Guest speaker: Dr Michael McKernan
Our 2007 AGM, well attended by our membership, was
held at Sinclair Avenue on 26 April. Also attending were our local member for Hawthorn, Ted Baillieu,
the Mayor of Boroondara, Councillor Phillip Healey, and Councillors Dick Menting and Coral Ross.
In commenting on her Presidential Report, which had been distributed at the meeting, Liz Pittman
reported on her visits to 70 of our classes towards the end of 2006 which had convinced her that being
President of such a wonderful organization was really worthwhile.
Liz thanked Councillors and Council Officers for the support and encouragement we continue to receive
from them. We are also grateful for advice given by Ted Baillieu. She expressed the hope that by yearend
we will have a formal agreement with Council giving us secure tenure at Sinclair Avenue. This
would enable further improvements that will add significantly to the usefulness of the premises.
Following the resignations from the Committee of Ruth Hoadley and Pilar Manovel, Rod Benjamin and
Beth Johns accepted nomination to the Committee and were duly elected unopposed along with other
retiring members, including the President, Secretary and Treasurer.
At the conclusion of the formal part of the meeting, those present were addressed by Dr Michael
McKernan, an historian and former Deputy Director of the Australian War Memorial. His topic was
Anzac day in History and he recalled that Anzac Day is a story full of sadness and grief when we think
with pride of the achievements of Australia at war. He reminded us that we must also remember the
suffering of those left behind whom we tend to forget.
