Forty-one of AIDA’s approximately 450 members forwent a significant portion of a gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon to attend the 2022 AIDA Annual General Meeting on 23 April at the Aireys Inlet Community Hall.
AIDA president Charlotte Allen welcomed members as well as guests Robyn Seymour, CEO of the Surf Coast Shire; Mike Bodsworth, councillor of Anglesea ward; and Danny Aitken, Operations Manager of the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority. Apologies were received from Libby Stapleton, mayor of the Surf Coast Shire and councillor of Anglesea ward, and Gary Allen, councillor of Lorne ward. The shire representatives presented an excellent review of the council’s new Vision for the Future and its underlying principles and strategies, especially those pertaining to our district. This Vision had been developed following wide- ranging community surveys in 2021 and the work of the community representatives on the People, Place and Future panel. A summary of the presentations and responses to questions from AIDA members are included in the minutes of the AGM, which will be circulated to members and uploaded to the AIDA website. Of particular interest, Robyn Seymour announced that the Department of Transport had acted on lobbying by AIDA and the shire and agreed to run speed reduction trial on the Great Ocean Road through Aireys and Fairhaven.
During the formal portion of the AGM the minutes of the 2021 AGM were accepted as a true record of that meeting before Charlotte Allen read her president’s report for 2021. Treasurer Frieda Wachsmann then presented her AIDA 2021 annual financial report, which was formally received by the members. After the members had approved the continuation of our practice of having a maximum of twelve committee members in addition to the four office holders, the election of the 2022–23 committee was held. There being no more than one person nominated for each position on the committee, the new AIDA committee was declared to have been elected and new members Gary Abrahams, Helen Berthelsen and Jacqui Lamont were welcomed to the committee and Barbara Fletcher was welcomed back. Charlotte then thanked retiring committee members Annette Comte, Suzanne Cavanagh, Leah Gaylard, Martin Gehrckens, and Catherine McNaughton for their years of service on the committee before everyone at the meeting showed their gratitude by enthusiastic applause.
The AGM was followed by a presentation by guest speaker Danny Aitken, who outlined the Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority’s immediate and long- term plans for the Great Ocean Road, including its plans and strategies to protect the road’s environment, local communities, and tourism.
Danny then answered questions before attendees were served light refreshments and had the opportunity to talk to the shire representatives, the guest speaker, the new AIDA committee and other members.
Mary Jane Gething, Secretary