SJASC GENERAL MEETING
5.30 PM, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
CWA Rooms, 24 Toallo St, Pambula
Attendance: Penny Oakes, Susan McGee, Chris Ralfs, Geofrey Manning, Jayne Boughton-Manning, Stephen Garrett, Helene Garrett, Odette Bellicanta, Cheryl Dillon, Suzanne Hagley, Janet Reynolds, Tracey Austwick, Roz Hansen, Jo Riley-Fitzer, Peter Buggy, Denise Perry, Olwen Morris, Maryanne Beggs, Gavin Bell, Janine Houghton, Merril Ralfs, Jack Gray, Mick Brosnan, Martin McGee, Peter Reid.
Chair, Welcome everybody.
The contributions that the SJASC make to our community are the result of the commitment of so many people. We always appreciate all you do.
Secretary apology, Treasurer apology.
Deputy Chair Martin McGee standing in for Secretary.
Chair – Acknowledgement of Country.
CHAIR – Guest speaker
Honourable Kristy McBain MP Eden –Monaro.
Secretary – Apologies:
Wendy Wait
Russell Jennings
Peter Gorton
Gayrene Jacobs
Tracy Fleming
Christine Welsh
Chair – Welcomed newcomers. Odette Bellicanta, Maryanne Beggs.
Secretary – correspondence sent and received:
Conduct insurance ‘pre approval renewal’ document process in conjunction with Treasurer and renewal including liaise with Revenue NSW re stamp duty exemption.
SJA is reinsured for 12 months.
Conduct and collate review of Bendigo Bank account signatories.
Collate and send SJA NEWS UPDATE emails.
Sent Thankyou to Wanderer Festival for hosting SJA and SJA Youth stalls.
Oversee operation of SJA social media accounts.
Chair – Moved that the minutes of the previous meeting have been circulated to all financial members.
Seconded: Penny Oakes.
Treasurer’s Report, (attached) including significant donations received and made by SJA
CHAIR moves that meeting accept Treasurer’s report
Seconded: Mick Brosnan.
Chair – sub-group reports have been circulated via email and after this meeting will be posted on our website. I will take them as read.
CHAIR – moves that we accept reports as received
Seconded: Sue McGee
Sub-group convener’s present expanded upon any current sub-group activities
**(Also see sub group reports emailed prior to meeting)
Bega Group (Jan Reynolds)
Refugees / Multicultural (Gavin Bell)
Allies and Mob Sub-group (Olwen Morris / Helene Garrett)
Bega Valley Advocates For Timor-Leste (Dave Gallan)
Environment/Forces for Nature (Wendy Wait)
Housing and Homeless (Mick Brosnan)
Youth Sub-Group ( Jack Ewen Gray / Robin Spinks )
Denise Perry updated re Bega sub group and Surfing with the Mob initiative (Indigenous surfing group)
Jan Reynolds Year 7/8 Bega HS recycling initiative.
Gavin Bell updated on Refugee /MAARS weekend.
Mick Brosnan: SJA provided crisis accommodation for 900 bed/unit nights in 2025
Nearly 3000 nights in last three years.
4 of 5 units currently empty.
Reflections Pambula revising tenancy conditions resulting in less occupation.
8th car donated to SJA and put to use.
Samaritan Op shop (see emailed SJA News Update) Help required from 14/12 onwards setting up shop and collecting/moving stock.
Donations of furniture, white goods, bric-a-brac also accepted from 15/12 at Masonic Hall 17 Toallo St Pambula.
Land and Environment Court hearing BVSC and SJA from December 8.
Helene Garrett: Allies and Mob. Giiyong Festival.
Jack Gray: updated activities including Wanderer Festival, Timor Leste visit to Youth Permaculture Convergence. Incoming conveners for Youth Group.
Solar Garden Financial Support
Janine Houghton gave an update on the Solar Garden project and sought a loan for $10,000 – motion passed.
Trailer Purchase
Gavin Bell sought approval for $3000.00 to purchase a trailer for SJA use. Seconded Mick Brosnan. Approved.
Chair – GENERAL BUSINESS:
Chair – Certificates of Appreciation awarded since previous meeting:
To Team Woolies Tura, in appreciation of their fund raising effort August 30. Raised close to $1800 via raffles, cake stall etc.
Daniel Champagne for donating his $1500 concert fee to ‘It’s up To us.’
Club Sapphire for waiving all fees involved in our concert. Probably over $4k in kind.
Wild Rye’s Bakery for their $500 sponsorship of our fund raising concert.
