AGM 2015
From HTT Vol 95. Dec 2015.
Saturday 17th October was a busy day for Association members and friends. The AGM was held at 10.30 am followed by a bar-bque luncheon and reunion and at 4 pm the more social members and friends assembled for the Association’s mixed dining evening at Jimboomba. A very good attendance of 56 attended the AGM including our Patron and many out of town members and friends whom we have not seen for some time. The minutes will be circulated in due course.
However the main activities were the re-election of the Committee ,with the exception of Mal Zimmermann and Frank Perkins who did not stand , the re-appointment of our Patron Major General John Pearn by meeting resolution to be Patron for year 2016, the presentation of two life memberships to Paul Brown and John Batze and two Patrons’ Awards by our Patron to Major Peter Rogers and Bill McGrath.
The President thanked the outgoing committee , particularly the two who elected not to stand , for their work and outlined the activities of the Association for the past year. He also wished the incoming meeting the very best for the coming year. Mal Zimmermann stood down after many years on the Committee because of his relocation to the Northern Tableland of NSW. Mal was unstinting in providing his services to the Association. After one year, Frank Perkins decided he could not devote himself sufficiently to the Committee to meet its strong expectations. Both men have said they will continue to assist the Association as required, but not as committee men. On behalf of Association members I thank both for their past work and look forward to working with you in the future.
The granting of Life membership is the most significant way that an Association may recognise and award excellent and exceptional service by members to the Association. Paul Brown, who is the Association’s welfare officer performs his duties in many ways, as welfare officer, our armaments’ officer, our resident fitter and turner and you name it , he has done it.
John Batze is always there , if work is to be done he is there , if money needs collecting call in John. Associations cannot operate without people like this , thank you Gentlemen. The Patron’s award is a special award for those who have not only provided exceptional service to the Association, but also to those who have contributed to the good standing of it now or in the past . Major Peter Rogers was one of the founding members who at the time was an Army pilot and through his good offices provided the facilities for earlier opportunities and functions for ex-NGVR and PNGVR folk to get together. He has also contributed in many other ways through his stature in the community.
Bill McGrath through his exception historical knowledge of the Pacific, PNG and military matters has provided the historical input necessary to sustain an Association such as ours: Bill published the history of NGVR and has stamped his mark on many other of our ventures through his advice and standing. Thank you Gentlemen, you are deserving of the award.
The bar-b-q and reunion after the AGM was a resounding success. Thank you to John Holland and his assistants for arranging the premises and food so well. A special thank you to Brian Collin from the Greenbank RSL for handling the cooking and food preparation – great fillet steak cooked to perfection and garnished superbly with complementary dishes and condiments. All this mixed with the company present and the wonderful sunny weather made this an event to be remembered.
And to top the day off, we had the mixed dining night at Heather and Ted’s house outside Jimboomba. Thirty five hardy party goers were present including our Patron and his wife. The usual well catered baked dinner and desert were appreciated by all . Mr Vice was very well behaved as were the other guests as no fines or penalties were made. Our Patron gave a well received talk about Service and I gave a brief summary where we as an Association were heading . Again a wonderful night .
Next year best endeavours will be made to prevent clashes with other Association events. Thank you Ted and Heather for once again allowing us to use your house in its wonderful bushland setting.
The publication of the Keepers of the Gate book is progressing as schedule. The corrected first printers draft should be with the editor/facilitator by 10 November and we would expect to launch the book no later than the next Anzac Day Reunion, if not sooner. The book will be about the same size , format , look and feel as our PNGVR history book. Again we will sell it before the launch for a discounted price to members and friends. If able , a flyer advertising the book with a pre purchase coupon will be attached to this edition of Harim Tok Tok.
The Museum extension has run into a few unexpected issues, not of our making and quite out of our control, which is delaying the start. I cannot see how these cannot be resolved quickly but it is out of our hands. The planner, assessor and builder are on side and ready to go as soon as the essential signatures are received. The Association has the funding and the will to complete. Fortunately the construction of the extension is only a ten week build so hopefully it will be completed prior to next Anzac Day.
Although this issue will be published early, it is the last issue before Christmas. Therefore I take this opportunity to wish one and all the very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Phil Ainsworth. November, 2015
Saturday 17th October was a busy day for Association members and friends. The AGM was held at 10.30 am followed by a bar-bque luncheon and reunion and at 4 pm the more social members and friends assembled for the Association’s mixed dining evening at Jimboomba. A very good attendance of 56 attended the AGM including our Patron and many out of town members and friends whom we have not seen for some time. The minutes will be circulated in due course.
