An Address by The Provisional Potentate

Nobles and Friends,

I have been given the distinct privilege of serving as the Provisional Potentate of the newly established Acrux Shrine Temple, henceforth known as Acrux Shriners (UD). It is an extraordinary honour to represent this Temple, Under Dispensation, as officially decreed by Shriners International at the recent Imperial Session in Reno, Nevada.

With our recent grant of Dispensation, we are now recognised as a Temple (UD), indicating our status under dispensation. Our next milestone is to achieve our full Charter, which requires growing our membership to over 300 active and financial Nobles. Our target is to have at least 330 Nobles at the time of our application.

In 2022, Shriners worldwide celebrated 150 years of our storied existence and the tremendous philanthropic impact we have had globally. Here in Australia, our journey began in 2009. The early years were challenging as we worked to educate our Australian brethren about our mission and values. Despite these challenges, we have made remarkable progress.

Our journey has been greatly supported by Aahmes Shriners in Livermore, California, who served as our sponsoring Temple. Their unwavering support has fostered enduring friendships and invaluable guidance. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the current Potentate, Illustrious Sir Mike Salazar, his Divan, and all previous Potentates and Divan members for their support over the years.

Special thanks are due to Mrs. Merry Burch, our former Admin contact in Livermore, whose cheerful assistance was always appreciated, and her successor, Sharon James, whose dedication has been equally commendable. Their efforts, along with those of the Admin and Accounting teams, have been pivotal in our success.

Our development has also been shepherded by Illustrious Sir Mike Cornell and Lady Norma Cornell, whose visits, gifts, good humour, and guidance have been invaluable. Mike, as the Ambassador to Australia, has been a crucial link in our communications with Shriners International. His contributions have been indispensable, and we look forward to working with him until we are granted full charter status.

So where are we at now?

Currently, our presence in Australia includes:

– The Melbourne Shrine Club in Victoria, with a second club forming.

– The Brisbane Shrine Club in Queensland, with the Toowoomba Shrine Club to be dedicated on November 9th. Additionally, a club in Townsville is in development.

– The Sydney Shrine Club in New South Wales, with the Hunter Valley Shrine Club to be dedicated on August 10th in Warners Bay.

– A Shrine Club in Perth, Western Australia.

– An emerging Adelaide Shrine Club in South Australia (just awaiting approval from Grand Lodge).

As of today, we have four established Shrine Clubs across four states. By the year’s end, we anticipate expanding to eight clubs across five states.

This year’s project focuses on meeting all compliance requirements set by Shriners International. We have organised our bank accounts, established our database, social media platforms and website. We have also secured comprehensive insurance coverage, ordered Fezzes and merchandise, and scheduled several club ceremonials across Australia.

The road ahead is demanding, but with our exceptional team, we are well-prepared to meet these challenges.

I look forward to an active year travelling to the various ceremonials and meeting with you all as we work together to grow this wonderful philanthropy.

Yours in the Faith,

Provisional Potentate
Acrux Shriners (UD)