Farewell to a brother

08 July 24

Vale MW Bro Ronald Johnson

On Monday 3 June, our 30th Grand Master, MW Bro Ronald Lewis Hale Johnson Member of the Order of Australia, holder of the Carrington Medal of Honour, passed peacefully to the Grand Lodge above.

Our esteemed brother was initiated into Lodge Blacktown No 393 on 10 July 1954, he affiliated with Lodge Burnside No 729 on 21 April 1961 and was Worshipful Master in Lodge Burnside for the1969/70 term. MW Bro Ron affiliated with Lodge Stanmore No 366 on 21 June 1995 and Jerrabomberra Daylight Lodge No 1001 on 14 March 1990. He served this Grand Lodge as District Grand Inspector of Workings in District 39 for the1976-1978 term and was conferred Past Junior Grand Warden on 13 June 1984. He also served as Deputy Grand Master from 1985 to1988, serving this jurisdiction with distinction as Grand Master from 1988 to1992.

MW Bro Ron received his 40 years Service Jewel and Certificate in 1994, his 50 years Service Jewel & Certificate in 2004, his 60 Years Service Jewel and Certificate in 2014, and his 70-Years Service Jewel and Certificate in 2024.

He was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 1992, the Carrington Medal of Honour in the early 2000s, and he also served as a Grand Lodge Trustee.

MW Bro Johnson served on the Board of General Purposes, he was Chairman of the Masonic Hospital, President and Patron of Frank Whiddon Masonic Homes, and Chairman of what was then the Grand Charity in the late 1990s. He was instrumental in the re-structure and naming of what we now know as MasoniCare (our Grand Charity). Ron sat on the Board and offered endless support to MasoniCare from its formation back in the very early 2000s until just recently when ill health prevented him from continuing.

At Grand Communications MW Bro Ron would be seated close to the left of the Grand Master. As a mark of respect, he was represented through the vacant chair at the June Quarterly Communication. Ron was a mentor, and an inspiration to us all. He was a humble, kind and generous man and it was always a pleasure to be in his company.

We can be sure that the Grand Masters will really miss those quarterly meetings with Ron. Everyone will miss his conversation, his humour and his guidance, but most of all, it is his friendship that will be missed.

MW Bro Ron and his wife May were very close friends of our 31st Grand Master MW Bro Noel Fredrick Dunn, his wife Fay, and many others who are all really hurting at this very sad time.

On behalf of all masons in the NSW and ACT jurisdiction and beyond, we send our heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his amazing, caring and loving daughter Terrie-Ann. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and the family during this difficult time. We are always here to support, and we will always cherish the wonderful memories of the times we had with her dad.

MW Bro Ronald Lewis Hale Johnson AM, 30th Grand Master of NSW and the ACT, lived his life with humility, kindness, and generosity, and served the office of Grand Master with honour and dignity.

MW Bro Ron Johnson will be forever missed.