However the main activities were the re-election of the Committee ,with the exception of Mal Zimmermann and Frank Perkins who did not stand , the re-appointment of our Patron Major General John Pearn by meeting resolution to be Patron for year 2016, the presentation of two life memberships to Paul Brown and John Batze and two Patrons’ Awards by our Patron to Major Peter Rogers and Bill McGrath.
The President thanked the outgoing committee , particularly the two who elected not to stand , for their work and outlined the activities of the Association for the past year. He also wished the incoming meeting the very best for the coming year. Mal Zimmermann stood down after many years on the Committee because of his relocation to the Northern Tableland of NSW. Mal was unstinting in providing his services to the Association. After one year, Frank Perkins decided he could not devote himself sufficiently to the Committee to meet its strong expectations. Both men have said they will continue to assist the Association as required, but not as committee men. On behalf of Association members I thank both for their past work and look forward to working with you in the future.
The granting of Life membership is the most significant way that an Association may recognise and award excellent and exceptional service by members to the Association. Paul Brown, who is the Association’s welfare officer performs his duties in many ways, as welfare officer, our armaments’ officer, our resident fitter and turner and you name it , he has done it.
John Batze is always there , if work is to be done he is there , if money needs collecting call in John. Associations cannot operate without people like this , thank you Gentlemen. The Patron’s award is a special award for those who have not only provided exceptional service to the Association, but also to those who have contributed to the good standing of it now or in the past . Major Peter Rogers was one of the founding members who at the time was an Army pilot and through his good offices provided the facilities for earlier opportunities and functions for ex-NGVR and PNGVR folk to get together. He has also contributed in many other ways through his stature in the community.
Bill McGrath through his exception historical knowledge of the Pacific, PNG and military matters has provided the historical input necessary to sustain an Association such as ours: Bill published the history of NGVR and has stamped his mark on many other of our ventures through his advice and standing. Thank you Gentlemen, you are deserving of the award.
The bar-b-q and reunion after the AGM was a resounding success. Thank you to John Holland and his assistants for arranging the premises and food so well. A special thank you to Brian Collin from the Greenbank RSL for handling the cooking and food preparation – great fillet steak cooked to perfection and garnished superbly with complementary dishes and condiments. All this mixed with the company present and the wonderful sunny weather made this an event to be remembered.
And to top the day off, we had the mixed dining night at Heather and Ted’s house outside Jimboomba. Thirty five hardy party goers were present including our Patron and his wife. The usual well catered baked dinner and desert were appreciated by all . Mr Vice was very well behaved as were the other guests as no fines or penalties were made. Our Patron gave a well received talk about Service and I gave a brief summary where we as an Association were heading . Again a wonderful night .
Next year best endeavours will be made to prevent clashes with other Association events. Thank you Ted and Heather for once again allowing us to use your house in its wonderful bushland setting.
The publication of the Keepers of the Gate book is progressing as schedule. The corrected first printers draft should be with the editor/facilitator by 10 November and we would expect to launch the book no later than the next Anzac Day Reunion, if not sooner. The book will be about the same size , format , look and feel as our PNGVR history book. Again we will sell it before the launch for a discounted price to members and friends. If able , a flyer advertising the book with a pre purchase coupon will be attached to this edition of Harim Tok Tok.
The Museum extension has run into a few unexpected issues, not of our making and quite out of our control, which is delaying the start. I cannot see how these cannot be resolved quickly but it is out of our hands. The planner, assessor and builder are on side and ready to go as soon as the essential signatures are received. The Association has the funding and the will to complete. Fortunately the construction of the extension is only a ten week build so hopefully it will be completed prior to next Anzac Day.
Although this issue will be published early, it is the last issue before Christmas. Therefore I take this opportunity to wish one and all the very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Phil Ainsworth. November, 2015
Committee 2015. Standing. Mike Griffin, Maj Gen John Pearn AO. RFD,. Leigh Eastwood.
Sitting. Bob Collins, Colin Gould MBE,. Phil Ainsworth, Doug Ng., John Holland.
Sitting. Bob Collins, Colin Gould MBE,. Phil Ainsworth, Doug Ng., John Holland.
