Autumn 2020 - Page 1
Freemasons Victoria News
Meet Paul Brennand, Grand Super, Membership ■ “Happy, healthy and engaged lodges,” is the motto of Paul Brennand, Chair of the 2020-21 Membership Volunteer Action Team. VWor. Bro. Brennand has dissolved the previous Team, and is now advertising for volunteers across Victoria to join him in a deliberate, planned effort to develop and retain members. Paul is enthusiastic about the membership prospects for Freemasons Victoria. Paul was born in post-war London, “within the sound of Bow Bells”. Bomb sites were his childhood playground. He was schooled at Tottenham Grammar, and he has been a lifetime supporter of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Paul grew up in a happy, loving working-class family. His father, Ben, was a public servant, who started work at age 12 as a Post Office boy. Ben served in the Navy. Ben and wife Marge married in July 1939. World War II started in September 1939. Paul had an older sister, Sandra; and a younger brother, Garry, who studied for a Master of Economics, and settled in Vienna. Paul was born in 1948, first attending Risley Avenue Primary School in Tottenham. He did well but did not enjoy school; he mentions that he did not attend university. His first job, at age 17 in 1965, was with Honeywell: “Instantly I became an IT person.” Paul said he took to information technology in a big wya. Within a few years he became the UK trouble shooter, moving around the country.
● Pam and Paul Brennand (Grand Superintendent of Membership). Elder son Stuart had alHe and wife Pam met at a tralia. Pam was pregnant with ready moved to Merimbula. country location in July 1969. Pam came from Lough- twin sons - Robin and Mar- (Robin and Martin stayed in tin. Paul describes Pam as the UK.) borough in the Midlands. Stuart was diagnosed with They were engaged one “the most wonderful supportmonth later, and married in ing person that I could have”. Multiple Sclerosis at age 28, There were further career about 20 years ago. At the September 1970. Pam had been working in fashion, as moves to Western Australia, time, Paul had also been dia designer, particularly with being headhunted for a senior agnosed with serious illness, position in the United King- and they were both hospitalchildren’s wear. Paul was offered promo- dom, then being ‘recycled’ ised together for a year. Stuart, although wheeltion, and was given Scotland into the Honeywell operachair-bound, walked down as his territory. From his sales tions in Australia. The Brennands moved to the aisle when he was marsuccess, he won a trip to Jamaica where he met Honey- Cairns in Far North Queens- ried to Amanda. Stuart is a well team members from land, and Paul worked with Lewis. an Indian software company Son Robin is married to Australia. Six weeks later, Paul re- for 10 years, Telstra, intro- Chez, and they have two ceived a letter with a job of- duced Optus to the region, grand-daughters, Isabelle fer, and by 1974, the couple and also had a decade-long and Jessica. Robin has a senior posiand their young son Stuart stint with the Department of tion with Virgin Money. had arrived in Sydney, Aus- Main Roads.