28th AGM 19 October 2020
Welcome everyone,
The committee of the AAFBG would like to invite you to join with us online for our Annual General Meeting on the 19th October via Zoom online 11am Daylight Saving Time Vic & N.S.W, 10am (EST) QLD, 10.30am S.A. & Darwin, 8am W.A. (AWST)
Zoom LINK here
Meeting ID: 829 5881 2888
Passcode: 751355
Please RSVP to the Administration Officer at
info@friendsbotanicgardens.org
We look forward to you being at the 28th AGM.
Chantal de Vere
Administration Officer
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Procedure for today’s event
Annual General Meeting
via Zoom online 11am Daylight Saving Time Vic & NSW, 10am (EST) QLD, 10.30am SA & Darwin, 8am WA (AWST)
19th October 2020
Welcome address by President Dr Wayne Harvey
1. AGM 19th October 2020.
2. Apologies.
3. Minutes of the previous AGM as tabled.
4. Annual reports
- President
- Acting Secretary
- Treasurer
- Administration Officer
- Financial statements and report
5. Current office bearers to step down.
6. Dr Phillip Moors to take the Chair and receive nominations.
7. Election of new office bearers.
8. BGANZ Presentation by the president Chris Russell, Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne, Victoria.
9. Handbury Awards presented by Dr Phillip Moors.
10.Official close of AGM
- Announcement of the 2022 conference at Eurobadalla.
- Video presentation from Eurobadalla.
- Forum for all members to participate.
- Announcement of the next general meeting for elected members 26 October 2020.
- Formal Close by President.
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AAFBG AGM Oct 2020
President’s Report for the Year April 2019 to March 2020
This is my first annual report to you as President of the Association, and there is little need to comment on the kind of year it has been for all of us. Events everywhere were cancelled or deferred. Here we are, in October, holding a deferred AGM in a virtual environment.
The AAFBG’s events program for the reporting year included preparation for the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (to have been held in March 2020) and preparation for our biennial Conference and AGM in Brisbane (to have been held in May 2020) – all of which were cancelled at short notice. Not-with-standing the things that did not happen as scheduled, the AAFBG has achieved some positive outcomes and I refer to those below. The reports by other office holders to this AGM will make reference to the same matters, emphasising the significance of each in the past year.
MIFGS
We were to participate in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show in March of this year. The AAFBG Management Committee saw participation in that event as an opportunity to give our members access to the 100,000 visitors to the Show over a 5-day period. John Bentley championed our participation and took on the considerable task of negotiating our inclusion with the event organisers. We were ready - but the declaration of a pandemic just weeks before the opening caused the Melbourne event to be cancelled at short notice. The cancellation did not deter the Management Committee and we resolved to make participation at similar events around the country part of our annual activities as a way of giving our members a forum for telling others about their own gardens, parks and arboreta.
Handbury Awards
AAFBG has launched the Handbury Award, named in honour of Dr Geoffrey Handbury. Dr Handbury was a generous benefactor to the Association and the AAFBG Management Committee has agreed that annual awards be named in his honour. The Award will recognise exceptional contributions by individuals or organisations to a Garden, Park or Arboretum. Nominations from our member organisations are to be invited towards the end of each year and the awardees will be announced at the following AGM.
Fires and Drought
The 2019-2020 summer has been the subject of a great deal of attention - locally, nationally and internationally. The AAFBG Management Committee is aware of the damage from fire and drought at some of our members’ sites. Those events also effected visitor numbers, scheduled work, volunteers being available when required, watering and so on.
We also heard about the local successes by members in protecting collections from the worst effects of drought and hot winds. This re-affirmed for us the very high value that comes from members sharing their experiences with others, seeking advice and offering suggestions. This exchange is a key function of member-based organisations and we should ensure AAFBG members can use the Association in this way. To that end, the AAFBG has established an on-line forum on our website.
Members can also use the Eucalypt publications as a forum to share ideas or solutions they have found to be useful in their own operations, or to ask questions of the wider Friends’ national volunteer network.
Neutrog
Members are aware we initiated discussions with Neutrog Australia towards arrangements which would provide members with access to Neutrog products at discounted prices.
Orders for products can be placed directly with Neutrog, to be delivered to a central location for collection at a specified time. Collection points are currently being established by Neutrog in selected parts of the country in partnership with local sporting clubs and other community venues. I encourage our members to look out for the scheme in their own areas.
Looking forward
I suggest the combined effects of drought, fires, a pandemic and a recession will require the AAFBG to be agile in its affairs, and to be alert to opportunities that might contribute to a strong and sustainable future.
