SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES OF THE SAPPHIRE COAST
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
JULY 9 2026
5.30 PM, CWA Rooms, Toallo St, Pambula
Meeting commenced 5.30 pm
Chair : Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country
Attending: Pam Skelton, Peter Skelton, Chris Ralfs, Meryl Ralfs, Christine Welsh, Peter Buggy, Tracey Austwick, Susan Chancellor, Naomi White, Gisella Freitag, David Gallan, Susan Hambleton, Merril Ralfs, Peter Reid, Gavin Bell, Mick Brosnan, Martin McGee, Sue McGee, Ann Wykes, Geoff Manning, Jayne Boughton Manning, Beth Sandstrom, David Grainger, Russell Jennings, Wendy Wait.
Apologies: Jan Reynolds, Olwen Morris, Denise Perry, Peter Gorton, Raymond Daly, Cheryl Dillon, Astrid Keaney, Tayah Hill, Simon Hoyle, Arlene Cassel, Jo Riley Fitzer
Chair – Welcomed newcomers :
Beth Sandstrom who is a Midwife at South East Regional Hospital Bega Hospital who wishes to set up support for needy families requiring clothes , cots etc.
Following on from an already established model in ACT and Sydney.
CHAIR – SJASC 2025/2026 Annual Report tabled.
This has been circulated via email to all members and will be posted on website.
Convenors who have made contributions to the report were thanked, along with Treasurer Peter Gorton and bookkeeper Robyn Morillas for their financial report.
CHAIR – 2025-26 SJA Office bearers were thanked for their outstanding work in the past year.
All Office Bearers to stand down pending fresh elections.
CHAIR – Invited Peter Buggy, SJA Public Officer to to conduct elections for Office holders ( Chair, Deputy Chair, Secretary, Treasurer ).
ELECTORAL OFFICER –
All positions declared vacant
Call for nominations.
Each former office bearer had re-nominated for current position.
No other nominations received.
All current office bearers declared as re-elected.
Chair: Peter Reid
Deputy Chair: Martin McGee
Treasurer: Peter Gorton
Secretary: Russell Jennings
CHAIR – Thanked Web managers ( Ray Timmerman and Simon Hoyle ) , social media managers ( Russell Jennings and Sue Chancellor ), Book keeper Robyn Morillas, Certificate of Appreciation producer Michele Patten, Merch and SJA donation tin managers Jayne and Geoff Boughton Manning ) and ALL ( there are so many ) others who make contributions large and small
CHAIR – AGM concluded
TEA BREAK – ten minutes
GENERAL MEETING BUSINESS:
Chair – Moved that the minutes of the previous General Meeting have been circulated to all paid up members.
Seconded: Susan McGee
TREASURER (apology) – Secretary read Treasurers report. (emailed to members)
CHAIR – Moved that the meeting accept Treasurer’s reports and audited financial statements
Seconded: Gavin Bell
CHAIR informed members that Bookkeeper, Robyn Morillas has retired and thanked her for providing a valuable service. Certificate of Appreciation issued.
New bookkeeper Sonja Summerell working with Robyn and Treasurer to understand SJA financials. Welcome Sonja.
CHAIR: – Sub-Group reports have been circulated via email.
CHAIR – Moved that we accept sub-group reports as received
Seconded: Wendy Wait
CHAIR: Sub group conveners present were invited to expand on any current sub group activities. (See annual Report for sub group reports)
SJA Sub Groups are:
Housing/Homelessness (Mick Brosnan)
Bega Group (Jan Reynolds / Denise Perry)
Multicultural (Gavin Bell)
Allies and Mob Sub-group (Indigenous) (Olwen Morris / Helene Garrett)
Bega Valley Advocates For Timor-Leste (Dave Gallan)
Environment/Forces for Nature (Wendy Wait)
Multicultural (Convener vacant)
Youth (Astrid Keaney Tayah Hill)
SUB GROUP NOTES:
Multicultural (Convener wanted)
Sub group convener retiring tonight: contact gabell@yahoo.com or secretary@sjasc.org.au for more information on volunteering for this position.
Chair thanked Gavin for years of dedicated service.
Gavin will continue his day to day volunteering.
Gavin tabled a certificate of appreciation from Lions Club.
Environment/Forces for Nature (Wendy Wait)
Potoroo Palace working group has been established and discussed.
(See Annual report )
Housing and Homeless (Mick Brosnan)
– Reflections Caravan Park Pambula: no change five units have been empty since before xmas 2025.
– Unable to get meetings with Reflections management or any MPs.
– Local member Dr Michael Holland has made some representations on SJA behalf
– Reflections Pambula Park is a Crown Land entity; Reflections manage it as a Not for Profit
– SJA are no longer paying lease fees.
– Reflections are perceived to be stalling on MOU
– Reflections say they are trying to meet with Crown Lands.
– Going public with the SJA situation is eventually inevitable
– Find out about Reflections ethos here: https://reflectionsholidays.com.au/about-us/quadruple-bottom-line/
– https://reflectionsholidays.com.au/about-us/social-enterprise/
– OTHER HOUSING NEWS
– Have been offered a lease arrangement further 8 two-bedroom moveable dwellings ACT 12mx 3.45m
– Council approved Adapt Homes https://adapt.homes/
– Peter Skelton is hopeful of a Uniting Church Eden proposal to possibly take two units.
