PRESIDENT’S REPORT - FOR YEAR ENDED 2020 

The Covid Year

Both the Secretary and the Treasurer have commented on the Covid Year so I won’t dwell own this issue per se. But as a new President, who had barely learnt to spell his title, the April 2020 lockdown posed plenty of challenges. Not the least of these was the survivability of our sub-branch and what makes it such a great social environment. The Treasurer’s Report discusses this from the financial perspective. Many people think we're a “rich" sub-branch because we have over $5m in assets, but under our Constitution we must preserve the capital base and then add inflation (CPI) each year …. this means that we can only spend what we earn on our investments and what we earn from badge/poppy sales, grants etc. in 2020 all of these we hit for a six as the Treasurer reports. This created a real cash flow dilemma for the Financial Team and, on behalf of all members, I want to thank our Treasurer (Graeme Loughton) and Assistant Treasurer (Mike Griffin) for the huge amount of work they did in 2020 to ensure we stayed afloat. 

Member Activities

The Covid year also had a big impact on our normally busy social calendar. In February we held our annual local Boer War commemoration of the Battle of Onverwacht Hills (South Africa) where 2 local lads from the Sherwood Shire were killed in action; their families still live in our area. But soon after came lockdown. On Friday 10th July Phase 2 of the restrictions were lifted and we were quick off the mark with our July monthly BBQ the very next day; since then we have been back on track with our regular social events of the monthly BBQ and the weekly Drop-Ins. In November, instead of the annual Bus Trip, we had a lunch at the Botanic Gardens which was heavily subsidised by grants that Kylie and Hayley managed to arrange. 

Preceding our monthly members meeting on Wed 29th July, we commemorated our late member BRIG Brian Wade, AM, MSM(rsl) with the unveiling of a plaque in his honour on our front wall. This was attended by Brian’s widow and other close friends of Brian.

On Sunday 9th August we held our annual Kokoda Day commemoration which had a very large turnout despite the fact that 2020 was probably the first year that there were no WW2 veterans in attendance.

On 11th November, we held our Remembrance Day commemoration at Graceville; 2020 was also the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of the Graceville War Memorial. Once again, we were able to hold this event because of the great effort and work from the volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to make it happen.

Thank You Volunteers & the Women’s Auxiliary

We all know that our sub-branch would not function as well as it does without the generous amount time and effort put in by volunteers. We are blessed that so many members, friends and the ladies from the Women’s Auxiliary, are willing to get stuck in and make things happen. There is a small core of such willing workers (you know who you are) who are always stepping forward. On behalf of all the sub-branch thank, thank you, thank you. Where would we be without the Women’s Auxiliary! And to Gary and Jenny Summers, thank you for the entertainment.

Special mention must also be made of our Honorary members. The tireless efforts of Phil Kyle and John Hogan continue to ensure our monthly BBQ remains such a success. And to our most recent Honorary member, Lindsay Antoniolli, who provides on-going sage input to the finance sub-committee to enhance our share portfolio. 

We are all getting older and less mobile with fewer younger members joining, so please be aware that our busy social calendar can only be kept alive if a larger number of members are willing to participate and volunteer some of their time when needed.

Sub-Branch Representation

As President I have represented our sub-branch at two functions hosted by the Centenary Suburbs sub-branch in 2020. Between immediate past-President Glenn Mostyn and me, we have represented the sub-branch at every monthly meeting of the Brisbane North District (BND) of RSL Qld. The Treasurer, Vice-President and I have had various discussion with the management of Westside HQ regarding our shared interests and members of the Executive Committee have attended training courses run by the BND covering ACNC matters, Corporate Governance and Sub-Branch Finances. I also represented our sub-branch at the annual RSL Qld State Congress in November.

I am fortunate that I am self-employed and can manage my time to represent our sub-branch at these events because they are invariably held during working hours. in 2021 I’m sure there will be an increased tempo of events to catch up on the Covid Year so I look forward to flying the Sherwood-Indooroopilly Sub-branch flag as often as I am able.

I would like to thank our past-President, Glenn Mostyn, who continues to work very hard by backing me up at BND meetings, by volunteering his time to be a member of the BND Grants Committee in 2021 and, of course, by his huge efforts as our (now sole) Welfare Advocate. He is a great example of volunteer leadership. Thank you Glenn.

