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Report
to Annual General Meeting August 21st 2010
Frustrating,
exhilarating, mind bending occasionally satisfying, could be a good
description of the last financial year. As members you gave us a specific
task; provide recommendation on to how we approach the mrnsw conundrum;
unfortunately this sometimes led us away from other important aspects of
our day by day mission. To rest on our laurels and say that we have fully
resolved the problem would be to bury our head in the sand at least as far
as the overall VRA is concerned.
We
can confidently say that the way forward for us is very clear that cannot
be said unfortunately for all of the remaining VRA marine units. Although
it is pleasing to report that now clearer direction are being given by the
VRA Executive. As this report is prepared we are awaiting news of a
mediation agreement between msnsw, the AVCG and VRA Marine. The VRA now
appears to have found its way forward but not without some scars. How the
end game is played will be interesting to watch.
Our
recommendations are embodied in the Special Resolutions that will be
tabled and voted upon at the meeting. We commend them to you.
I
cannot speak highly enough of your Committee they have surfed the highs
and suffered the lows but always with a positive support for the actions
of those at the leading edge of the dilemma.
Over
the year although involved in the main game we did manage to increase our
public image with a number of groups. We are now more actively involved
with the Gosford Emergency Management Group and Hornsby Council’s
Estuary and Water Conservation groups are seeking us out in their day by
day activities. These groups need fostering as they are a key to what has
been and what will continue to be our various missions; not just group who
on a 24/7 basis respond to incidents but also community
group who have the welfare of the River, it’s users and it’s
environment at heart.
As a “response
group” we will continue to belong to the VRA and thus be covered under
their insurance umbrella. Uncertainty about our tenure on Peat Island has
been clarified although not as positive as we would have liked. In 12
months time we will need to have relocated and this and continuing finance
willbe
the prime task for the new committee. There is no doubt in our minds that
this problem will be solved and that we shall continue to grow in public
awareness and activity.
Over
the past 4 years we have looked outwards to the general community to make
people aware in Sydney of the work of the VRA this work in
Boating Safety has to continue but now I feel is the time to
re-introduce ourselves to the local community; fostering their support
financially as well as in active participation.
Through this work; opportunities will present themselves that will
ensure our strength and longevity .
Three
aspects of 2009/10 are worthy of note firstly the possibility to acquire
one of the boats now gathering dust at MAC Balmain, secondly the
acquisition of night vision
equipment and the most important of all the training of two young men to
be skippers. These 3 elements will provide us with new approaches to our
tasks and I look forward to assisting the new executive as they approach
with a new strength and purpose the 2010/11 challenges.
I
sincerely thank all those around me for the mate ship, support and homely
advice during the past 4 years; the task has not been easy but to your
credit there has only ever been forward steps; to work with you all has
been a pleasure and delight.
Yours
in volunteering
Hector
McLeod
Coxon
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