Wolumla Public School and Lumen Christi Catholic Colleges, in appreciation of the schools’ continued dedication and support for our SJA migrant visits to the Bega Valley Shire.
Chair – Key activities since last meeting:
September 6 First of three fund raising concerts. This one to raise funds for the Youth Group trip to the Permaculture Festival in Timor Leste. Organised with the help of BVATL member Dave Crowden and held at Bega Uniting Church. A brilliant effort, especially by the catering crew led by Jo Riley Fitzer, Denise Perry, Jan Midena and a supporting crew. Raised in the order of $3,000. Thanks so much to all who contributed and attended.
September 13 and November 1. Working bees at Potoroo Palace. These are regular SJA contributions to the up-keep and improvement of Potoroo Palace. More hands are always welcome, so if you are interested to help, please contact the key organiser Wendy Wait.
October 4/5 Wanderer Festival. An excellent PR event for the Advocates. Big thanks to Wendy, Russell, Toby, Helene, Martin and Sue, Gavin and all those who helped out. Very good to see Annie the SJA caravan on site and to see the concept of Annie as the one stop storage space for all we need to display at community events working so well.
And big thanks to the Youth Group who ran their own marquee. Delighted to see a bunch of Eden High students on board. Attracted a big following with free face painting for kids – I hope they raised plenty of money towards their endeavours.
October 12 – Wendy, Russell and Toby organised a screening of the movie Rising Tide, encouraging people to attend the Newcastle Port Blockade to protest the shipments of coal from the port. Excellent work thank you team.
Mid October – Six members of the SJA Youth Group attended an international Permaculture Festival in East Timor. A two week adventure conceived by Dave Gallan and Dave Crowden of the BVATL sub-group. SJA Youth Group Convenors Jack Ewen Gray and Robin Spinks got another four Youth Group members involved, and off they went. Partially funded via a grant and a loan from the SJA central coffers, this challenging, character building, truly educational and inspiring adventure went very well.
November 2 – SJA attended the Old Bega Hospital fete. Mick towed Annie up and Jan Reynolds, Mick Brosnan, Gavin Bell and myself chatted with lots of people about the work of the SJASC.
November 5 – Executive agreed to a funding request from the Bega and Allies and Mob sub-groups. Agreed to provide $3k to support Surfing with the Mob. That’s a very successful initiative run by Bega based Robbie Townsend who provides surfing lessons and experiences for young Indigenous people. The SJA Executive saw this as a great boon for young local indigenous kids. In response, Robbie said:
“Thank you so much to everyone at SJA for once again jumping on board when we’ve needed support, we truly can’t put into words how much it means to us.
The $3,000 contribution will go directly towards much needed equipment upgrades, primarily new foam surfboards. Our current boards are falling apart and won’t make it through the upcoming summer holidays! Without this support, we wouldn’t be able to run our program over the six week school holiday period”.
November 11 – the annual ‘It’s Up To Us’ fund raising concert was held at Club Sapphire. An all Bega Valley cavalcade of stars headed up by Daniel Champagne. Respectable turnout, a great night. Thanks go to the organising committee of Dave Crowden, Ken and Susie Vatcher and Mick Brosnan. Ended up turning a pretty good profit, in part because of the generosity of Daniel Champagne who immediately returned his $1500 fee as a donation to the SJASC. Daniel’s gesture was mirrored by a number of musicians who played on the night – giving up their fees for the SJA cause. Daniel and major sponsor Club Sapphire will receive Certificates of Appreciation.
Chair – Coming key events
Diaries please………
Giiyong Festival this coming Saturday. A great celebration of First nations Culture held at Jigamy Farm on the highway just North of Eden. Always a great event.
The SJASC Samaritan Op-Shop opens on 17 December. Masonic Hall Pambula. An SJASC fund raising initiative managed by Mick Brosnan. Please contact Mick (email annmickbrosnan@gmail.com) if you can help out with a shift or two, donate furniture or bric a brac, assist with collections or deliveries.
To go on helpers roster please contact Gai Jacobs (email gayrenejacobs@y7mail.com)
CHAIR – Thank you for attending
This is the final meeting for 2025. 2025 has been a very good year for the Advocates. We have achieved a lot. We have survived another year in good shape. All due to the positive contributions made by so many people.
Thank you all for your contributions large and small.
Have a great Christmas
Next meeting Thursday February 12. 5.30 pm CWA Rooms 24 Toallo St Pambula. Guest speaker Robbie Townsend, who runs the fabulous ‘Surfing with the Mob’ program.
*******************