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Friendly Societies

G.U.O.O.O.F.
The Loyal Victoria Lodge of Manaro, No. 1182 of the Grand United Order of Oddfellows, was opened at Cooma on 2nd. January, 1865, with 18 members, Bro. John Roddan being President and Bro. E. Hewison Elective Secretary. The Lodge has continued to grow, and has attained considerable strength. It has sister lodges in other portions of the district. Bro. C. O'Brien, Past District Master and District Secretary, has for years been a tower of strength to the Lodge. The Order has lodges in many district and towns, and is numerically very strong. Bro. A. J. Simmons, of Berridale, is District Master.

MANCHESTER UNITY.
The Loyal Monaro Lodge, No. 119, of the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows, was founded at Cooma on 26th October, 1882. The Lodge was opened by P.D.G.M. Dyball, of the Goulburn District, the place of meeting being Mr. George Rolfe's Prince of Wales Hotel. Bro. Christopher Alt was N.G. and Bro. C. H. Stewart, Secretary.

The place of meeting was changed from the Prince of Wales Hotel to the Church of England School Hall. After a few years' occupancy of this the Lodge secured rooms in Montgomery's Buildings, and since 1914 has been meeting in a room rented from the Masonic Lodge. The Lodge has a Merit Board, on which the names of seventy five P.N.G.'s appear. Three brethren have attained District Master's rank, viz.: P.D. Master Alt, P.D. Master J. A. Perkins, P.D. Master J. A. Norris. The Lodge has over 100 members good on its books. Bro. J. A. Perkins, a member of this Lodge, has attained the rank of Grand Master of the Order for the State of New South Wales. A Lodge is in existence at Nimmitabel.

HIBERNIAN AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC SOCIETY.
A branch of the above was formed at Cooma in 1902, under the Presidency of J. C. Russell. The Society has continued active operations ever since, and to-day has a membership of eighty. The President for the current year is F. Bookallil. J. Arentz is secretary.

"BACK TO COOMA" Felix Mitchell 1926 Page 107 - Transcribed by Pattrick Mould 2003