February 2007

Chair's Report
ARM's 2006 Annual Raffle
M500
Community Group Liaisons
ARM Merchandise
Tasmanian Branch Update
News
What's On
Email Change
Contact Us

A PERSPECTIVE ON THE AUSTRALIA DAY REPUBLICAN POLL

The Australian newspaper published results from a Newspoll survey over the Australia Day weekend.

In response to the question “Are you in favour of or against Australia becoming a Republic?”, 45% of people polled in favour and 36% polled against, with 19% uncommitted. Support for a Republic in Newspoll surveys have been static over recent years, moving within a narrow 1% band, and with the issue not on top of the political agenda, this year's results are not surprising. Our challenge, of course, is to improve the level of support … but more on that in a moment.

More interestingly, Newspoll included an additional question “If Prince Charles does become King, would you then be in favour or against Australia becoming a Republic?”. This inclusion of Prince Charles in the equation delivered an immediate 6% boost in support, lifting the overall level of support for a Republic up to 51%.

This result reinforces my view that improving the level of support for a Republic lies in our commitment to hammering home one single message: that is, a Republic equals an Australian Head of State. At a time when the Republic is not the hot topic of discussion and is otherwise receiving static levels of support, the very mention of Prince Charles triggers an immediate spike in support. This tells us that the more people think about a Republic in terms of the characteristically unAustralian nature of our Head of State (as I argued last week in The Age), the more likely they are to favour a Republic.

When Newspoll previously asked the public if they thought “our Head of State should be an Australian”, an overwhelming 95% of respondents polled in favour. Why is it that only 45% of Australians say they support a Republic when 95% say they support an Australian Head of State? It is because the majority of Australians do not see a Republic and an Australian Head of State as synonymous, yet they are. The problem is, when thinking about the “Republic” too few Australians automatically link it to an “Australian Head of State”.

As I argued in The Courier Mail last weekend, you cannot blame the Australian people for this. The onus is on us Republicans. There is a well known rule-of-thumb in campaign marketing that you need to keep on the key message, because when you've said something 10,000 times and don't think you can say it any more, that's when your message is only just starting to get through. As Republicans, we need keep focused on the single message that a Republic equals an Australian Head of State. We need to explain to our fellow Australians that our Head of State will remain Queen Elizabeth II and then become King Charles III, unless we become a Republic.

CLOSING OFF 2006

There have been two important ARM events since our last edition of Republican RoundUp that is worth mentioning. Firstly, I am delighted to report that the Annual Republican Raffle brought in over $27,500 . Drawn at the ARM's Christmas Party in Sydney , the winners included Jane Castles, Danny Gilbert, Corinne Kelly, Penny Ramsay, Margaret Fountain, Travis Christie, Mike Keating, J Knoblanche, Dorothy Gillespie and David McKenna. As a grassroots people's movement, fundraisers like our annual raffle are very important to keep the wheels of the organization moving. My sincere thanks to the raffle sponsors, to the many ticket sellers and to those who were kind enough to purchase tickets. Secondly, the ARM's Annual General Meeting for last financial year was held at the Celtic Club in Melbourne on the 20 th of January, with all proposed motions accepted. Thank you to Will Fowles, Peter Van Vliet, Terry Fewtrell, Louisa Graham, Ka Sing Chua and the Victorian Branch Council for managing the meeting.

AN ENERGETIC START TO 2007

Rest assured that the National Committee (NC) has rolled its sleeves up and is ready for the year ahead.

In pursuit of the objectives we set at the end of last year , the NC has already drawn up its strategies for different portfolios and we are now at the initial stages of their implementation. Similarly, the Branch Councils across the country are also engaged and ready for the year ahead.

CONGRATULATIONS TO PETER VAN VLIET

Lastly, a big congratulations to Peter Van Vliet, Convenor of the ARM in Victoria , who married Sarah McDowell last weekend. We wish them every happiness and the blessing of many little baby Republicans.

Republican regards,

Ted O'Brien, ARM Chair
chair@republic.org.au

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A mammoth effort occurred again this year with members raising $27,500 for the Annual ARM Raffle!