The task of planning for the future falls largely to the Management Committee. The current Management Committee membership covers Friends’ groups from NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT. We have nominations for vacancies in the Management Committee and can expect to again see a good distribution of representations. AAFBG will, through its Management Committee and its member organisations, have access to another great group of enthusiastic and willing people to help the Association to continue to bring value to its members and to grow its capacity to do even more to advance the objectives of the Association.
Wayne Harvey
October 2020
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AAFBG Annual General Meeting October 2020
Acting Secretary Report
An exceptional year for the world, all people, you and your Australian Association of Friends of Botanic Gardens peak body, it is now eighteen months since the previous annual general meeting, we welcomed new incumbent President Wayne Harvey a new Administrative Officer Chantal de Vere joined us in March and then the pandemic. Remaining connected, relevant and viable has kept AAFBG members even busier than usual. Communication between us and for us, more vital than ever before.
Crisis: Eurobodalla Botanic Garden suffered tragic loss in the February bushfires, has now led to excitement, and the Eurobodalla Friends are now enthusiastically planning the hosting of AAFBG 2022 Conference which we are sure will be greatly supported.
Followed by disappointment that the 2020 Conference in Brisbane had to be cancelled after much planning towards what was anticipated to be a marvellous event, our sincere thanks to Friends of Brisbane and farewell and appreciation to AAFBG Committee member Annette Irish. AAFBG participation at Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show also cancelled a lost opportunity to meet with supporters of Botanic Gardens, with thanks to Friends of Melton for facilitating.
Postponement: The first AAFBG Tour instigated in 2019 by Treasurer Kathy Wright, a very successful trip to Singapore was to be followed by a Tasmania trip in spring 2021 planning now on hold until arrangements can be more definite. Consequently loss of income has been on the Committee’s mind however we are working hard to obtain sponsorship to supplement income.
Advocacy and Grant funding support are a fundamental role of your Association we always want to hear from members who require AAFBG endorsement. The latest being for Friends of Warrnambool, Gisborne, Ballarat, Camperdown and Hamilton.
Pleasure: In coordinating the inaugural Handbury Awards has been a highlight of the year. This annual award will be a continuing feature of AAFBG purposes to communicate with its members. Congratulations to the worthy recipients.
Farewell to our friend and Treasurer Kathy Wright who is retiring after four years service to AAFBG, thank you Kathy for your valued contribution.
Indeed a year of highs and lows, thank you Members for your continued contribution to your peak body, helping each other.
Warmest regards
Elizabeth Gilfillan
AAFBG Acting Secretary
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Treasurer's Report
Financial Year ending 31st March 2020
The last financial year has seen the income from subscriptions higher than usual as $5000 was paid in advance for the 2020 financial year.
Although the subscriptions do not meet all the running costs, there are funds in reserve which could be used if another grant is not obtained in the near future.
The Association usually benefits financially from the bi-annual conference, where the surplus is shared with the hosts. The cancellation of the Brisbane Conference and consequence of costs incurred will affect the Balance Sheet in the next financial year (2020)
At this time an increase in subscriptions is not recommended. The current subscriptions are:
Up to 100 Members - $50
101 -250 Members - $75
251 – 500 Members -$150
501 -1000 Members - $250
Over 1000 Members - $400
Subscriptions are due on April 1st 2021
Kathy Wright, Treasurer
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Administration Officer Report
AGM 19th October 2020
Working with the Australian Association of Friends of the Botanic Gardens since late March this year has been a challenge and a privilege. This has been an exceptional year for all of us but I have found so many aspects of the Friends to be very humbling when many groups faced adversity through either bushfire, drought or covid.
During my short time with AAFBG I have been trying to engage with as many groups as possible to ask if there were assistance that could be provided from either myself or the committee. I am pleased to say that the committee or I was able to help with grant proposals, advice or support with technical advice.
Our readership of the e-news has been increasing during the year which has been rewarding. Once again the more contact with groups the more news I hope to be able to collect and move along to all groups. I feel that our role is important to be able to disseminate information around Australia to keep groups well informed and to be able to feel connected to each other as a community.
Through my own connections in the horticultural industry I have been able to provide some free advertising to the AAFBG and our Brisbane group of Friends. Hopefully, through other avenues there will be more to come next year in print media or sponsorship probabilities.
I have enjoyed working with the committee very much and would like to thank Mrs Gilfillan for her patience and support while learning my role.
Chantal de Vere
Administration Officer AAFBG
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