President's Message

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This is my first report to you for 2008 and I am conscious that you may be wondering why this has taken so long to be published. So let me try to explain some of the reasons for this.

The year so far has been a very busy one. Many initiatives heralding different structures for much of the Nudgee College Old Boys’ Association’s practices are being discussed, planned or implemented. This will, for all of our members, have considerable impact.

Thanks to cooperative dialogue and planning between the Principal, Mr Daryl Hanly and our association, these initiatives will, during this year, become the fibre of a new era of cooperation between the College and our association.

It is our intention to establish autonomous branches of the NCOBA in various regions within the state and interstate. This will be a practical way to strengthen our organization whilst at the same time providing more meaningful support for initiatives being pursued by the College.

It is now necessary that we plan a particular method of achieving this aim. Our organization has decided that in 2008 we should aim to establish these branches at Mt Isa, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. In doing this we will develop models of approach that can be employed to establish more branches in 2008 if possible, but at worst to be ready to make 2009 the year of establishing as many branches as possible. More information will be published over the next few months.

This cooperative dialogue, has also given rise to an examination of the possibility of cooperative or shared communication to all members of the Nudgee Family. This would utilize both print and web publications. Much planning and cooperative action must precede the launch of such a change.

Helen Blann has resigned to take up an appointment to a Local Government Office. We are most grateful for the wonderful service she has given as our administrative assistant and we wish her well in the future. However, we must now seek a replacement for Helen. This will take time, and in the light of changes associated with the above initiatives may also even necessitate some changed conditions of employment.

During this time, we have been very fortunate to have an offer by Glenda Clifford (pictured below) wife of Treasurer Nev to hold the fort on a temporary and voluntary basis. We are most appreciative of this.

Finally, 2008 must be the year of attracting younger members to the NCOBA Executive.

Don’t be surprised if you feel a tap on your shoulder, or open a letter of invitation or even take an unexpected phone call that indicates your Alma Mater needs you. By the end of this year the majority of our Executive either through natural aging or lifestyle changes has indicated that they will not be able to continue their present role. So if you can…..we need you!