PNGAA Management Committee: September 2009

From Riley Warren, President PNGAA

I like to keep members informed of what our Management Committee is doing. We met on 11 October and all our members were present. I trust that what follows gives members a sense of what the Management Committee is doing to achieve our Objects. I ask that members bear in mind that we are all volunteers with full lives and that there is no paid administrative support.

President’s Matters

I informed the committee of some of the activities I have been involved in on behalf of the Association. These included representing the PNGAA at the Independence Day celebration at the PNG High Commission in Canberra, attending an Independence Thanksgiving Church Service organised by the Papua New Guineans living in Canberra at which I was asked to bring greetings from and to explain about the PNGAA to those present of which there were about 100. I also attended a Memorial Church Service in Sydney commemorating the death of the World War 2 New Guinea Martyrs.

While in Canberra I was able to meet with the person in charge of PNG matters in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It was an excellent meeting where I was able to pass on information about the PNGAA and to suggest ways in which the members of the Association may be able to be of help to Papua New Guineans who come to Australia under our government’s Guest Worker scheme. More recently I called upon the new Papua New Guinean Consul General in Sydney and spoke to him about the work of the Association. It too was a very good meeting.

Treasurer’s Matters

Our Treasurer, Will Muskens, was able to be with us at the October Meeting and raised a number of matters that will help both him, and our members, by facilitating increased use of Internet (Online) Banking provisions. We would very much like to encourage more members to pay their membership fees by direct deposit to the PNGAA bank account, following this up with email advice to: quoting the appropriate membership number. After a discussion regarding the costs of running the Association and the income we receive it was decided to raise the annual membership fee to $25 from 2010. The Management Committee believes that even at the higher fee, the value of PNGAA membership, in particular the increased high quality of Una Voce, is by any measure outstanding. We also discussed the possibility of a ‘family membership’, but it was decided not to proceed with this concept.

From the Sub Committees:

  • All is in place for an excellent Christmas Luncheon this year.
  • We will ask the Federal Government to include in its new History Syllabus a section relating to Australia’s role in the establishment of Papua New Guinea as a nation.
  • We were pleased to hear of the work of the Australian Business Volunteers and an article will appear in the December Una Voce.
  • We are exploring the possibility of holding an Art exhibition of upcoming Papua New Guinean and Australian Artists next year.
  • We are looking at striking a PNGAA Lapel Badge for sale to members as part of our image and awareness. Various designs are being considered and when we wear them it is hoped people will ask us what it is fo,r etc.
  • We are exploring the concept of ‘living books’ by having specially selected members give talks about their PNG experiences at suitable venues.
  • There is no further news regarding any increases in the Superannuation payments of our members.

We have been asked what sub committees we have formed and who is on them.  From time to time other members of the Association may be asked to assist a sub committee with their particular expertise.

  • Finance and Membership Sub Committee: Will Muskens (Chair), Marie Bassett, Andrea Williams, Riley Warren
  • Social Sub Committee: Juli Allcorn (Chair), Ann Graham, Pam Foley, Les Harvey, Riley Warren
  • History and Scholarship Sub Committee: Deveni Temu (Chair), Margaret Komarek, Peter Cahill, Andrea Williams, Riley Warren
  • Publications and Communication Sub Committee: Andrea Williams (Chair), Marie Bassett, Ross Johnson, Dennis Doyle, Chris Diercke, Robin Mead, Riley Warren
  • PNG Relations Sub Committee: Riley Warren (A/chair), Juli Allcorn, Sue Ward, Jacky Lawes
  • Image and Awareness Sub Committee: Dennis Doyle (Chair), Gima Crowdy, Deveni Temu, Juli Allcorn, Riley Warren

Other Matters

The PNGAA web site was discussed and will be reviewed over the next few months. Members’ comments are welcome as we undertake the review.

The use of post nominals by the PNGAA was discussed and it was decided that we should only use Australian, Papua New Guinean and Imperial Honours and Military Awards if requested by members.

There is to be a release of a film about the Montevideo Maru on Remembrance Day, 11 November. The PNGAA was notified too late to be part of this, but we expect to have our own Montevideo Maru function in 2010.