Bro Neville’s sportsground

23 January 26

RW Bro Neville Rupert Roy Simpson JP PAGM was an exceptional man and Mason.

By RW Bro Rob Finlay with extracts and images by kind permission of The Western Herald

Neville and his father were initiated together into Lodge Central Australia No 88 in September 1951. Over the next 70 years Neville served as WM of his mother lodge on six occasions, also as DGIW of the then District 80 (1982–84) and ultimately receiving the conferred rank of Past Assistant Grand Master in 2006.

As an outstanding ritualist Neville could present so many charges at ‘the drop of a hat’. He was heavily involved in the Royal Arch (as First Principal and DGIW) and the Ancient and Accepted Rite. Neville installed his second son Russell as WM of Neville’s mother lodge in the presence of MW Bro Noel Dunn in 1994.

Neville spent almost his entire life in the Bourke District, the product of bush parents from whom he learnt so much. After leaving school and subsequently marrying Pam Smith, they grew vegetables and then cotton from their irrigation holding just out of Bourke in the late 1960s.

In the years after retiring Neville became involved with many community organisations in addition to Freemasonry: the Anglican Church, NSW Graziers Association, a Justice of the Peace, Bourke Rural Land Board, Rural Fire Service, CWA (assisting Pam where he could) and a supporter of anything charitable. He would often relate tales of the bush from yesteryear, as well as his prolific reciting of poetry, from the humorous to the serious. Neville passed to the Grand Lodge Above on 18 February 2023 aged 93.

The naming of an oval at North Bourke in Neville’s honour took place on 21 June 2025. The General Manager of the Bourke Shire Council Mrs Leonie Brown conducted the ceremony in the presence of family, friends and community representatives from as far afield as Queensland, Walcha, Sydney, Dubbo and Orange. Neville’s widow Pam carried out the unveiling with the Mayor of the Bourke Shire Council, Lachlan Ford.

With the official opening of the Neville Simpson Sportsground, the community has recognised the tireless dedication to others by RW Bro Neville Simpson and Mrs Pam Simpson. Both Pam and Neville were a great support to each other in their pursuits.