The Order Winter 2013 - Order of Australia Association

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The Order No. 33, Winter 2013 Symposium tackles the big questions 19 The poignant wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian War Memorial included addresses by AWM Council member Dr Alan Hawke AC and ACT Patron General Peter Gration AC OBE (Ret’d), a former AWM Council chairman. Major General Michael Jeffery AC AO (Mil) CVO MC (Ret’d) read The Ode. National President Elect Ross Adler AC and ACT Branch Chairman Derek Robson AM laid wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Continued from previous page Alan Hawke invoked “a great mentor”, Tony Ayers AC, who said that there are only three questions: “What’s the matter? How come? So what?” Michael Jeffery and his co-contributors identified “What’s the matter” and “How come” and some of the “So what” — governance; education; family dysfunction; health; indigenous issues; food security (including clean water, soil degradation and environmental management). General Jeffery’s keynote speech, Dr Hawke’s rapporteur report and other inputs are on the national and ACT Branch websites and copies of the DVD have been provided to state and territory branches.This OAA initiative was profiled around the ACT with media releases promoting the symposium. Ray Martin and a Channel 9 cameraman shot footage of the civic reception and the symposium and several key members were interviewed. The Multi Faith Observance at the confererence venue was attended by nearly all registrants. Moderated by Rev Professor James Haire AC KStJ, Executive Director, the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture; there were presentations by Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim and the Jewish communities (read by Professor Haire at their request, as it was their Sabbath). After James Haire’s Reflections there was a novel Q & A exchange between the moderator and readers, including audience participation. James’s final Go in Peace exhortation gave meaning to and captured the spirit of the inclusive observance. National Deputy Chairman Bill Galvin OAM conducted the members’ forum, directing questions from the floor to national officers and directors (branch chairmen) for a lively 90 minutes. Saturday’s Annual General Meeting, chaired by outgoing National President the Hon Shane Stone AC QC included a special resolution by the ACT Branch to amend the Constitution: That, in the first object of the Company, the words “Head of State of Australia” be deleted and the following words inserted in their place, namely, “Queen of Australia and Sovereign Head of the Order of Australia”. Members on-line were advised of the ACT case for and the National Secretary’s case against. The resolution was lost narrowly, 38 negative proxies cast by the chairman to maintain the status quo. After a Fellowship Lunch, attendees readied for the finale Gala Dinner and the Toulouse Lautrec: Paris and the Moulin Rouge exhibition tour at the National Gallery of Australia. One of Australia’s most highly regarded sopranos, Louise Page OAM, received standing ovations. Newly appointed National President Ross Adler AC made his inaugural comments and National Chairman Peter McDermott AM CSC closed the conference. The conference promotion package was omitted from The Order April 2012 edition, available only to members with on-line access, so branches circulated it and it was listed on a special conference link on the national and ACT websites. The full registration brochure was inserted in the delayed November edition of The Order. The ACT Branch appreciated the opportunity to host you as our fellow Association members and partners to your National Capital and now urges you to make a date for Melbourne 2014! Len Goodman AO Members of the conference organising committee (from left): Len Goodman AO (Chairman); Brian Acworth AM (Treasurer); Diane Kargas AM; .Derek Robson AM (ACT Branch Chairman); and Ian Meikle AM.