The prize winners were:

1. $1000 Westfield Shopping Voucher – Jane Castles, Fitzroy North, VIC
2. Exercise Bike – Danny Gilbert, Drummoyne, NSW
3. Nylex Extreme Summer Pack – Corinne Kelly, Park Holme, SA
4. $250 David Jones Voucher – Penny Ramsay, Canberra , ACT
5. Pizza Party Pack – Margaret Fountain, Port Macquarie , NSW
6. Bottle of Mou Tai – Tavis Christie, Towong, VIC
7. Six Bottles of Fine Mornington Wines – Mike Keating, Auchenflower, QLD
8. A Dozen De Bortoli Wines – J Knoblanche, Goodna, QLD
9. Two Bottles of 2003 Plunkett Reserve Shiraz – Dorothy Gillespie, Glenelg, SA
10. ARM Merchandise Kit – David McKenna, Williamstown, VIC

A special mention should go to four members who went beyond the pale in ensuring the raffle was a success, these being:

• Ka Sing Chua – who wrote personal letters to many friends and acquaintances;
• Anne Henderson – who send for hundred of books from National Office and then forwarded them out at her own expense to friend, acquaintances and colleagues;
• Mike Keating – who personally sold/brought more tickets than any other member; and
• John Warhurst – who literally drove us to sell more tickets and then physically drove to Sydney on the Raffle Draw Day with a precious cargo of ticket butts for the Big Draw.

To all of you who purchased tickets, sold tickets and the special four – a big thank you.

Pamela Hunt
Executive Officer, National Office

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At the National Committee meeting in Canberra on 2/3 December 2006 membership issues were discussed at length. Your Committee unanimously endorsed the importance of ARM members and recognised that every member retained, and every new member gained is a vital cog in achieving our dream of a fellow Australian as our head of state.

The Committee set itself the aim of increasing membership Australia wide by 500 in 2007 - M500. It also determined that wherever possible we should demonstrate just how much each individual member is valued.

As you probably know the ARM is a membership-based organisation funded entirely by the financial contributions and fund raising efforts of its members. Under these circumstances it is a real challenge to give members as much value as they deserve.

In an effort to give more value to members and achieve the M500 goal the National Committee has approved a number of new membership strategies. These initiatives include a discounted membership renewal scheme, an improved ‘Information Pack' for new members, membership cards, discounted attendance at function for members, a revised ARM brochure, a simplified Membership Application form, expanded opportunities for member involvement and more!

The plan is to have the new initiatives up and running by 31 March 2007 – so watch this space for details.

Each member of the National Committee has already committed to personally introducing five new members this year. In April, when the new strategies are administratively supportable and in place, we will be asking for the support of every member to help us achieve M500 in 2007. Will you help?

In the meantime, if you have any comments or suggestions on these initiatives I would be delighted to hear from you at mjkekeat@bigpond.net.au .

Mike Keating
Strategy and Campaigning

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As part of our efforts to establish communications with a wide range of community groups on the issue of an Australian republic, we are looking to set-up mailing lists to keep community groups, such as students, professional societies, unions, volunteer associations and our peoples' representatives (members of Federal, State and local governments) , informed of our regular activities.

We would also welcome your suggestions about other ways the ARM can get more involved with community groups. Please email your suggestions or comments to Ka Sing Chua at kschua@wdgp.com.au

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As part of our efforts to establish communications with a wide range of community groups on the issue of an Australian republic, we are looking to set-up mailing lists to keep community groups, such as students, professional societies, unions, volunteer associations and our peoples' representatives (members of Federal, State and local governments) , informed of our regular activities.

We would also welcome your suggestions about other ways the ARM can get more involved with community groups. Please email your suggestions or comments to Ka Sing Chua at kschua@wdgp.com.au

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The Tasmanian Branch of the ARM is looking forward to a busy 2007 with new committee members reinvigorating the Tasmanian Branch.  A 2007 function and activities list will be available for the next Republican Roundup in March following signoff by committee in late February.  Tasmanian Convenor, Lisa Singh, believes that a focus on increasing membership, more functions for members and rebuilding the Tasmanian Branch infrastructure are achievable goals for 2007.  Tasmanian members are welcome to email any suggestions or function ideas to the following email address tas@republic.org.au

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Fair Dinkum unAustraliana
Ted O'Brien – ARM Media Release, 25th January 2007

Our leader the Queen: now that's really un-Australian
Ted O'Brien – The Age, 26th January 2007

Republicans, state your case
Ted O'Brien – The Courier Mail, 24th January 2007

Republicans Take Heart
Editorial – Border Mail, 25th January 2007

England and Australia : Cricket and the republic
John Warhurst – The Canberra Times, 18th January 2007

We are the barmy ones
Peter Van Vliet – Herald Sun, Dec 2006

Issue: Australian Republic Debate
Overview of the republican debate from the youth forum Act Now

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