Committee

The Covid Year did not stop your committee from operating. When we couldn’t meet in person, we held Zoom meetings. On your behalf I would like to thank all my fellow committee members for the effort they put in during 2020 to ensure we maintained an effective sub-branch. I would like to thank our joint Vice-President, Andrew Crowe who stood down from the Committee for personal reasons, for the huge amount of work he did whilst he was on the committee and since he left it. I would like to thank Scott Mitchell for his support on the Committee for the past 3 years; Scott is not standing again as his army training commitments in 2021 will clash with our Committee meetings. I would like to thank our Secretary, Brent Panting, who has had to step down from the Committee due to health issues; Brent made a great contribution to the Committee during his year onboard. And I would like to extend the sincere gratitude of all members to Mick Rockett who has stood down from many years as Providore … a great innings Mick, thank you so much!

Building Maintenance

We are very fortunate to have our own bespoke sub-branch premises. But like us members, our building is getting older and needs care. The backbone of our building maintenance continues to be managed, and done, by Chip and Judy Gorman. Chip (with Judy) is now our Providore so he/they have taken on even more responsibility, including drawing up a 5 year maintenance schedule. Thank you Chip and Judy, it is a great peace of mind knowing that you have this so well in hand.

Our Staff

The Covid Year provided its share of challenges to our two staff members, Kylie Gates and Hayley Goss. They are the engine room which drives our sub-branch, and both have managed the challenges of 2020 with aplomb. Well done Kylie and Hayley, and thank you for continuing to go above and beyond your duties to ensure that our members’ well-being and welfare is at the top of the list. I hope 2021 allows you to settle back into a more normal routine.

Both Kylie and Hayley deserve high praise for their efforts in 2020 and I hereby give such praise on behalf of all the members of the sub-branch.

Bill Cross OAM JP(Qual)
President

HONORARY SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2020

2020 is a year that I can only describe as an “Annus Horribilis”, due to the unprecedented way in which the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the general Australian way of life by way of loss of life, the forced closure of businesses and state borders, high levels of unemployment, forced lockdowns and the imposition of social and personal restrictions.  

On a personal note, the fact I was also diagnosed with a life threatening illness and then having to undergo an aggressive medical treatment soon after I was appointed to the position of the Honorary Branch Secretary means I don’t have too many fond memories of the 2020 calendar year. 

The COVID 19 pandemic did have a significant impact on our sub-branch, which was forced to shut down all operations between the beginning of April and July 2020.  This meant that the normal ANZAC Day, Tarin Kowt, Coral Balmoral and Peacekeepers commemorative service days did not occur.  However, of note and as reported in the Branch newsletter, a lot of sub-branch members participated in “the end of your own driveway dawn service” activities, which in my view just demonstrates how much the ANZAC Day commemoration mean to most Australians. It was also pleasing to see the Kokoda Day commemorations also have a strong community support with approximately 110 people in attendance.

During the year 2020 the sub-branch operated with a complete Committee that included a new President, new Vice Presidents, a new Honorary Secretary and a new Committee Member.  Unfortunately, one of our Vice Presidents, Andrew Crowe, resigned from the Committee in the later half of the year. Our long serving Providore, Mick Rockett, advised he would finish up in his role in December and because of my ongoing health challenges I advised the President in November 2020 that I would be also have to stand down from the Committee at the February 2021 AGM to enable me to focus on my ongoing medical treatment.  

I would also take this opportunity to extend my thanks and gratitude to the President, the other Committee and fellow Branch members, to Kylie Gates and Hayley Goss for your ongoing support to my role as the Honorary Secretary and also for your kind consideration and support that I received during the course of my medical treatment. 

As stated by Dennis Martyn (the previous Honorary Secretary) in his 2019 Annual Report “all current and retiring Executive Committee members and Committee members contribution’s cannot be understated; they have been and are always reliable, loyal and dependable. All committee members have made untold personal sacrifices to this sub-branch and have always been selfless in their time and commitment”.

I would like to take this opportunity thank all members, honorary members, associate members, friends and guests for the camaraderie, friendship and loyalty that I see is freely given to everyone involved in this fantastic RSL sub-branch.

I believe 2021 will continue to be a challenging year due to the ongoing effects of the CONVID-19 pandemic, and based on what I read, I don’t think these impacts will be able to be controlled until the majority of the Australian and world population has been inoculated against the dreadful effects of this disease and/or it simply runs its course in terms over time. 

Brent Panting

Honorary Secretary

Treasurer Report 2020

Treasurer’s Report on 2020

Available, by request, to members.