My Freemasons News. March 27, 2020. Meet Anthony Bucca

Autumn 2020 - Page 1

Freemasons Victoria News

Anthony Bucca, Deputy Grand Master-Elect ■ “We are unique and for too long we have been concerned with numbers and minutiae rather than the big picture.”

So says Tony Bucca, ahead of his installation as Deputy Grand Master of Freemasons Victoria.

“Our organisation will always appeal to good men and as numbers inevitably continue to decrease, we will need good and inspiring leadership and communication.

“We must go back to basics and acknowledge what we are - a fraternal, voluntary and benevolent group of good men. We are not a slogan.”

Tony Bucca began his Masonic career in 1980 at the City of Brunswick United Lodge No 244, serving in all offices, and as a Worshipful Master in 1986 and again in 2004.

He served in eight active Grand Lodge teams as

● Tony Bucca, Deputy Grand Master-Elect, with wife Anna.

Assistant Grand Pursuivant Member (2004) of Lodge in 1990, Senior Grand Dea- Nanyang No 1828, Scottish con in 1992, and as a Grand Constitution, Malaysia.

Officer - Grand Registrar - in He is a member of 2000-05, then Senior Grand Greensborough Mark Lodge Warden in 2009. and Northern Chapter.

He developed the concept His involvements have inand was Foundation Master cluded: (2004) of Lodge Amicus No ■ Company Secretary, 928.

Davies St Masonic Temple The members of Amicus Limited, 1986-92, have raised in excess of ■ Group Leader, Under 40s $400,000 for charity as a re- seminar, sult of major functions. The ■ Assistant Grand Purinvolvement of ladies has been promoted to a great de- suivant, 1990, ■ Liaison Officer, 1991, gree.

Tony’s passion for Free- ■ Area Director of Liaison, masonry is evident. As a Bar- 1991-93, rister and Solicitor, he has ■ Inspector of Workings, brought disciplined and intel- two lodges, 1991-95, ligent thinking to the wide ■ Approved Open Night range of tasks for which he Speaker, 1991-93, ■ Senior Grand Deacon, has volunteered. ● Tony Bucca as Senior Grand Warden, 2009.

He was a Foundation 1992.

Page 2 - Autumn 2020

Freemasons Victoria News Family is everything

■ Tony Bucca is married to Anna, a retired accountant.

He was two children: ■ Kelly Spencer, an anaesthetist, ■ Adrian Bucca, a selfemployed civil engineer.

There are two grand children: Emma and Sebastian Spencer.

Tony is stepfather to Hui-Hui Wang, a graduate administrator, based in Shenzhen, China.

Born in 1953, Tony undertook Arts/Law degrees, graduating with a major in Economics.

He was admitted to practice in March 1977, and worked as an employee in private practice and in the legal division of a large government instrumentality, and then as a partner in a number of firms.

He is now an independent consulttant and presently works on criminal and civil litigation and large commercial matters.

● Tony Bucca, then Senior Grand Warden, at the first Freemasons Pink Breakfast in 2009.

Tony Bucca was appointed to the Royal Freemasons’ Homes Board of Management in 1992, serving until 2009.

During that time he held positions as: ■ Chairman of Fundraising, ■ Member of the Executive Committee, ■ Member of the Finance Committee, ■ Vice-Chairman for two years, and ■ Chairman for three years.

During his tenure as ViceChairman and Chairman, the Homes branched out into development projects in Carlton and Heidelberg and delivered a new income stream.

Tony was appointed to the Board of General Purposes in 1999 and served continu● Grandchildren Emma, 3, and Sebastian (‘Bas’), ously for six years.

16 months, at Geelong with grandfather Tony.

He was a member of the Legal and Constitutional Committee for an extended period.

He was also a member of the Ethics and Ethics Review Committees and their successors in title from the mid 1990s.

As Grand Registrar from 2000-05, Tony was a member of: ■ Board of General Purposes, ■ Executive Committee, ■ Remuneration Committee, ■ Legal and Constitutional Committee (Chair), ■ General Committee, ■ Electoral College, ■ Proxy for Grand Master at various meetings of the Hospital Board.

Tony was appointed as Grand Representative for the Grand Lodge of China since 2005. He was re-appointed in May last year for a period of five years.

In 2009, as Senior Grand Warden, Tony helped to develop the concept of the ‘Pink Breakfast’, essentially run by the ladies of the Grand Team Substantial funds were raised for women’s health issues, particularly breast cancer.

As Grand Registrar, Tony was centrally involved in some far-reaching decisions: ■ Establishment of the Electoral College and the downsizing of the Board of General Purposes, ■ Legal defence regarding a Freemasons’ Hospital matter, ■ Settling Supreme Court proceedings relating to ownership and disposition of Masonic property, ■ Constitutional changes, ■ Introduction of Open Installations, ■ Introduction of model bylaws and regulations to give lodges greater autonomy, ■ Changes in disciplinary proceedings and complaints bringing the Craft into line with the law.

