THE RLIRA - SA BRANCH
MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HELD AT THE E2 OFFICES
JOHANNESBURG
SATURDAY AUGUST 2ND 2008 - 1330
Members present
As per the attendance register - Appendix 1 below
Apologies
John Cannon / Ian Downing / Dr Sanford Ware / Henton Jaaback /
Dave Gunns / Martin Kunhardt / Trevor Desfountain / John van Zyl
/ Tom Argyle / Trevor Schoultz / Ron Reid-Daly / John Redfern
Welcome
The Interim Chairperson (George Dempster) welcomed the members
and partners to the meeting on behalf of the SA executive and
suggested that the notice convening the meeting be taken as
read.
George explained the format for the day before asking Chris
Cocks to read a message from our Patron - Digger Essex Clerk.
Patron's Message
After reading the message (see Appendix 2 below) Chris gave a
brief overview of the RLI membership cards and the selling of
raffle tickets for the Troopie rededication.
Local Activities
George reported back on the activities of the local branch which
included Hamish McIntyre taking leave of absence as the
Chairperson, the appointment of George by the other exco members
in the position of Interim Chairperson, and the opening of a
bank account which has received R10,000 in donations over the
last 3 months. Members were thanked for the generous donations
towards the Troopie rededication.
Ian Bate gave an overview of the reasons for the association's
existence, which include the fostering of relationships through
regular meetings and improving communications.
Boerie Hume gave an overview of the Durban activities, in
particular Simon Willar's ‘GFL Lunch'.
Troopie Rededication
George opened the discussion on the Troopie rededication service
including the planned activities for the 26 September 2008 and
the wording on the plinths. Some robust debate took place with
regards to the extra plinth which will be placed at the bottom
of the Troopie. Skippy Mitchell asked the meeting to note his
displeasure regarding the additional plinth, duly noted. The
members were then asked to vote on the plinths on the Troopie.
The vote was unanimous - including Skippy.
International round-up
George Dempster spoke on changes during the year to the
international executive including the appointment of Brigadier
Digger Essex Clerk as the Patron of the association from
Australia. Colonel Ian Buttenshaw was elected the Chairman,
based in United Arab Emirates and Martyn Hudson the CEO based in
the UK. Other exco positions include Chris Cocks as the
historian and Shaun Ryan as the legal advisor. The branch
chairpersons - Tony Young from Australia and George Dempster
from SA make up the other exco members.
Overall the Association has become a lot stronger and
more active - The launch of the Saints and the advent of the
website attract at least 20 new registrations per month with
more than 5,000 hits monthly. International membership will
surpass 600 by the end of August and is expected to reach 1,000
by year-end.
The Ozzie and New Zealand branches get together on ANZAC
day - where they don medals and march under the Rhodie flag with
other OZ army units.
The UK branch, headed by Martyn Hudson, met for a weekend
bash last year to appoint a local committee. Since then they
have focused their attention on the restoration of the Troopie
and other Battalion paraphernalia.
America has not yet formed a branch. However, they got
together last weekend to celebrate the memorial of the 7
Americans killed in action with the RLI - spearheaded by Ed Coey,
borther of Cpl John Coey (KIA) and Rich Byrne, nephew of Joe
Byrne (KIA). Medics Keith Nelson (USA) and Mike McDonald
(Canadian) were both present at the reunion. Also present were
Jeremy Hall (2 Cdo) and Craig Bone (3 Cdo - Craig is our
‘official' RLIRA artist).
Exco Election - SA Branch
George asked if member's of the existing exco were prepared to
stand for nomination for the next year. All present accepted
with a postal vote from John van Zyl. Additional nominations
were called from the floor and were received from Phil Kaye,
Skippy Mitchell and Terry Pittaway.
No objections were raised to any of the existing exco standing
again or the new nominations - it was then suggested by George
that all members nominated stand as the exco for the following
year. This was approved by all members present.
Pat Hill nominated George Dempster as the Chairperson, which was
seconded by Ian Bate and a number of other members. George
accepted the nomination and proposed Chris as the secretariat,
which was seconded by Ian and accepted by Chris.
