Republic Roundup Jan-Feb 09

Australia Day 2009 has come and gone and the Government is yet to make a response to the 2020 Summit’s strong endorsement of a republican Australia. The recent tragic fires and floods in Victoria and Queensland are momentous events for governments and Australians, as is the global financial crisis. No-one expects the republic to be afforded a higher priority than these issues. What we would like to see is an announcement about the process and timeline the government has in mind to address the long delayed reconsideration of the republic issue.

As you may know, the ARM is a public company limited by guarantee and, as such, is required to fulfil all the relevant requirements of Corporations Law. Fulfilling these obligations is an involved and expensive business for a group of volunteers. The directors ─ the members of the National Committee ─ take these responsibilities seriously. Indeed, on 18 February, the obligatory AGM of the company to present the 2007/08 fiscal year audited statements was held in Melbourne. The Committee has been working on improving our performance in this area and we have recently contracted professional bookkeepers to assist with the accounts. This should, in time, contribute to more efficient and effective accounting procedures—particularly auditing. One thing the NC will be considering over the next few months is the possibility of becoming a not for profit incorporated association, as it is felt that this structure may be less demanding and expensive. This is not an easy or simple task and further investigation may show that we can’t improve on our current structure. Any member with professional expertise in this area is invited to email our Treasurer and Company Secretary, Peter van Vliet, via staff@republic.org.au.

The deadline for member comments on our proposed revised policies has passed. Thank you to all those who have commented so far. The response has been strongly supportive of the proposed revisions, though there has been some substantive comments requiring further evaluation. This will be completed over the next few weeks and you will be advised of the outcomes. In the meantime, we have made a submission to the Senate Committee inquiry into the Plebiscite for an Australian Republic bill, proposed by Senator Brown, in line with our proposed revisions.
The community based parties on Australia day were generally a great success. Many attendees reported favourably on the activity and we will consider an improved, and hopefully even more widespread, version in 2010. Sincere thanks to those members who coordinated an event in their local neighbourhood.
You may recall that in 2008 we invited any member who wanted to be part of a Consultation Group to volunteer. About 40 members did so and they were consulted on seven different issues during the year. If you would like to be part of this group in 2009 please email me at chair@republic.org.au. It not too arduous and does provide invaluable feedback on important issues.
At our meeting on 23 February the NC will be considering briefs on the progress of our objectives for 2009 agreed in November last year. News on this next month.
Best wishes,
Mike Keating
ARM National Chair

Australia Day Update
AUSTRALIAN REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT MEMBERS PUT ON AROUND 40 POSTCODE PARTIES to celebrate Australia Day in January, and to mistily toast the day when their land can boast its own head of state. By the look of the montage at the bottom of the page, it seems that a great time was had by pretty much everyone involved. This seems to be borne out by some of the comments sent in to RR by coordinators and guests.
The full report of Australia Day is far too long for a modest publication such as this, but will be published on the website in the very near future. Indeed, as soon as I can get it into an eye-pleasing format.
But what follows is a few highlights from some of the reports submitted.
Kath Jones at postcode 4170, invited any members who were “footloose and fancy free” to her party held at the Colmslie Beach Reserve in Brisbane, where amongst other festivities Kath says she: “subjected our group to a quiz, the content of which I had obtained from Australian Citizenship questions”!
On the Gold Coast at 4209, Andrew Grotherr entertained a group of a dozen or so members with a traditional Aussie barbie, including one bloke who brought his own kangaroo meat steaks. Now that’s Australian!
Further down the coast, at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast of NSW, 2250, Forum Convenor Tony Adams “...had about 37 people show up for a great picnic with much enthusiasm and fun. We drank to the Republic, encouraged people to write to the Senate Enquiry and launched the new logo via our new banners”.

Valerie Donlan at Nunnawadding 3031 in Melbourne had dome difficulty with the list of members I sent her, in that none of them turned up! “However, I invited some of my own friends (one of whom is a member of the ARM) and it was a big success with lots of support for the republic… and a republican Australia Day pav made by one of the guests to boot!”
I’ve run out of space, but I’ll a link to the website report will be included in RR’s next edition!
As promised, here is a montage of some of the postcode parties held by ARM members on Australia Day, 2009. A bigger picture will be posted on our website, along with the full reports from all the members who have submitted them. If you put on an Australia Day Party this year and haven’t sent in a report or pictures, please send them to enewsletter@republic.org.au

Your new ARM
MUCH HAS CHANGED AT THE ARM since we campaigned for the ‘Yes’ vote in 1999. Malcolm has gone, as has supporting any one particular model, and now the old logo with the somewhat confusing colours and ‘R’ in the centre is also history. The new logo (right), is a stylized map of Australia, overlooked by the Southern Cross, in Australian colours.
It represents our beautiful land, sitting proudly independent under the sparkling southern stars, and symbolises republicans’ aspirations for their nation.
Queensland Update
THE QUEENSLAND BRANCH IS GEARING UP FOR A BIG Year and has three forum events throughout the state planned, as well as two movie nights, youth events and stalls at Brisbane events. To assist in implementing this plan, Jo Clark-Jones was co-opted onto the State Council in January, and will be taking on the important role of PR and Promotions.
Andrew Grotherr, who is also the Gold Coast Forum Convenor, has been elected as the branch Forum Coordinator and will be coordinat ing local forums throughout the state. The Sunshine Coast will be his first port of call planned and will be held at the end of March.

