The AGM & Annual Plans

The AGM was a reasonably efficient affair with a new Committee seamlessly sliding into the well-sat seats around the Progress table. 
The new Committee sees the return of some seasoned members and some fresh blood to keep things interesting. The full committee is posted on the top of the Chronicle.  
The AGM was an opportunity to reflect on the year past and plan for the future. Some of the actions to anticipate over the coming year include an active social program at the Hall, a fundraiser such as the Trash & Treasure or Art & Craft Show.  There was interest to investigate setting the Hall up as a model of sustainability, with water and energy use minimisation and perhaps even a vege-patch.

Following is an abridged version of the Annual Reports presented at the AGM.
President’s Report - Suzanne Pritchard
After a hiatus in 2008, 2009 was anything but light on. It’s been an exciting year with new projects starting and old projects completed.
The Transition Town project, building local resilience and connecting members of the community sits very comfortably within the objectives of the Association and I’m very keen to see where it goes and how the community responds. As a waterfront community vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise and also as a community where a significant proportion of the population has the economic capacity to adopt sustainable behaviours, it will be interesting to see what the community perceives will be the consequences of peak oil and climate change.
A community vision and a community action plan are on the horizon, the process will be as interesting as the products.
The Progress Association has taken an active role in raising awareness about community impacting proposal.

• The Trinity Point proposal was reaching its climax in 2009 and the Association contributed to comprehensive submission on the impacts of the proposal. Unfortunately the proposal went ahead.
• The Olstan Auger mine proposal captured the local attention and once again the Association supported actions to halt the mine, hosting a sign writing workshop and providing local media
• Towards the end of the year Toronto’s Fig trees became a topic of local conversation, especially within the business community and Department of Housing purchased some land for 6 six units on Excelsior Pde.
• Another development application which received late notification was the 120 place Childcare Centre on Excelsior Pde.
• Discussions were had regarding the relocation of the Leash free area from Birriban to Gurranba reserve and how to respond to spontaneous massed youth.

Keeping abreast of the development applications within the community is always a challenge. It would be good to have this as a standard discussion point at meetings.
Subcommittees
This year saw the formal establishment of two subcommittees.
The Transition Town model was investigated and a very keen sub-committee formed, met monthly and commenced the planning for the awareness raising campaign. There has been considerable interest within the surrounding communities and considerable discussion within the group about how to respond to the interest outside the local community.
Social activities included the Bushfire Bush dance and the historical film night, both well attended and highly enjoyable events.
As always a big thank you to the keen, hard core, committed committee that make themselves available to consider the community and keep the Progress Association afloat. There are a cast of many … thankyou to the Chronicle Deliverers, the Landcarers, the Transition Towners, the Social Committee, the Hall Helpers and all the active people that have given their time and enthusiasm to the Association over the past year.
The Association is a local institution with a credible history. Some of the practices of the past have slipped under the radar recently and it is with pleasure and pride that the issuing of some new Life memberships and Committee badges will happen this year.
Life Membership is being awarded to

• Margaret Vero for her ongoing commitment to organising the Hall bookings. Margaret has been undertaking this role for more than 15 years. A behind the scenes member whose contribution has been invaluable and truly appreciated.
• Tony Dynon has been in and out of Executive positions since 2001, his first stint as Treasurer, Tony has been a huge asset to the Committee with words of wisdom and thoughtful contributions.
• Suzanne Pritchard has been presiding over the organisation for 15 years.  “I thank you for supporting me and allowing me to indulge my passion for trying to protect the environment and acting locally for the greater global good.”

Treasurer’s Report- Tony Dynon
2009 has been a good year for the Association. For the first time in 5 years we have finished with a small surplus. The major changes from 2008 are:
 
Income

• Hall hire up mostly due to the Yoga classes.
• Sponsorship up due to Chronicles going out each month and a few new sponsors.
• Social functions show a large income but this is offset by costs on the other side of the ledger.

 Expenses
The only major change is the increase in operating costs. This is due to printing costs for Chronicles, which is more than offset by the revenue from Sponsors.
 
Landcare Report- Robyn Gill
By our work and by searching out all the available free resources we can access, a small group of Landcarers manages to make a difference in the spectacular reserves of the Coal Point peninsular.
These areas which remain available for community use and for the possibility of boosting biodiversity are very precious. Our aim is to rescue them from being the basic mown patches which the advent of the motor mower reduced them to in many cases, or the weed infested “ no man’s land” patches with no healthy native cover in others. Grass for picnicking and playing is maintained where appropriate but planting of local species as a backdrop restores so much of their quality and beauty.
The small group of volunteers who work on our reserves has reported for duty on 94 days in the past year. The National Tree Day effort nested 150 seedlings into prepared holes after a major clearing effort followed up by watering for a short time.
The LANDCARE RESOURCE OFFICE “sponsored” by the Lake Macquarie Council is a backbone for us providing plants, professional knowledge and advice, community workshops to increase awareness and some labour provided by experienced volunteers with a professional leader. These services are shared through the whole council area and we access as much as we can.
The Council LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE TEAM  for our area has become, in recent years, a great ally in areas that fit the guidelines they work with and by being creative and willing in accessing materials that work for us. This has made a great difference in some reserves and to what we can achieve in the remaining bushland areas that are so precious.
As landcarers we are constantly amazed at what nature provides in the way of native growth when given a chance. We also review the research on ways to manage weeds and sometimes “use” them to promote long-term objectives – e.g. leaving them in place as a form of mulch for growing canopy that will become weed suppressing.
Grants are sought but often do not cover the aspect that we need most – labour.
It is a pleasure to look up from the ground where we are working and appreciate the magic outlook as well as to enjoy the company of likeminded enthusiasts.
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US AS WE ARE ALL LEARNING ON THE JOB IN A VERY SATISFYING WAY.