20 few years ago I wrote an article for The Order A inviting members to consider what they wanted their association to do for them. It was entitled “Let’s Lunch” and the theme was: do we want the Association to do more than arrange pleasant lunches and other social events? In 2006, when we last formally polled members, you told us: • Members prefer passive membership; • Most join for peer contact or out of a sense of obligation after recognition in the Order; • Most were satisfied with the operations of the OAA; • Most endorsed the OAA Foundation;, but few supported fund-raising activities per se; • Most wanted to see promotion of the Order and the Association, emphasising individual high achievers. Having chaired a few OAA members’ forums and the like, I have noticed there has long been two lines of thinking in the OAA community on the matter of reaching out to the wider community: we in the OAA should be doing more with the skills we have to assist others; and we have all been recognised for serving the community and wish to continue supporting it but only within those organisations in which we have been recognised. These sentiments are very understandable and, although providing assistance to our selected communities is a At the AGM in Canberra in February, two items of business proposed amendments to the constitution of The Order of Australia Association: To delete the requirement for the President to be a director of the company. The motion was passed. That, in the first object of the company [at clause 5.a (1)] the words “Head of State of Australia” be deleted and the following words inserted in their place, namely, “Queen of Australia and Sovereign Head of the Order of Australia”. The motion was not passed. At the board meeting before the AGM, the directors accepted the retirement of Mr Geoff Vincent AM from the post of National Treasurer after seven years of outstanding service to the Association, and appointed Professor John McKellar AM ED National Treasurer. Professor McKellar was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (QB 2008) for service to people with dementia — particularly Alzheimer’s disease — and their carers through organisations that provide education, support services and funding for research. Formerly Professor of Chemistry at Charles Sturt University, he served on government and community entities including as Chairman, BODC Consultative Committee; Scientific Industries Steering Committee; President, All Saints Cathedral Scout Group; Deputy Chairman, 2MCEFM; and Central West Conservatorium. He was Chairman of Charter and By-laws Committee, Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) for 26 years; SA Branch President; National Secretary; Foundation Chairman, Analytical Chemistry Division; Chairman, Chemical Education Division; and appointed Distinguished Fellow in 2004; member, Alzheimer’s Australia SA Board 1996; president, 1999-2011; national vice-president 2001–6; and Ministerial Carer Advisory Committee, Carer Reference Group. Professor McKellar was Treasurer of the SA Branch The Order No. 33, Winter 2013 Supporting our communities Chairman’s Report by Peter McDermott AM CSC central part of the OAA strategic plan that guides all our activities, the actual conduct of those activities is left to branches and individuals to carry out — within the structure of the OAA or within those organisations that we choose to support. At the recent annual OAA conference in Canberra our collective views were challenged in a well-received national symposium, in which members were asked to have their say about Australia’s future. This engendered a robust and productive discussion among those attending, many members making strong calls for the Association to be “more than just a social organisation”. Our outgoing President, Shane Stone AC QC, invited those members interested in doing just that to provide Secretary Roger Dace AM QGM with suggestions for assisting other communities in their good works. This invitation was extended later to all members through a bulk emailing. Although we got some good ideas, we are still keen to get more responses from members with a view to providing branches with a list of projects that they might like to support. This outcome provides an avenue for engagement, drawing on our members’ collective expertise and organisational skills, while at the same time leaving the actual conduct of activities to those in the branches and regional groups prepared to offer this support. National Office Notes by National Secretary Roger Dace AM QGM of The Order of Australia Association in 2010–2011 and Branch Chairman in 2012. The Board has also welcomed two new directors, Mr Ken Coventry OAM, representing the SA Branch and Mr Ron Sharpe OAM, chairman of the NSW Branch, who has built a career in civil contracting, road construction and maintenance. Ron was founding chairman of the Road Profiling Association of Australia. As a dedicated member of Apex he was awarded Life Membership in 1990. In January 2005 Ron was named Citizen of the Year for the City of Gosford, NSW and on Australia Day 2006 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to the Central Coast community. As a member of The OAA, Ron has been regional convenor for NSW Central Coast; NSW Regional Co-ordinator for Regional Groups; and is now NSW chairman. Honorary award The former Singapore Foreign Minister and Trade Minister, George Yong-Boon Yeo, has been invested as an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his service to Australia-Singapore relations since 1999. Mr Yeo served as Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry from 1999 to 2004, and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2011. Consul-General in New York Former Premier of Victoria Stephen Bracks AC has been appointed Australia’s next Consul-General in New York. He was made a Companion in the Order of Australia in 2010 for services to the Parliament and community of Victoria. Mr Bracks is expected to take up his appointment in September 2013 replacing Mr Phillip Scanlan AM.
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