TRAJECTORY of the REPUBLICAN DEBATE at PARLIAMENT HOUSE with JOHN WARHURST
Professor John Warhurst will be giving a public lecture in the Main Committee Room of Parliament House in Canberra on Friday 6 March, from 12:15pm to 1:15pm.
The lecture will discuss the direction and character of the debate about an Australian republic since the unsuccessful 1999 referendum. It will conclude that, while the role of the Crown in Australian life is likely to diminish, there is no more than a reasonable chance that this evolution will bring an Australian republic in the short to medium term.
John Warhurst recently concluded fifteen years as Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University. He is Senior Deputy Chair and Fundraising Director of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) and was Chair of the ARM from 2002 to 2005
Admission is free and bookings are not required. Inquiries to the Senate Procedure Office: Ph: (02) 6277 3072 or Email: research.sen@aph.gov.au

You can help
As you may have guessed from the banner motif, this month’s Republican Roundup is dedicated to all those who have suffered, who perhaps have lost houses, possessions or even loved ones in the tragedies we have seen in the last month.
This month, the ARM would like you to think instead of the people who have suffered in the floods and bushfires in Queensland and Victoria. Please don’t donate to us this month; direct all your generosity to any worthy cause, such at the Red Cross, that can assist and support the needy victims of these events.
Thank you.

Historical February
2/2/1998 Constitutional Convention began
13/2/1998 Constitutional Convention ended
15/2/1990 Queen Elizabeth II asked that Australians no longer be nominated for Imperial Honours
16/2/1996 Sir William Deane became Governor-General
17/2/1942 PM John Curtin demanded the return of AIF from the Middle East to defend Australia

WA Update
ON SUNDAY 25 JANUARY 2009 THE WA BRANCH OF THE ARM HELD ITS YEARLY AUSTRALIA DAY BRUNCH on the Banks of the Swan River, near the Burswood Casino in Perth. Thanks in large part to the mild weather, an enjoyable and relaxing time was had by the varied crosssection of members who attended. The brunch was the first major event held by the WA Branch since the film evening for the movie “Australia” held at the Cygnet Theatre in Como on 29 November last year.
WA Branch Convener Grant Jordan (left) and fellow postcode resident and republican Geoff Calder enjoyed a beer on Australia Day at Swanbourne in Perth representing postcode 6010

Vic Update
THE VICTORIAN BRANCH OF THE ARM HAD A STALL AT THE BIG DAY OUT CONCERT IN MELBOURNE ON AUSTRALIA Day. It was a great opportunity to promote our cause amongst the many under-30 concert goers. Over 140 people completed our survey about a republic. An amazing 83% supported an Australian republic with 80% saying now is the time to get it started. Many visitors to our stall also signed up as supporters and we hope to have a social event for them in the near future. Our next initiative is to also have a stall at the Greek Antipodean Festival in May.

Contact the ARM
National Office: GPO Box 611, Canberra, ACT, 2601
Level 1, 29 Lonsdale St, Braddon, ACT 2612
Ph (02) 6257 3705, Fax (02) 6257 3670
Toll-free 1800 80 2000
email republic@republic.org.au
ACT Branch: GPO Box 611, Canberra, ACT, 2601
Ph 0412 823 275, Fax (02) 6273 0246, email
act@republic.org.au
NSW Branch: Phone (02) 9267 8022, Fax (02) 9267 8155
email nsw@republic.org.au
NT Branch: GPO Box 3919, Darwin, NT, 0801
Ph (08) 8941 1873, Fax (08) 8941 0976
email nt@republic.org.au
Qld Branch: PO Box 1120, Milton BC, Qld, 4064
Ph 0403 237 880, Fax (07) 5526 8217
email qld@republic.org.au
SA Branch: PO Box 206, Modbury North, SA, 5092
Ph 0401 877 700, email sa@republic.org.au
Tas Branch: GPO Box 1912, Hobart, Tas, 7001
Ph (03) 6233 2641 or 0438 380 988
Email tas@republic.org.au
Vic Branch: PO Box 531, Carlton South, Vic, 3053
Ph 0421 059 606, email vic@republic.org.au
WA Branch: PO Box 600, Armadale, WA, 6992
Ph (08) 9399 2581, email wa@republic.org.au
Editor: DG Donovan Ph: 0403 237 880 Fax: 07 5526 8217 Email: enewsletter@republic.org.au