A Remarkable Lady - H.L. Nella Webb

It is estimated that H.L. Nella nominated a total of 105 members to her beloved Order

Nella joined the Order of the Amaranth, North Sydney Court in 1958 and was elected Royal Matron in 1963. She held several positions in Grand Court and in March 1967 was installed as District Deputy Royal Matron to Gosford.

She and her husband, Arthur retired to Gosford in May 1967 and with 75 candidates was ready to start a new Court by November 1967.

On moving to Gosford, H.L. Nella sent a letter to every Court in the jurisdiction, requesting members to send her names and address of any friends/relatives who lived in the district and had the necessary qualifications. The Courts reacted favourably and with enthusiasm and H.L. Nella had a few women to contact.

Arthur transferred to the local Freemasons Lodge, and being new to the district it was arranged for a Brother to accompany him to the meetings. Several Brothers did so, leaving their cars at the Webb’s home and travelling in one car. As they planned to continue this arrangement H.L. Nella invited the wives to accompany their husbands and spend the evening with her. This became a regular event for many years.

The women became prospective members and spent the evenings knitting, doing craft work etc. Eventually holding a fete to raise funds. These evenings became meetings, minutes taken and a bank account opened.

H.L. Nella visited every contact she had received from the Courts and this lead to further leads. She persisted and went back to each person until successful. If a woman said she would ask her husband, Nella would return a couple of days later and would even visit her again. If the woman gave H.L. Nella the home of a friend/relative she visited that person. She became personally friendly with most of them she visited, even if they didn’t join the Order

Nella was a pushy person but she wasn’t. She was charming, quiet and very lady like, very gentle but PERSUASIVE. The Lillian Holland Court ‘girls” still laugh and talk about her gentle arm-twisting - They maintain nobody could say “no”.
Nella transferred her membership of the O.E.S. to the local Chapter and some Members were persuaded to become candidates.

H.L. Nella then “turned her attention” to the husbands. Those who had attended the Lodge with Arthur, had, with their wives, became good friends, and although some husbands were reluctant at first, most joined after the new Court was opened. However Arthur and friend signed petitions immediately.

H.L. Dell Scotts lived locally and had been Deputy Grand Royal Matron for many years. She and two other Sydney members would affiliate and in fact became founder Royal Patron and Associate Matron and Associate Patron in the new Court with H.L. Nella founder Royal Matron.

There was great excitement and enthusiasm in the jurisdiction and a few Sydney members attended preliminary meetings in a local church hall where entertaining was held and of course supper served

Everything was ready by November 1967 but it was not convenient for the Grand Royal Matron H.L. Olga Pillinger to Organise and Constitute the new Court until February 1968.

On the 17th February 1968 with 75 candidates the new Court was organised and Constituted, named Lillian Holland Court No 16 in memory of a Past Grand Royal Matron.

Despite some opposition from a few Past Grand Royal Matron’s an OPEN INSTALLATION was held with 350 ladies and gentlemen attending in formal attire. This was the first Open Installation in our jurisdiction and generated even more excitement and interest and support from e very Court, with donations of money and Court Nella’s younger daughter and son-in-law. H.L. Nella’s elder daughter was already a member of North Sydney Court.

H.L. Nella did not relax, in fact she never did relax or lose her enthusiasm. She still continued getting new members so that Lillian Holland Court had an initiation almost every month

S.K. Arthur passed to a higher Court and in 1977 H.L. Nella moved to Hornsby and affiliated with Hornsby Chapter O.E.S. She then nominated 8 members who joined North Sydney Court, 6 are still members and 2 transferred to Royal Adelaide Court and have since died.

She went to Tasmania for a holiday; her host was an active Freemason and had a social evening in Hobart, where Nella spoke about Amaranth, and also at an evening in Launceston. However, unfortunately, after four weeks she had to return to Sydney. Although she continued to keep in touch with several people, she was unable to return.

H.L. Nella never lost her enthusiasm in Amaranth - even when travelling and was always alert to qualifying prospective and “would he” candidates.

She went into a nursing home aged 103 and right up till then she regularly took a position in North Sydney and Hawkesbury Courts, usually as Trustee or Historian and would be a pro tem officer in any Court she visited - word perfect in her Charge.

She was a very loyal member, devoted and supportive of every Grand Royal Matron and travelled Interstate with the Grand Court for many years.

H.L. Nella received several awards from Grand Royal Matron’s and was Amaranth “Mother of the Year” when H.L. Elvie Dare was Grand Royal Matron. She was an honorary member of several Courts including the Grand Court of the Philippines and a life member of Lillian Holland Court.

It is estimated she nominated a total of 105 members to her beloved Order
Submitted by H.L. Pam Carey, Past Grand Royal Matron (Daughter)