AGM 2005

Attendance:

Cath Hughes (CH), Geoff MacFarlane (GM), Mary Greenwood (MG), Neil Saintilan (NS), Paul Adams (PA), Phil Straw (PS)

George Lukacs (GL), Dave Rissik (DR), Colin Field (CF), Jennifer Spencer (JS), Anna Redden  (AR), Bruce Pease (BP), Karen O'Neil (KO), Rod Williams (RW)

Below is a copy of the Presidents Report that NS provided the SWS committee in early February.

Presidents Report Australian Chapter, SWS

February  2005

The year past has been an encouraging one for the Australian Chapter. I would like to thank the enthusiastic involvement of my committee, which included Max Finlayson (Vice President), Mary Greenwood (Treasurer), Dave Rissik , Kerrylee Rogers (Secretary), George Lukacs, Colin Field and Rhonda Butcher

The Annual SWS (Australian Chapter) postgraduate workshop, held on February 28th, was a great success with 25 delegates from Queensland and New South Wales attending. The workshop provides an opportunity for graduate students to present their research findings to an audience of peers and wetland professionals. The quality of presentations was superb.

The Australian Chapter hosted the conference “Australasian Saltmarshes 2005” at the North Sydney Campus of Australian Catholic University in February 10-11 2005. Conference registration was offered at a reduced rate to SWS members, which attracted about 10 new members to the SWS. The conference also provided an opportunity for chapter members to gain experience in hosting a moderately large conference in the lead-up to Cairns 2006. The conference was an outstanding success with thirty presentations and 60 registrations from South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

The Australian Chapter continues to have an influence in the management of wetlands at both State and Federal levels. Submissions were made by the chapter in response to State Government discussion papers on Compensatory Wetlands, as well as the proposal to designate Coastal Saltmarsh as an endangered ecological community. The work of active Australian Chapter members has been instrumental in guiding the determinations of the relevant committees.

Preparations for the 2006 meeting in Cairns have been developing in line with the timeline provided by the SWS. A $2000 deposit has been paid for the Cairns Convention Centre out of Australian Chapter funds. We have an in-principal agreement from the relevant Federal Government agency to sponsor the conference. Banrock Station are keen to be wine sponsor for the conference, a pleasing outcome given Banrock’s commitment to wetland conservation in Australia and internationally.

Banrock Station has also expressed interest in sponsoring the medal of the Australian Chapter of the SWS, to be awarded to the outstanding contribution by an Australian to wetland conservation, research or management. The inaugural award will be presented at the Cairns 2006 conference.

Dave Rissik has taken on the role of Chair of the organising committee for the 2006 conference. Dr Rissik is also on the executive of the Australian Marine Science Association, our partners in the 2006 meeting, and so is ideally suited to this role. Taking key positions on the committee are Mary Greenwood (Treasurer), Professor Colin Field (Conference scientific program) and Dr George Lucaks (Field trips) and myself (Sponsorship). We will be engaging Burke and Associates as conference organisers, though a local organiser may also be engaged in relation to local logistics and support. We will be negotiating the details over the coming months.

We support the vision of the International Chapter chair in proposing a regional structure in the development of chapters internationally, and see the sense in renaming the Australian chapter the Australasian chapter. In time, we would see the emergence of a New Zealand chapter, and the inclusion of New Zealanders in the Australian Chapter might facilitate this, and give them a more local home than the International Chapter. I have contacted all Australian members by email and asked their opinion. At the time of writing, I had received no objections.

Dr Neil Saintilan
President
Australian Chapter
Society of Wetland Scientists

MS stated that a profit approaching $1,500.00 would be realised from the Australasian Saltmarshes 2005 Conference.

Below is a copy of the Treasures Report that MS provided the SWS committee in early February.

Treasurers Report Australian Chapter, SWS

Report Period January 2004 – December 2004 inclusive.

Current account

Douglas County Bank (UAS$)

Approximate Total Assets                                                                    $6831.73

Transactions current account

  *           34 members at $4 per member per year
  **            Balance of loan from USA Head Office

A loan of US$5,000.00 was advanced to the Australian Chapter, to aid preparation for the 2006 Cairns Conference.

The Australian Chapter allocated US$1563.95 ($2144.15), in the form of air fairs for the Chair of the 2006 Conference to attend the 25th Anniversary Meeting (Seattle 2004).  USA Head Office reimbursed the 2006 Chair and remitted the balance.

Conversion rate = 0.7294 (1.371)

Cairns Convention Center. Approximately $5,000.00 due July 2005

SWS Head Office. US$5,000.00 loan repayment. Due approximately August 2006.

Mary Greenwood
Treasurer
Australian Chapter
Society of Wetland Scientists

NS moved, PA seconded, that the reports be accepted.

Accepted

1. 1.            Office Bearers for 2004

Only one nomination was received for each position on the committee. These are:

Dr Neil Saintilan:           President
Dr George Lucaks:        Vice President
Ms Mary Greenwood:    Treasurer
Jennifer Spencer:         Secretary
Dr David Rissik:            Member
Prof Colin Field:            Member

Open:                                   Member

1. 2.            Cairns 2006

DR is the official Chair of the 2006 Cairns Convention (9-14 July 2006).  Any member wishing to participate in the organisation of the convention should contact him regarding their area of interest.

The present committee is as follows:

GL will also be the contact person in North Queensland.

DR is arranging a display booth

1. 3.            Freshwater Swamps

PA noted that the inclusion of Freshwater Coastal Swamp Forest on the list of Nationally Important Wetlands Classification System had been achieved without objection

1. 4.            Award for Contribution to Wetland Research in Australia

NS stated that an award to an Australian scientist, for outstanding contribution to wetland research in Australia, is to be sponsored by Banrock Creek Wines. NS has to finalise details and call for nominations

  1   Relationship between SWS (Australia) and Coast and Wetlands Society Inc.

At the 2005 AGM CF suggested that a link be formed between SWS (Australia) and the Coast and Wetland Society Inc, which produces Wetlands (Australia). It was suggested that Wetlands(Australia) could be provided as part of membership to SWS (Australia).

NS will investigate this matter further.

At Australian Catholic University, North Sydney on Wednesday 14 March 2005 at 1.30 pm.