“He said, ‘I think that the atmosphere and the brotherhood of freemasonry might be some help to you during the war years’,” Max Norris remembered.

And since November 17, 1942, Mr Norris, now 93, has found this to be true, long after peace returned.

Mr Norris’ 75 years of service to the Freemasons, a first for North East Victoria, was honoured on Monday at the Huon Daylight Masonic Lodge in Wodonga.

He told fellow freemasons and guests he was “very humbled, but very happy and content” by the occasion.

The audience heard about Mr Norris’ numerous ranks, long career at lodges in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania and continuing love of music.

“He has a lovely bass-baritone voice and if you heard him this morning, he was in full force,” Grand Standard Bearer Clive Johnson said.

In 2000, he and his late wife Jean arrived in Wodonga, where he received his 60, 65 and 70 year badges, all presented by Mr Johnson.

“And I just hope that in five years’ time, that you and I are both still around to get to 80,” Mr Johnson said to him.

Mr Norris now lives in Yackandandah, as do his daughter and son-in-law, Beverley and Chris Lello, who attended Monday’s ceremony. Another daughter Jennifer lives in Healesville while his son Robert predeceased him.

Mrs Lello said her father’s service was just part of family life growing up.

“He went off with his little case once a month, we never really knew what went on,” she said.

But the lodge community also provided many social highlights for both parents.

“They’d go off to balls a couple of times a year,” Mrs Lello said.

“We’d get the babysitter in and Mum would come out in her ball gown and that was always nice.”

A self-described people’s person involved with his church and arthritis charities, Mr Norris said his masonic life remained special to him.

“There’s something about freemasonry that you soon connect with brethren who have a regard for one another,” he said.

“It’s been something that I’ve treasured and I got great support from my dear wife.”