Committee

Committee Members 2007/2008

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 2005

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of Southdown Australia Inc. held in the Sheep Club, Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on Thursday 15th September 2005, commencing at 4pm.

One minute's silence was held at the start of the meeting in honour and memory of Mrs. Betty Taylor - a wonderful supporter of the breed and much loved member and secretary of Southdown Australia for over twenty years.

Present
Mr. Geoff Baker in the Chair
Kevin Ludeman, Colin Taylor, Julia McLean, Graeme Hooper, Colin Taylor, Ralph Moran, Lester Fincham, Andrew Sellars-Jones, Frank Badcock, Chris Badcock,

Apologies
Tom Robertson, Cotties Run Partnership, Ian Ireland, Anne Sellars-Jones.

Minutes of Previous Meeting
Minutes accepted as read by K Ludeman, seconded by R Moran.
Carried

Business Arising
See later.

Financial Report
The financial report showing a credit balance of $5916.94 on 30.6.04 held at the National Bank, Berwick, was received on the motion of R Moran, seconded C Taylor.
Carried

President's Report
This has been a very interesting year regarding Southdowns. Firstly, the supply of flock rams could not keep up with the demand, with ram lambs having to be sold on a number of occasions to fill orders. The prime lamb market and the low wool returns no doubt had a lot to do with this, and quite a number of ewe lambs were joined to cash in on the market while it is good. I quote one prime lamb producer in the Hawkesdale area who joined his 2003 drop ewe lambs and sold their progeny in 2004 at Ballarat for $137 and $140 per head. These lambs were sired by Southdowns. He again mated his 2004-drop ewe lambs, as did several others in the Western District. The demand for Southdown ewes in both Victoria and Tasmania was very promising. Demand for Southdown flock rams by auction at on-property sales were very satisfactory. Southdown stud rams in New Zealand sold to $16,000 - a record for the breed at auction. In Victoria, the Reynolds Family had a great sale of a stud ram in excess of five figures. Congratulations!

Promotion Report - G Hooper
Demand for Southdown rams and ewes has skyrocketed. The promotions in the rural press made possible by the flock ram levy have contributed to this. Two main themes have been used in these promotions: The suitability of Southdown rams over maiden ewes and the profitability of using Southdown rams over ewe lambs. Other promotional themes to be considered include the high survivability of Southdown cross lambs, ease of lambing in ewes of any age, additional income stream potential from finewool merino ewes. Members need to be conscious of promoting the breed through shows, field days and The Muster.

It was reiterated that contributors to the Flock Ram Levy will be mentioned in the advertisements on a pro rata basis - i.e. the members that pay more get more exposure. However even the smallest contributors will receive a recommendation in the advertisements. It was pointed out that the minimum donation of $10 would provide good exposure for that stud at a rate that would not be achievable if the stud took out the advertisement on its own.

Next year the question: "When do you sell most of your flock rams?" will be added to the Flock Ram levy notice to allow advertisements to be placed at times appropriate for that stud.

Some members pointed out that the Stock and Land (where the advertisements had been placed) had poor circulation in Tasmania. Concern was also expressed that the phrase "Southdown Australia recommends the following breeders…" was implying that Southdown Australia does not recommend other breeders, especially those in Tasmania that have not contributed to the Flock Ram Levy scheme. It was proposed that the phrase "This advertisement is sponsored by the following breeders" should be substituted. Animated discussion followed. Graeme Hooper pointed out that by supporting the Flock Ram Levy scheme you were paying for endorsement by Southdown Australia. He felt that the word sponsored reduced the impact of the advertisements. No proposed changes to the wording of the advertisements in this respect were made.

Correspondence
1. From Philip Whitcombe, Green Cross Farm, Surrey, England expressing thanks for our letter of congratulations on his recent appointment as President of the UK Southdown Sheep Society.
2. From Mr. Alan Tomlinson announcing the reluctant dispersal of his stud (Flock no. 52)
Correspondence accepted as read K Ludeman, seconded R Moran. TABLED.
Carried

Election of committee G Baker declared all positions vacant and called for nominations for the new committee for the upcoming year. [The Constitution states that four office bearers (President, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer) and five ordinary members are required].

Graeme Hooper nominated by L Fincham, seconded A Sellars-Jones
Geoff Baker nominated by G Hooper, seconded K Ludeman
Andrew Sellars-Jones nominated by R Moran, seconded K Ludeman
Colin Taylor nominated by C Taylor, seconded A Sellars-Jones
Kevin Ludeman nominated by G Baker, seconded C Taylor
Lester Fincham nominated by G Hooper, seconded G Baker
Ralph Moran nominated by A Sellars-Jones, seconded G Baker
Chris Badcock nominated by A Sellars-Jones, seconded C Taylor
Julia McLean nominated by G Baker, seconded G Hooper

Office Bearers
President: Geoff Baker Nominated by A Sellars-Jones, seconded R Moran
Vice President: Graeme Hooper Nominated by K Ludeman, seconded L Fincham
Secretary: Andrew Sellars-Jones Nominated by G Baker, seconded L Fincham
Treasurer: Ralph Moran Nominated by A Sellars-Jones, seconded G Baker
Promotion/Publicity: Graeme Hooper Nominated by L Fincham, seconded G Baker
Public Officer: Lester Fincham Nominated by G Baker, seconded G Hooper
All elected unopposed

Special Resolution
The Southdown Australia Constitution (the Rules, and Statement of Purposes) needs to be modified and updated, and lodged with Consumer Affairs Victoria within twenty-eight (28) days of this meeting. The update includes the change of name of our affiliated organisation to Australian Stud Sheep Breeders Association Limited.

It was moved K Ludeman, seconded C Taylor, that Lester Fincham oversees and implements the modification of the Southdown Australia Constitution.
Carried unanimously

General Business
1. It was moved G Hooper, seconded L Fincham, that Southdown Australia register for GST.
Carried

2. It was moved L Fincham, seconded G Hooper that arrangements be made for the following members to become signatories for the Southdown Australia NAB cheque account:
R Moran; G Baker (already a signatory); A Sellars-Jones.
Carried

3. It was moved G Baker, seconded A Sellars-Jones that arrangements be made to have a class at next year's Melbourne Royal Show dedicated to Betty Taylor.
Carried

Next Meeting: Exact date to be advised but will be the same corresponding Thursday prior to judging at the Royal Melbourne Show 2006.

Meeting declared closed 5.40pm
President _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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