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History
Manchester Unity is a charitable and
fraternal wing of Australian Unity. We were established as a
mutual aid society in Melbourne on
7th
December, 1840. We grew over the next 150 years into a
thriving business - health insurance, general insurance, building
society, investment products,
holiday flats, retirement and aged care
complexes.
The magnificent Manchester Unity building opposite the
Melbourne Town Hall was head office for many
years. It was built during the
Depression at the amazing rate of a floor a week and the project was
intended to provide work for the unemployed.
The business side of Manchester Unity merged with ANA
(the Australian Natives' Association) in 1993 to create Australian Unity. The charitable
and fraternal activities
of Manchester Unity still continue.
Manchester Unity's many hundred members belong to
branches spread throughout metropolitan Melbourne and country Victoria. Branches are grouped into
Districts. Branches elect
delegates to District Conferences which, in turn, elect deputies to
Manchester Unity's annual plenary council called AMC - Annual Movable
Conference.
AMCs elect a Fraternal Council of 7 members who guide
the operations of the organisation, although democracy is the guiding
principle and branches and Districts are substantially self-governing.
Manchester Unity is strictly non-political and
non-sectarian, but our principles and values are firmly based on
christian and biblical teachings.
Our motto is "Friendship, Love and Truth" and that
sums up the way in which we relate to fellow members.
Membership is open to all and we offer an interesting
range of activities
and events for the benefit of members and the
Victorian community. The
friendship of Manchester Unity members lasts a lifetime.
If you have any questions about our history, email
your query to Australian Unity's Librarian at library@australianunity.com.au
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