The Australian Chapter moved to warmer climes for its 2009 Reunion and Annual General Meeting (AGM), 11–14 October. We met for a most enjoyable and successful get-together at the lovely Eagle Heights Mountain Resort at Mount Tamborine in Southern Queensland, with extensive views across to the tall buildings of the Gold Coast and the Pacific Ocean beyond.
L–R: Peter Carroll, Willy Lim, Margaret Rajaratnam, John Thorp, Noleen Lim, Abbas Talib, Tay Sin Yan, Beth Hilton-Thorp, Lorine Tay, Loh Ai Tee , Alan Loh, Sophie Pappas, Helen Pappas, Phil Young, Bob Byrnes, Pat Talib, Sue Young, Chân Carroll, Con Pappas, Marian Bond, Lynne Gordevich, Colin Pratt, Alex Gordevich, and Neil Collier.
Members and spouses came from many quarters including New Zealand, Victoria, New South Wales (NSW), and, of course, Queensland. The following members and partners joined Chân and me for the talkative and happy “Welcome Cocktails and Dinner” on Sunday evening: Bob Byrnes, Neil Collier, Alex and Lynne Gordevich, Willy and Nolene Lim, Ai Tee and Alan Loh, Con and Helen Papas, Colin and Marian Pratt, Joe and Margaret Rajaratnam, Mike and Pat Ryan, Pat and Abas Talib, Sinyan and Louine Tay, John and Beth Thorp, Phil and Sue Young, and Ken and Rosalie Waller. Business Meeting. The AGM was conducted on the Monday morning. The Minutes of the 2008 AGM wereaccepted. In the coordinator’s report, I noted the passing of a number of members during the year, thensummarized events since the last chapter meeting.I thanked the organizers (Pat and Abbas Talib) ofthis year’s reunion, and John Ling for his work astreasurer-secretary.
Peter Carroll with Loh Ai Tee and Willy Lim, winners of the Peter Pattision Memorial Trophy.
Ken Waller conducted the election of officers for the coming year. I was re-elected as coordinator and chairman; John Ling as treasurer and secretary with Ken Waller acting as assistant in view of John’s illness; John Thorp as the state representative for Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania; Neil Collier and Phil Young as representatives for Queensland; and Con Pappas and Alex Gordevich to represent NSW.
General issues discussed and agreed upon included (1) the pension scheme and the need for AFE–ADB representation on ADB’s Pension Committee; (2) the need to address problems accessing online pension details; (3) the need for a health insurance manual, as proposed by AFE–ADB; (4) an Australian tax submission prepared by Bruce Purdue and submitted by Peter Carroll—a vote of thanks to Bruce for his efforts was unanimously endorsed; (5) endorsement of the changed system of voting for AFE–ADB officers; (6) the need for ADB assistance in obtaining visas to visit Tashkent for the Annual Meeting; and (7) the importance of notifying AFE–ADB headquarters and the chapter coordinator of changes in postal and e-mail addresses.
Under Other Business, I reported on the executivesecretary’s efforts to organize disaster relief for thePhilippines in the wake of the devastating typhoonsand the expectation that a letter would be sent toall members requesting assistance. Mention was alsomade of the proposed new logo for AFE.
The meeting unanimously endorsed Colin Pratt’s suggestion that the next Chapter Meeting be combined with the New Zealand Chapter in Queenstown, New Zealand, in October 2010. The meeting enthusiastically approved a vote of thanks to the coordinator and the organizers of this year’s reunion. The meeting concluded at 11.00 am.
Socials, Tours, and Golf. We all enjoyed a privileged and interesting life during our time with ADB and made many long-lasting friendships…. Life is all too short, and I believe it is important that we cherish, facilitate, and build on those ties and enjoy, when we can, renewing our fellowship with members of our AFE–ADB family in Australia. Following a very pleasant lunch on the patio overlooking views to the ocean, many of the group joined the Tamborine Trolley Co. bus for a delightful tour of some of the tourist foci of Mount Tamborine, including the Rainforest Sky Walk and Eco Centre, the Tamborine Mountain Distillery, a winery, and other attractions. We regrouped at the resort in the evening for drinks and a leisurely dinner. Tuesday included resting, talking, walking, golfing, and touring surrounding districts.
The golfers and adherents had a pleasant lunch at the picturesque St. Bernards Hotel near the Mount Tamborine Golf Course prior to teeing off for the Peter Pattison Memorial Golf Tournament at 1.30 pm. The four teams of two were evenly matched, leading to hot competition with much ribaldry, many cheeky comments, and general hilarity. A severe thunderstorm with crashes of lightning at the last hole almost frightened the intrepid golfers off the course, but valorovercame common sense, and the hole was completedsuccessfully after a brief sheltering under umbrellas.Despite accusations of cheating, foul play, and generalmayhem, careful analysis and recounting of the scoresrevealed the two winners—Loh Ai Tee and Willy Lim.It was a very jolly afternoon, much enjoyed by all whoparticipated.
The group reconvened at 6.00 pm for cocktails and dinner in a nicely decorated private dining room. The conversation was deafening, the subjects diverse, and the happiness index high. Following an excellent meal, I thanked everyone for making the reunion so happy and enjoyable, with special mention of the organizers, Pat and Abas Talib, and announced the winners of the golf trophy and presented their certificates.
Somewhat subdued but happy participants met again for breakfast on Wednesday morning to say farewells before leaving, so bringing to an end another great reunion of the Australian Chapter.