10.30am Saturday 27 November 2021

Returning Officer: Ian Higgins
Minutes: Carmen Ryan
Chair: Maria Taylor

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1. Apologies.

Elizabeth Glasso.

2. Welcome by the Chair.

Attendees: Peter Hylands, Jan Heald, Cienwen Hickey, Maria Taylor, Ian Higgins, and Carmen Ryan.

3. Confirmation of the Minutes of the previous AGM (2020).

The motion was put to the meeting that the Minutes for the 2020 AWPC AGM be accepted.

Moved by Jan Heald.
Seconded by Peter Hylands.

4. Adoption of the 2021 Treasurer Report and Financial Statement.

Maria Taylor presented the report which she prefaced by stating that it was similar to the 2020 treasurer’s report in reflecting little activity as fund-raising was curtailed during the period of COVID lockdowns. She acknowledged committee members and others who donated their time and professional expertise to the work of the organisation as unpaid, in-kind support for the AWPC’s functions Treasurer’s report: Attachment A.  [AWPC members can request a copy via awpc.office@gmail.com]

5. Confirm or vary the amounts of the annual membership fee.

The meeting agreed that the current membership fees remain unchanged in 2022.

6. Special resolution to change the rules of the Australian Wildlife Protection Council (Victoria) Incorporated.

The secretary outlined the proposed changes and reasons for the changes. Essentially the AWPC Rules document held by Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) had not been subjected to updates since 1986 when it was lodged as a scanned copy. These updates reflect the need to engage with digital platforms and to improve access by the public wanting to join the AWPC. The changes were detailed in a ‘special resolution’ paper and the process for notifying the membership was followed under the rules of CAV. Attachment B.  [HERE]

Discussion included the concern that older potential members may still need a paper-based application, how to determine the suitability of a new member and the need for any proxy voting form to be witnessed. The absence of a vice president’s position under current AWPC’s Rules was also discussed, and it was the view of two members present that this position should be reinstituted.

The Chair ruled that the vice president’s position be taken on notice for a future committee meeting.

Acceptance of changes to AWPC’s Rules moved by Cienwen Hickey
Seconded by Peter Hylands.
Carried unanimously.

7. President’s report.

Peter Hylands acknowledged the work of committee members and thanked everyone for their contributions. He spoke on items from his report and below is a summary of the activities undertaken by the AWPC in 2021. For the full report refer to the President’s Report at Attachment C.  [HERE]

The AWPC committee and AWPC members have engaged in the following activities in support of Australian wildlife:

• education and advocacy including submissions to politicians, particularly in Victoria and in the ACT and federally about the escalating killing of kangaroos, biodiversity loss and policy, the plight of Australian birdlife, particularly duck shooting;
• highlighting the plight of wildlife carers;
• campaigns from NSW focusing on the use of native wildlife as petfood and co-existing with wildlife;
• supporting state-based wildlife groups whether on behalf of kangaroo species including support with content for Kangaroos Alive on World Kangaroo Day;
• providing information to community wildlife groups; and
• liaison and support for international wildlife campaigns and organisations such as the Centre for Humane Economy in the United States.

Submissions by the AWPC have been made to government inquiries and the findings from the NSW Kangaroo Inquiry were shocking, as was the subsequent signing off of the kangaroo management plan for NSW by its environment minister, Matt Kean. Thirty percent of kangaroos killed for commercial gain in NSW and Victoria are female kangaroos, despite ongoing claims females are not targeted. Females are now shot in large numbers because the commercial shooters have now killed so many kangaroos and so seriously depleted male kangaroo populations, they need to kill more and more females to keep their activities going. Australian mammals and birdlife are targets (see report). In Victoria, one of many concerns, is the mass killing of Australian wildlife in State and National Parks.

Unanimous support by the meeting to circulate the report.

8. All current committee of management positions declared vacant and election of new members: President, Secretary, Treasurer, and ordinary committee members.

All positions were declared vacant by the Returning Officer Ian Higgins and nominees were re-elected unopposed:

President: Peter Hylands
Treasurer: Maria Taylor
Secretary: Carmen Ryan.

Other positions:
Committee member: Cienwen Hickey (elected unopposed).
New Committee member position: Ro Mudyin Godwin. Nominated by Cienwen Hickey and seconded by Peter Hylands.

 

Meeting closed: 11.15 am.