On 12 October 2021, we held the 69th Victorian National Parks Association Annual General Meeting.

Our many thanks to all those Members who were present for our second online AGM.

Our many thanks to Dr Philip Zylstra, who spoke about his bushfire research. Philip’s research has focused on efforts to build a basis for fire management that has sound scientific foundations and applications. We hope his modelling and analyses of climate-vegetation-fire feedbacks will provide the guidance needed in the new climatic reality.

View Dr Zylstra’s presentation:

 

Matt Ruchel, Executive Director, gave an update on the progress made over the past year – including the win for Westernport Bay, and the commitment to create new national parks in central west Victoria. We are only able to work on so many nature conservation issues because of the generosity of our Members, supporters and volunteers – thank you very much.

We also heard from Elizabeth Morison, our new Nature Conservation Officer, who joins us via the Australia Institute’s Anne Kantor Fellowship for Young Women Environmentalists. Sera Blair, Acting Manager – Community Learning and Engagement, shared how our community has been getting to know nature both in the field and online.

View the presentations given by Matt, Liz and Sera:

For more detail on our work, you are encouraged to read the 2020-21 Annual Report.

Election of Council Members

Members re-elected Bruce McGregor (President) for a fourth term, David Nugent (Vice-President), Marilyne Crestias (Treasurer), Jan Brueggemeier (Secretary), Lara Bickford, Ann Birrell, Michael Feller, Dianne Marshall, Gerard McPhee, Rosemary Race, Doug Robinson and Paul Strickland. Learn more about our Council Members here.

Awarding of Honorary Life Membership

We are very pleased that Euan Moore was awarded an Honorary Life Membership, in recognition of his outstanding, long-term service to the Victorian National Parks Association, particularly through his contribution on Council, through the Bushwalking and Activities Group and NatureWatch program.

Tribute

During the meeting, we also shared a tribute to the late Ian Harris, former VNPA President. Ian’s lifelong contribution to the protection of Victoria’s finest natural areas continues to be greatly appreciated.

69th Annual General Meeting of the Victorian National Parks Association

Tuesday, 12 October 2021

MEETING PAPERS:

Minutes of the 68th AGM

Annual Report 2020–2021

VNPA Financial Statements 2020 – 2021

AGENDA

6.30 pm:  Meeting opens
Meeting held via Zoom online platform.

6.35 pm:  Welcome and Acknowledgement of Country, Dr Bruce McGregor, VNPA Council President

6.40 pm: Guest speaker: Dr Philip Zylstra

  • Fire: working with nature, not against it
  • Question & answer session

7.10 pm:  Presentation: Protecting nature and national parks together

  • Matt Ruchel, Executive Director
  • Elizabeth Morison, Nature Conservation Officer
  • Sera Blair, Acting Manager – Community Learning and Engagement
  • Question & answer session with VNPA staff

7.30 pm:  Bushwalking and Activities Group Report

  • Report on Activities for the year 2020-21
  • Call for Committee Members

7.35 pm:  VNPA Annual General Meeting

  1. President’s welcome and introduction
  2. Confirmation of the Minutes of the 68th AGM
  3. Adoption of the 2020-21 Annual Report
  4. Adoption of the audited 2020-2021 Annual Financial Statements
  5. Appointment of the Auditor
  6. Election of Council (see Agenda item 6, on the AGM flyer)
  7. Awarding of Honorary Life Memberships
  8. Other business

8.00 pm:  Meeting close

For a more detailed agenda see the AGM Flyer.

Your VNPA membership is one of the best ways you can demonstrate your support for our vision of Victoria as a place with a diverse and healthy natural environment that’s protected, respected and enjoyed by all – thank you.

Thank you for being a loyal VNPA Member – we love having you stand with us.