4 September

Minutes

Bendigo Maubisse Friendship Committee

Friday 3 March 2017 at 7:30 am

Sir John Quick Room, City of Greater Bendigo Lyttleton Terrace, Bendigo

Present: Cr. Jennifer Alden,Deborah Blake, Ian Blake, Mark Feiss, Jenny Feiss,Rod Flavell,JohnJones, Ken Hubbard, Heather McNeill, Naidene Parry, Heather Ridge, Steven Abbott, Barry Secombe, George Waters

Apologies: Mark McLoughlan, Stephanie Beer (Marketing)

Welcome: ChairCr. Alden welcomed all to the meeting.

Declaration of conflict of interests and pecuniary interests: Nil

Confirmation of Draft Minutes3 February as circulated:

Moved: Naidene Parry Seconded: Deborah Blake Carried

Business Arising:

Action / Comments
BMFC eNewsletter / Next edition being prepared
Presentation to Council / Delivered by H. Ridge & B. Secombe 8 Feb.
Communications L. Murphy & P. Cox / None recorded
Fundraising Committee / Met 20 Feb. N.Parry to report
Caretaker proposal Volunteer House / General Business
Meeting with Michelle Whalen / Feb. 28 – well attended and informative.

Volunteer House security – Mark Feiss reported the fitting of new locks as arranged by Mark McLoughlan. In addition, rats have been cleared and House louvres replaced.

Correspondence

As circulated for March 2017

Moved that correspondence be accepted: Heather McNeill Seconded: Barry Secombe Carried

Finance Report: Mark FeisspresentedFinance Report2/3/17 as circulated

Heather Ridge noted an additional sponsorship will soon be received from Eaglehawk Rotary.

Heather recommended that we continue to make an annual contribution to Mobile Library since this is a valuable part of Alola’s Education program. The amount should remain at $1,500 and be presented by the Art Team (May/June)

Moved: Heather Ridge Seconded: Heather McNeill Carried

Contribution to RAWCS Dili – office staff are now salaried so the basis for our contribution has changed. Heather Ridge commented that the office provides invaluable support; Community Consultation Team was given assistance in January with accommodation, bookings, cars, interpreters.

Containers – Heather Ridge advised that currently there would be about one - quarter of a container load of items.

Moved that March Finance Report be accepted: Mark Feiss Seconded: Jennifer Alden Carried

Work Teams:

Art Team: Jenny Feiss reported that 5 Art Team members and 2 Radiologists, to be involved in training local midwives, will visit TL 28 May – 14 June. Art Team members are currently looking at curriculum which will be signed off by Education Ministry TL. Local teachers will be matched with the team, working with around 720 children (Grades 1 – 4) The Team will again be working with local women in craft areas such as crochet.

Dental Project:Rod Flavell reported ongoing discussions with the Sydney Rotary Dental group who have a dentist visiting TL April 22 and spending 5 days in Maubisse. A new dentist attached to La Trobe will be travelling independently to TL in April. The project needs to be thoroughly scoped, looking at training and equipment needs, along with outreach service requirements. La Trobe Bendigo maintains interest in the project. Rod and George Waters are having further meetings with relevant staff.

Marketing Committee: Deborah Blake

The next newsletter is well underway and should appear next week.

Donation appeal for the Art Team will be included.

Fundraising Committee:Naidene Parry

The Committee met 20 February and discussed the Heritage Walk (slight name change) 24 September, 1pm – 4pm (with afternoon tea continuing to 5pm.) Pre-paid tickets are being discussed and a small price increase has been recommended (new cost $20), based on feedback from previous Walk. Afternoon tea will remain $5. New additional venues are being followed up with more private homes in the area hopefully to be included.

Raffle – will again be held and a quilt has already been donated.

Star Film Night – Jenny Feiss is investigating aThursday evening, probably in May. Publicity might indicate one particular area – such as Art project – to benefit from funds raised.

Dinner fundraiser – Axedale Tavern, Bendigo Club and others being investigation.

Grill’d – Naidene has applied for BMFC to be part of their tokens scheme.

Bunnings – Sausage Sizzle date to be confirmed. Farmers Market another option.

Casual Dress Days – Naidene to approach organisations/ businesses that take part in these days.

General Business

1. Project Proposals 2017-19 as circulated: Heather Ridge

Carry over projects indicated [C].

Average team costs may be higher than given estimates.

Projects 1-10 inclusive previously accounted for and supported by committee.

Project 11 – Further recent discussions with Rotary Club of Bright: Bright will fully self- fund and use Volunteer House and equipment.

Project 12 – Water Connection Agricultural High School. Project has beenscoped but beyond budget of BMFC and RCoBS, so agreed this project move into unsupported projects.

Project 13 – Storage Shed –recommended to leave this at present. A later team may be able to undertake.

Project 14 – Rehabilitation of Youth and Art Exhibition Centre: Ken Hubbard mentioned Art Team will discuss this proposal with Wilson and clarify details re. exhibition space and building upgrade, including security concerns.

Project 15 - School Fence may be possible, but further information needed and would require scoping.

Project 16 – Further information re. exchange visit to Bendigo needed, this might be followed up by Art Team. Their requirements (goals, content, skills, time required) need to be ascertained.

Project 17 – Window Grills – needs to be scoped.

Projects 18-36 – not supported at this stage. Notes on Water and Sanitation projects (p.6 Project Proposals) are pertinent and were reinforced for committee members by Michelle Whalen in her talk.

Project 36 –BMFC supports and abides by the rejection of this project by Catholic Bishops and Sub-District Administration.

Motion put That BMFC adopt the Project Proposals list as tabled. Projects 12, 18-36 inclusive are not supported at this time and Projects 13 – 17 require further information/scoping.

Moved: Barry Secombe Seconded: Rod Flavell

Heather Ridge was thanked for presenting this information clearly and accurately. She will communicate our decisions to Sub-District Administration.

Barry Secombe suggested Executive meet to discuss further the 3 Year budget in its strategic context.

2. Caretaker Proposal Maubisse House: J. Feiss

Peace Corps volunteer Walter Allan will be returning to United States so his application for Volunteer House Caretaker has been withdrawn. Volunteer House documentation does not deal with the caretaker issue. The 10 Year Lease on the House is now up. It was agreed not to raise this issue with the community at the present time. Heather Ridge will inform Loni Anderson that BMFC is not presently considering a House caretaker.

3. Time to Draw the Line Documentary – Heather McNeill

It was decided not to proceed with the screening due to anticipated difficulties in gathering sufficient numbers required for the screening to go ahead.

4.Engagement with City of Ballarat’s Ainaro Friendship Committee – J. Alden

Committee agreed to start discussions again – a joint project would give impetus to working together.

Meeting Closed: 8.45am.

Action / Who
Preparation of next e-newsletter / Marketing Team
Communication of supported proposals to Sr. Luis
Communication of caretaker decision to Loni Anderson / Heather Ridge
Fundraising Committee – organisation of Film Night, Heritage Walk& other activities. / N. Parry& Fund. Committee
Further communications: Lindsay Murphy, Peter Cox. / Ongoing
Art Team preparations for visit / J. Feiss& Team
Dental project – ongoing discussions / R. Flavell/ G. Waters

Next Meeting: 7 April 2017

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