Autumn 2020 - Page 3

Freemasons Victoria News

● Ahead of the (abbreviated) Grand Installation, Past Grand Masters gathered at East Melbourne to support Grand Master-Elect Richard Elkington and Deputy Grand Master-Elect Tony Bucca. At back, from left: Bob Jones, Hillel Benedykt, Don Reynolds and Bruce Bartrop. (Best wishes also sent by Garry Sebo, Carl Stewart and Neville Smith, with apologies for their inability to attend.)

Tony Bucca is keen that disciplinary and legal matters include the elements of fairness, natural justice and par■ Tony Bucca says: “My vision is that our were the assets of Freemasonry and not inity of sentences. organisation again become s a relevant and dividual lodges.

“I also believe that there integral part of society. That we arrest the “I see the Grand Master as being the cusshould be an impartial and decline in membership and attract and re- todian of our landmarks and usages, the independent mediator/omtain enthusiastic new members of all ages public face and spokesman for the budsman to resolve issues and backgrounds.” organisation, a communicator, and a leader early in order to avoid proTony wants to see lodges meet in attrac- in every sense of the word - not a ruler. tracted and sometimes pubtive, modern and financially self-support“He must have the ability to embrace lic disputes. ing buildings, and that Freemasons Victoria problems and to unify and engage our mem“I have contributed to foroperates within its financial means. bership. mulating a change in voting “Throughout my 40-year Masonic career, “Leadership is about inspiration, courprocedures. I was proactive I’ve demonstrated a willingness to think age, imagination, empowerment and the in suggesting changes to the outside the square and to be actively in- ability to involve others at all levels. application procedure for volved in a meaningful and proactive man“We have of late become too concerned those who apply to join via ner at all levels of the organisation, both with ‘Corporatese’ such as branding, prodoutside channels to ensure charitable and administration. uct, today’s man, the Masonic experience full and poper disclosure not “Constitutional amendments were intro- and so on. We need to recapture the essence only of disclosable outcomes duced by me in my role as Grand Registrar of our fraternity. but of findings of guilt and in an endeavour to improve the Craft, to “No-one knows the organisation better pending prosecutions which make it more user-friendly and to retain the than we do and we have enough talent to are not contained within Poproceeds of the sale of property assets which handle such matters in house.” lice checks.

‘My vision for Freemasons Victoria’

Page 4 - Autumn 2020

Freemasons Victoria News Tony believes in Masons donating money and physical work at a community level.

He says that Freemasons Victoria and the Foundation have attempted to buy miniscule amounts of publicity “by making extremely large donations which are quickly forgotten”.

“We need volunteers to assist with administration just as we did in the past when we had many more members and little technology but provided a better service.

“As a governing body, Grand Lodge must be more receptive to the needs of the rank and file. We cannot continue to be unduly prescriptive.

“We must not capitulate to vocal minorities and allow departure from established customs and Masonic Ritual.

After all, that is our point of difference.

“I am adamantly opposed to tampering with ritual and ceremonial. I am also opposed to the reading of ritual unless there are exceptional circumstances.

“We must be prepared to listen, but we should not change who we are and who we have been. Our history, culture, traditions, lifelong friendships, constant values, and principles, and our charitable pursuits are what set us apart, and what I firmly believe will appeal to future

● Tony Bucca with son Adrian Bucca. members. I do not accept that ‘Our strategic plan we need to change our funrefers to damentals to appeal to accountability and ‘millenials’ integrity and we must Tony says that every Freeadhere to this.’ mason is now a member of Grand Lodge, and that is a move for the better.

“I trust that every Freemason will be able to vote electronically should they wish to do so.

“That is the best form of empowerment we can have.

“We will need to explain proposed changes to all members in such a way as to give them ownership.

“The changes must be logical, necessary and fully understood.

“If not so, then they will not be approved.

“For too long, the attitude has appeared to be ‘trust us, ● Tony Bucca with fellow Lodge Amicus member Tomasz Wojciechowski. we know what’s best’. That

is not acceptable.”

Tony calls for Freemasons Victoria to be transparent and open.

“Our strategic plan refers to accountability and integrity and we must adhere to this.

Tony is blunt about the moves that the organisation needs to make.

“We are unique and for too long we have been concerned with numbers and minutiae rather than the big picture.

“The fact of the matter is that despite the best efforts of many, we continue to decline and will do so in the forseeable future.

“The appointment of outside CEOs, the failure to use traditional volunteers, capitation fees, cost of administration and the lack of services are the cause of considerable angst.”

Tony says it is essential that the organistion lives within its means. Grand Master travel allowances in the past have been out of all proportion, he says.

He criticises the ‘business class’ mentality, and questions the need to “fly the flag in places which are of no relevance to us in Victoria”.

“We must and will reign in our expenses and reduce capitation fees and investigate alternatives to make our administration operations more sustainable.”

He backs the Grand Secretary, who he says must have total charge of adminstration and Masonic matters.

“The incumbent cannot possibly serve three masters as is the current situation.

“Our administration is not ‘big business’ and we should stop pretending to be big business.”

Tony wants to give special attention to reinvigorating country districts “which are in danger of becoming a Masonic wasteland”.

Tony is looking forward eagerly to commencing a busy schedule of visiting lodges across Victoria immediately the pandemic restrictions have lifted.