elk Grove; California
(11) Ontario Gavel: Gavel number eleven was presented to Lodge
Bonnechere No. 443, Canadian Constitution, Ontario, this gavel was presented
into the Ottawa District, and presented into 31 Lodges, it then journeyed to Quebec
and was presented into (7) Lodges. It then went to Ontario, where it was presented
into (3) Lodges, it then was presented into the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, where it
was then presented into (3) Lodges. It then journeyed to New Foundland and Labrador, wher it was presented
into (7) Lodges. This Travelling Gavel was presented to the Grand master of Quebec;
Grand Lodge of Quebec, A.F & A.M.
M.A.F. et A. Francaise
Grand master, MW.Bro. Emanual Liechti
And the
The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge,
Province of Ontario and Jurisdiction
Grand Master: MW.Bro.Gordon Wharton <> 2002
Also
Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia 22nd Oct 2002
Also
St. Laurence District: Grand Lodge of Canada & Province of Ontario
and
Grand Master of Nova Scotia Grand Lodge.
This Gavel has been returned back to NSW, Australia
(12) England Gavel No. 2: Finally Gavel twelve was presented, to Lodge
Wilfrun No. 4602 EC, in March 2002; This Travelling Gavel was presented into
(60) Lodges through-out nearly every Province (County) in England. As well as
many provincial Grand Lodges.This Gavel was by far the best and fastest Travelling
Gavel out of the 12 that I made and presented to the world of Masonic Lodges
This Gavel was returned back to NSW, Australia
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W Bro Howes has displayed considerable skill and creativity in the manufacture of each gavel and its unique
carrying case, (which in itself is a work of art). His dedication to the concept of the Travelling Gavel has meant
that he has, of necessity, maintained contact with hundreds of lodges to ensure that the gavels keep moving from
lodge to lodge and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Contacts have included Grand Masters and Grand Secretaries and
have resulted in a wealth of information about the location of the lodges visited by the Travelling Gavel, the
population, culture, industries and other items of interest of other jurisdictions.
Perhaps one day Bro Rick will publish the complete story of his Travelling Gavels?.
Apart from my 12 Travelling Gavels, I also have made a few “Speciality Gavels such as;
This is W. Bro. Eric Mole, of Cheshire, England
I made this “Special gavel for him because he Hosted my Website for life
for FREE
This is W. Bro. Colin Taylor
Of Cheshire, England
He made my Website for FREE
This gavel & base is made up out of 23,830 pieces of
Australian Red cedar & radiate Pine
This gavel is made up out of
1,500 pieces of wood
This Gavel is made out of 2,500 pieces of wood
The 12 Travelling Gavels and dates
(1) Victoria, Australia, 1993 ~ (2) Port Macquarie N.S.W,1993 ~
(3) Tamworth N.S.W 1993 (4) England Gavel No.1 1994 ~ (5) Alberta, Canada 1995 ~(6) Western
Australia 1995 ~ (7) Ireland 1995 ~ (8) Malaysia 1995 ~
(9) New Zealand 1996 ~ (10) America 1998 ~ (11) Ontario, Canada 1999 ~
(12) England Gavel No. 2 2002