Interview with a mason

12 July 24

An interview with Bro Tim Bocquet

Freemason chats with young masons about their stories.

What year did you become a Freemason, and at which Lodge?

I was initiated into Freemasonry at the Yass Lodge of Concord in March 2023, with guidance from my mentor, W Bro Alex Szokalski.

How old were you when you became a Freemason, and how old are you now?

I was 40 and am now 41. The timing was perfect, coming after a fun-filled 20s, a career-focused 30s, and now at 40s centred on personal growth and community involvement.

Why did you want to become a Freemason?

After moving from Canberra to Murrumbateman, I sought a community group. The charitable and traditional aspects of Freemasonry attracted me, inspired by family stories about my great grandfather Thomas Trembath, a respected lodge and community member in Barellan, NSW. My Grandmother is incredibly proud that I am continuing the tradition of Freemasonry within the family, and it is a good feeling knowing that I have gone through the same rituals as he went through, albeit 100 years later (his initiation was conductedin 1924).

What is your current position in the lodge?

I am a Master Mason and this year, I’ll assume the role of Inner Guard at the re-installation of our Worshipful Master, W Bro James Arentz for which I am very excited to assume. I’ll be taking over from Bro Spilstead, another young Freemason who started around the same time as me.

What have you contributed to Freemasonry, and what has it given you?

I become a Freemason during a local membership decline in Yass. We averted closure by relocating to a new meeting place in the CWA hall and secured grants for community projects and are again engaging with our community. Freemasonry has provided me with supportive friends, confidence, and a more complete life perspective.

What experiences have you had visiting other lodges?

I enjoy the camaraderie and hospitality at other lodges, from Canberra to country lodges like Lodge Young Burrangong and Lodge Federal United. Each visit reaffirms the respect and warmth among members, old and young. I can strongly recommend visiting Lodge Federal United in Harden, if only for Bro Elliot’s trifle, and everyone is of course welcome to come and visit us at Yass Lodge of Concord.

What is your occupation?

I work at the Australian National University within the School of Computing, assisting research students and academics.

Family: Can you share something about your personal life?

I have a very supportive partner, Zak. A rugby mad Kiwi who discovered AFL during lockdown, he now (unfortunately) supports Collingwood. He has been very supportive of my journey into the world of Freemasonry.

What are your hobbies and interests?

I am a fond gardener and reader. Gardening helps me see an everchanging result of hard work and patience and I will happily read everything and anything whether it be books on history, to classics (such as Hemmingway or Ruark), or poetry. The poetry of Rudyard Kipling was another reason that I found myself looking at Freemasonry, and the words of The Mother Lodge are as striking now as I’m sure they were in his day.

What’s been your favourite book and or movie this year?

I’ve recently completed Thackeray’s Vanity Fair, a long slog but worth it.

Reflecting on your time before and after becoming a Freemason, what insights can you share?

Approach Freemasonry with an open, flexible mindset. Value the experiences, help setup and pack up, engage with others, and learn from corrections without taking them personally. Maintain connections outside the lodge and balance commitments. Most importantly, enjoy the ride.

If I asked you to describe Freemasonry today, how would you respond?

I often casually say that Freemasonry is a Men’s Shed for men in tuxedos – it involves the same basic principles in that both groups are about supporting one another, learning, and helping the community. Having said this, Freemasonry is so much more; Freemasonry is for those who like to socialise with like-minded men of all ages and backgrounds. It can be for those who appreciate rich history and symbolism, its aesthetic and its poetic aspects. It can be for those who prefer tradition, ritual, and its connection with God, whatever you perceive him to be. Or, like myself, it can be for those who enjoy all the above

By RW Bro Owen Sandry