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Annual General Meeting
The 110th AGM of The Graduate Union of The University of Melbourne
Thursday, 26th May 2022
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The 110th annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association opened at 5.30pm at Graduate House. The General Manager, Daniel Clark, welcomed all Members of Council and members of the Association to the AGM. This was followed by addresses from:
• The President, the Hon Diana Bryant AO, KC (delivered in absentia by the Chair of Council)
• The Chair of Council, Cr Vincent Mirabelli
• The General Manager of the Graduate Union, Mr Daniel Clark
The Financial Report for the year ended 31st December 2021 was presented to members by Cr Muan Lim, Chair of the Finance and Audit subcommittee. Cr Lim reflected on the difficulties experienced during 2021 due to COVID-19 and the impact that had on revenue. He also commended Council for its prudent measures to manage finances during the lockdowns. He advised that no donation monies were used to maintain business operations, which is a tribute to the General Manager and staff. The meeting resolved to accept the Financial Statements and the Audit Report.
The Returning Officer provided a report on the outcome of the 2022 electoral cycle. As a result of the rotating retirement of Council Members, a notice of election was sent to members with the January/ February 2022 Newsletter, calling for nominations to fill three vacancies and at the close of nominations on 10th March 2022, three valid nominations had been received. The candidates provided the information required in Rule 42 of the Elections Regulation and the Returning Officer advised that the three candidates met the governance standards required. The successful candidates were:
• Mr Lawrence Grima
• Mr Vincent Mirabelli
• Mr Max Stephens
All three were elected to hold three-year terms of office until the 2025 AGM.
The Chair extended gratitude to retiring Returning Officer, Mr Ron Ritchie for his governance contribution and long service to the Association noting that he has been the Returning Officer for The Graduate Union since 2002 and a Life member since 1980. His contribution has been immense and not only to the electoral process but for the assessment of the Rules, Regulations and Procedures around the election of members to Council.
The Chair also extended gratitude to retiring Councillor, Mr Keith Ryall, noting that he had first been appointed to Council in 2011 and elected in 2012, and that over the past nine and half years on Council, Mr Ryall had also been on the Membership and Marketing subcommittee as a member and Chair of the Subcommittee, Vice Chair of Council for the past two years and contributing particularly to the governance, fundraising, membership drives, the GU newsletter and partner relationships, and the Membership and Marketing subcommittee. An award was presented to Cr Ryall at this time.
The next matter on the agenda was the appointment of the Association’s auditor. The meeting resolved to appoint Mr Wayne Tarrant of JTP Assurance to undertake the independent audit for the financial year ended 31st December 2022.
The Chair of Council provided the meeting with an update on the Graduate House master planning. This was done by way of a tabled report. The Chair of Council emphasised that the possible developments for the site were in concept planning stage and that no commitments had been made, apart from the Association being granted a planning permit for the site. The University of Melbourne had been helpful in discussions with Council’s Buildings and Facilities subcommittee. The Chair assured those present that members would be kept informed as concepts, costings and funding options were further developed.
The Chair opened the meeting for general business. Members took the opportunity to further interrogate the Graduate House master plan, with members of Council responding to the questions raised.
The Chair of the meeting closed at 6.35pm and the Chair advised Members that the next AGM was scheduled for Thursday, 16th May 2023.
Full minutes of the meeting are available to Members on the Graduate Union’s website.
