AGM

The AGM was successfully completed on August 25, 2013. Reports from subcommittees had been published and I gave the President’s annual report. Officers were elected by the AGM which welcomed Jan Wilson as Vice President; Di Gray as Secretary; Tess Nicholls as Treasurer; and me as President. Rozzie Hecker, Jock Keene, Bill Simpson Young and Martin Wandmaker were elected as members of the management committee. I thanked the outgoing committee, proudly passed over a Life Membership award to Lesley Lynch; then Society commendations to Jan Craney and Peter Thorogood. Afterwards I introduced our guest speaker Corinne Fisher, convenor of the Better Planning Network. After her speech Building community influence the meeting formally ended and most stayed for drinks, nibbles and discussion. I would like to put the AGM draft minutes on the website. Our policy is not to publish minutes to our members until they are confirmed. I suggest that we make a judgement on that policy for AGMs. Are there any objections to this year’s AG draft minutes being placed on the website?

Federal Candidates’ Forum

The forum was successfully completed on August 26 and was favourably mentioned the following day on Sydney Radio (70.2) as an example of candidates meeting directly with their community. The Chambers Hall was full, so I estimate about 150 attended. I have asked the Treasurer to provide costing of this event at our next meeting.

Glebe Community Development Project

The GCDP has operated successfully for 9 years. About a year ago I wrote to the University with a view to holding discussions concerning its explicit community engagement strategy. TGS position is that the model of annual rolling funds (chiefly from NSW Housing) is not sustainable. As I explained at our last meeting the University has never adequately responded. However, things came to a head when funding from Housing NSW had become so delayed that it threatened 2013/2014 activities and short term cash flow. I am pleased to say that the University (June) and The Glebe Society (on 16 August) contacted the CEO of Housing and funds were released on 16 August. Consequently I have held discussions with Dr Rebecca Murray, Director of Strategy at the University of Sydney and there will be a meeting 26 September between the University and The Glebe Society to investigate a sustainable funding model for GCDP and to consider potential partnerships between the Glebe community and the University.

Tramsheds DA

I signed off The Society’s objections to this DA and have received acknowledgement from the City of receipt.

New Members’ Night

This night was successfully held on August 30 at the Harold Park Hotel. The events committee is thanked for all its work and management committee members are encouraged to stay in contact with new members.

CoGG 

CoGG has received no responses from AusGrid about the continual disruption to Glebe’s streets by its digging machines. Consequently it has referred the matter to the Australian Small Business Commissioner. A City of Sydney official made a presentation to COGG about plaques policy. It seems that there will be two types of plaques for CoS. It is intended that there will be a green plaque for historical sites, which are determined jointly with the Royal Australian Historical Society and another (probably blue) plaque for social and cultural. The criteria will be sent to us in the draft report by September meeting. The City official agreed to transfer Peter Robinson’s work into the City’s database, which inter alia is maintained as a method of record and interpretation. The City currently has about 5000 on this database. It was also agreed that the plaque for Glebe Rugby League Football Club’s foundation on 9 January 1908 can be mounted at The Glebe Town Hall. GRLFC was the first RL Club in Australia and I have had the ARL plaque since 2009. During that time the Town Hall has been refurbished. I will liaise with the Australian Rugby League about a function, when this season concludes in October.