Westcrag Lodge of the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows

The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows was conceived as a friendly society which provided financial support to its members in need and promoted their moral, social and intellectual development. It was established in Australia in the 1840s.¹

Lodges proliferated in Australia and even small communities were able to generate sufficient numbers to form local Lodges.  The Bulga Plateau, located in the hinterland north west of Wingham, has always been sparsely populated but, in January 1920 it was able to form its own lodge having previously been a sub-branch of the T S Moore Lodge (Bobin).  The inaugural meeting was held at the residence of Bro Clem Whitbread and District Master Baines was on hand to perform the dedication ceremony.

The first name suggested for the new lodge was Mountain View, but a subsequent suggestion of Westcrag was adopted instead.  Westcrag was said to reference Bulga men who had volunteered in the Great War:²

William Kinkhead
Edwin Pfeiffer and Edwin Robinson
Schmitzer (T J)
Theo Edwards
Clive Rose
Raymond Baly and Raymond Robinson
Augustus Rose
George Gillfillan

These names are amongst those listed on the Honour Roll in the Bulga Soldiers Memorial Hall.³ 

Author: Penny Teerman