– MB met with Bega Eden LALCs re units
– Potoroo Palace Josh and Manu Tiny home case was mentioned
https://aboutregional.com.au/tiny-home-couple-and-bega-valley-shire-council-headed-to-court/500674/
AND ALSO
– Mick looking for people to step into roles:
– Caravans sourcing / towing/ repairing
– Furniture sourcing.
– ‘Annie’ the SJA info Van
– MB to stay coordinating with existing and new units.
–
– Sunday Aug 9 SJA volunteers required to empty a house of furniture with Robert Smith truck (has a lifting tailgate)
– Mick was thanked for enormous amount of work done over many years.
– BVCDRF Bega Valley Disaster Relief Fund has distributed 750K since its establishment after 2020 fires. There is a move by council to alter the fund so that it can be used for more general purposes.
– This may result in SJA ceasing involvement with the fund.
– BVSC Affordable housing implementation group no longer meeting in original format: Is now a council role meeting 6 monthly. No community members.
CHRIS RALFS
Addressed meeting re potential impacts of AI and data centres on Aust communities.
Federal enquiry into Artificial intelligence and Data centres in Australia.
Chris urged people to make a submission:
Handout tabled. Submissions Close Sept 1
Chair – Certificates of Appreciation awarded since previous meeting :
Geoff Hodge, volunteers for many of our work bees
Robyn Morillas – SJA’s bookkeeper for many years. Robyn’s high quality work contibuted greatly to the efficient running of the SJA. Such an assett. Robyn retired June 30.
South Seas Motel – For their super generous decision to donate the proceeds of their massive garage sale to local charities.
Take Your Brain Dancing – for continued support of the Advocates
Chair – GENERAL BUSINESS :
Pam Skelton thanked SJA food delivery team for sending food to Eden community for distribution.
Chair – A SUMMARY OF KEY ACTIVITIES SINCE LAST MEETING:
Two significant donations. One of $5000 from members Colin Wood and Caroline Begg. Thanked Caroline and Colin –
$50,000 from Jianguo Pty Ltd which is linked to the Myer Family Investments Trust.
KEY ACTIVITIES:
April 22 – Working bee at Weemilah Street, Pambula Beach. Cleaning up a lot of waste and refuge. Another job shared with Merimbula Lions. Very good turnout thanks you. Another example of many hands makes light work.
It is this sort of volunteering, by so many people, to take on roles, tasks, or just turn up to help on existing projects that is the life blood of the SJASC. It helps us achieve so much for our community.
KEY THING May 8 – Saw a screening of Dave Gallan’s film Tallaganda at the Tathra Headland Theatre. A full house as treated to a cinematic triumph. Dave’s camera work is truly amazing. The film tells of the incredible wildlife in our forests and the need to continue to work to reduce logging in order to save so many species.
May 13 – Another meeting of the crew working to prepare for the Beyond the Screen initiative to assist young people in our community. With a focus on mental health, this games-based event is sponsored by the Bendigo Bank and is an effort by Merimbula lions and the SJA Youth Group. Youth Group Convenor Tayah Hill is doing great work in preparing for the event, which will be held at the Lumen Christi auditorium on September 27.
May 16 – Christine Welsh organised a crew to assist at a Harvey Norman Tura sausage sizzle fundraiser for the SJASC. Thanks to Christine and the support crew for this initiative.
May 17 – Sadly, Mick Brosnan advised that the engine in the SJA Ranger Ute had expired. A repair bill of around $13,000 dollars. So unfortunate, but the work of towing caravans and Annie the caravan must go on.
May 23 – Another SJA working bee at Potoroo Palace. Thanks go to Wendy Wait for her continued work in organising these work days in support of Potoroo Palace which continue to improve the amenities available and our local wildlife shelter.
May 29 – SJA donated $1000 to enable a bunch of students from Quaama school to attend a weekend at Stewart House in Sydney. Each year, 1,600 public school children stay at a beachside haven in Curl Curl, free to their carers. During their 12-day stay, they receive vital dental, optical, hearing and medical care.
They also take part in educational programs and excursions that build social and emotional skills, boost self-esteem, and support overall wellbeing.
KEY THING June 13 and 14 – SJASC joined with Mumbulla, Rotary and Lions to conduct a monster Garage Sale at South Seas Motel Merimbula. Motel owners are renovating, and decided to donate all furniture and fittings to local charities.
June 18 – Tarryn Lucas Fitness donated $390to SJASC from a fund-raising event.
June 26 – Two significant donations. One of $5000 from Colin Wood and Caroline Begg. The other of $50,000 from Jianguo Pty Ltd which is linked to the Myer Family Investments Trust.
July 5 – Jayne and Geoff Manning Boughton reported that the SJASC coffers were boosted by $1,260 in the past year – money raised through the cash collection cans that we have posted at various shops around the Shire.
Next meeting SEPTEMBER 3 guest speakers Matthew Nott (Founder) and Prue Kelly (Secretary) of Clean Energy for Eternity.
CHAIR – Thanked all for attending, and for contributions large and small.
Meeting closed 7.00 pm