PERIOD dress, a boat and a town crier have helped to recreate the arrival of Manchester Unity IOOF deputies to Port Fairy in 1865 and 1872.
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The re-enactment also honoured the 175-year anniversary of the mutual aid society in Victoria. Its founding began a long and distinguished passage of a Friendly Society steeped in historical care and service to its members in both welfare and benevolence.
A dispensation was granted for the formation of the Loyal Price Albert Lodge at Port Fairy in 1848 and it became the Port Fairy District in 1855 – the third in the Order of Victoria.
An annual conference arrived in Port Fairy in 1865 for the first time, with deputies arriving onboard coastal steamer, Rob Roy.
The outward journey from Melbourne was very rough and some passengers disembarked at Warrnambool and continued the journey by horse-drawn carriage.
The lodge’s noble grand Eric Bishop said the re-enactment was special.
“This is a re-enactment of what people have done in years gone by to get to the annual moveable conferences,” he said.
He said about 80 people would gather in Port Fairy for this year’s conference, which starts on Monday.
A new grand master will be elected at the conference’s closing event on Wednesday night.