The RLI RA - SA Branch exco for 2008/09:
Chairman - George Dempster
Secretariat - Chris Cocks
JHB representative - Ian Bate supported by Phil Kaye
Durban representative - Boerie Hume supported by Nick Skipworth-Mitchell
Cape representative - Denis Croukamp
Nelspruit representative - Terry Pittaway
A note of thanks was delivered by Chris to Shirley and George
for organising the event. George in turn thanked Graham Roy for
printing the banners and suggested that all present - in typical RLI style - ensure that they go missing by the end of the day.
Mission accomplished.
Chris reminded all present to forward information to populate
the VALE and gallery sections of the website with an appeal to
forward as many pictures as possible.
In closing
George reiterated Ian's earlier remarks that the association has
as its main goal the bringing together and reconnecting of old
friends through social gatherings and regular communications,
without forgetting those that made the ultimate sacrifice.
There being no further matters for discussion the meeting
adjourned at approximately 15h00. The chairperson thanked all
members who attended, inviting all members to enjoy a few cold
beers and a braai. - which lasted to just after 8pm.
Appendix 1 - attendance register
Armstrong, Pat
Atkinson, Stretch
Barron, Kevin
Bate, Ian
Bezuidenhout, Rhodes
Charles, dave
Cocks, Chris
Dempster, George
Doughty, Carol
Fletcher, Colin
Fraser, Rob
Hill, Pat
Hume, Boerie
Jansen, Mike
Kaye, Phil
Kotze, Andrew
Kruger, Paddy
Lamb, Ted
Leid, Pete
Olivier, Piet
Peak, Graham
Pickering, Dave
Pittaway, Terry
Ras, Chris
Roy, Graham
Scott, Ian
Skipworth-Mitchell, Nick
Soares, Dos
Strachan, Alan
Thompson, Wayne
Urwin, Bobby
Watt, Pete
White, Roland
Wrathall, Jon
Appendix 2 - Patron's message
PATRON'S SALUTE TO THE 2008 AGM OF THE RSA BRANCH
Greetings, to all Ouens in the Republic: en hou gaan dit?....
I send you a warm and strong salute from across the Indian
Ocean; and also on behalf of all Saints of our world-wide
Regimental Association.
Our Association has had a good year, and our numbers have
swelled as many ex Ouens of the Regiment have found their old
friends though our web-site, and renewed their strong bonds,
friendships, and mutual trust forged under stress. We thank
Chris Cocks, Tony Young and George Dempster for their initiative
and energy for getting us all closer together again.
We Australians had a good ANZAC Day reunion in Brisbane and
marched smartly though the City on the Anzac Day parade. We were
magnificently acclaimed by the crowd.
The UK Branch had a good reunion last year and are looking
forward to their big day on 27th September when they get
together with a few of us from overseas to celebrate and
commemorate the rededication and display of our Troopie and the
re-laying up of our old Queens and Regimental Colours in the
Salisbury Family Chapel on the Hatfield House Estate in
Hertfordshire just north of London. Wreaths will be laid on the
plinth of Troopie at the commemoration service, to represent the
UK, South African and Australasian branches.
Also The UK Branch, under Martyn Hudson will have done a superb
job of repairing, re-erecting, rededicating, and celebrating the
return of our Troopie. I thank you for supporting them so well.
I congratulate you in the Republic for having your second
reunion and for the renewed strength of your Branch and getting
together again today to further cement your regimental bonds and
to celebrate our illustrious past as a hard-fighting Rhodesian
battalion.
The Zimbabwe Government under Mugabe have made an utter disgrace
of ‘Old Rhodesia' and what we once fought for. The spirit of
Rhodesia that we all fought for then, has today burst into a
fresh glory as those nations that belittled and threw shame on
our colonial past are now damned eternally by their stupid
blunders as the world recognises our right to have fought hard
against the evil that is now represented by Mugabe and his
undemocratic and despised Zimbabwe government.
Well done then … and now … proudly. Have a great day together,
boeties: en alles van die beste'.
M'dala Digger Essex-Clark
Patron
Canberra, Australia
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