What is ANZMRC?
15 July 24
A short history of ANZMRC
By RW Bro Kim Nielsen
The ANZMRC (established 1991) brings together the Masonic Research Lodges and Study Groups throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The aim of the ANZMRC was to promote research and education within Freemasonry in Australia and New Zealand and to act as a liaison body to the various masonic research groups in those jurisdictions. The organisation seeks to promote masonic research and education through biennial conferences that are rotated around the States of Australia and the North and South Islands of New Zealand.
The first conference was held in 1992 in Melbourne, and the most recent conference was in Dunedin (NZ) in 2022, with the 2024 Conference confirmed for Sydney.
At these conferences the research lodges are able to put forward the name of one distinguished masonic researcher, who is then designated as a Kellerman Lecturer (KL) and delivers his paper at the conference. All the lectures are published in the biennial conference proceedings, which are available to all conference delegates, and also added to the Masonic Digital Library. Kellerman Lecturers are now awarded according to the Research entity they represent.
Born in New Zealand in 1902, Maurice Herman (Harry) Kellerman devoted much of his life to teaching, rising to many eminent positions and receiving numerous professional awards culminating in an OBE in 1969. Harry Kellerman applied this same passion and commitment to Freemasonry, joining in 1924 and becoming the Worshipful Master of many lodges. For nearly 20 years Bro Harry was the Grand Librarian of the United Grand Lodge of New South Wales rising to the rank of Past Deputy Grand Master. He was a founding member of the Research Lodge of NSW, writing many papers for the lodge and editing its publications. Bro Harry Kellerman was such a well-known and esteemed lecturer and author that in his honour the ANZMRC designated their biennial conference lecturers Kellerman Lectures, as a tribute to Bro Harry’s passion for spreading and encouraging masonic knowledge and research.
The next conference will be held in Sydney on 17–19 October 2024. Go to http://www.anzmrc.org/2024-conference-Sydney to find out more!
Aims of ANZMRC
- Promote masonic research and education
- Act as a liaison body between its affiliated research lodges and chapters
- Organise biennial conferences across New Zealand and Australia
- Organise and coordinate Speaking Tours by noted masonic researchers
- Publish the proceedings of its conferences and tour books of each touring speaker
ANZMRC office bearers 2022 to 2024
- President - David Slater (NSW/ACT)
- Vice President (1) - Kerry Nichols (NZ)
- Vice President (2) - Mike Kearsley (NZ)
- Vice President (3) - Adam Brighouse (Qld)
- Treasurer (Aust) - Richard Dawes (NSW/ACT)
- Treasurer (NZ) - Phil Ivamy (NZ)
- Secretary - Brendan Kyne (Vic)
- IT Officer - Pete Grounds (Vic)
- Immediate Past President - Ian Green (Tas) (Ex-officio member – appointed as of right)