Our President, Rex Dusting, presents the following mid-year news update to all friends of the KKA.
Since our last newsletter six months ago, the Alliance has been very busy and I am pleased to provide an update on progress.
Sub-committees
The sub-committees launch in February was a great evening filled with enthusiasm and ideas. Since that time, all of the sub-committees have met a number of times, and we are seeing the beginnings of some great work. We look forward to hearing some of their activities as they progress. The sub-committees are listed on our website. They provide brief reports at our General Meetings.
Please remember – if you or your members have a particular interest in the work of a sub-committee and want to get involved, please get in contact with the sub-committee convenor or Graham Ross.
New Member Groups
We also welcome three new member groups.
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
Following the changes to our Rules at a recent General Meeting, we have achieved DGR endorsement from the ATO. This means that donations to KKA are now eligible as tax deductions. Thank you, Pam Welsford, for your diligence and efforts in that and many other matters.
Role of Secretary
With Pam moving on at the end of 2025, we will be very sad to see her go. We acknowledge her huge contribution in getting KKA on its feet. Filling such an important and demanding role can be difficult for volunteer organisations such as ours. Pre-empting this we sought interest from inside and outside the Alliance. Francesca Keaveney from the Urban Guerillashas been accepted by the Committee to work alongside Pam – to ease Pam’s workload and understand our systems and processes – pending the next AGM.
Gardiners Creek Regional Collaboration (GCRC)
In the past month, the Gardiners (KooyongKoot) Creek Regional Collaboration (GCRC) has appointed consultants to help develop a strategy that focusses on Councils and authorities making real improvements to the waterways and their environments. This is one of the key reasons that the Alliance was established. KKA is a member and financial contributor to the GCRC strategy team. We are fully involved in its development. Pam has recently sent around a survey for contribution of your ideas.
Finance and Funding
This month also represents the start of the Alliance’s new year, and I am pleased to report that the organisation remains in a solid financial position. We have sufficient funds set aside for the upcoming planting season and for the completion of our other financial commitments. We are lucky to have the knowledge and support of our Treasurer – Chris Pettit and his predecessors – that provides assurance to us all that things are in order.
We also have successfully achieved some recent funding and contract commitments for some exciting projects of which the Catchment Keeper will talk to in his report. This will also provide funding of Graham’s role on a two day a week basis for a few more months. We know Graham commits far more than two days a week to the Alliance and again we acknowledge his energy, skills and ongoing commitment to the Catchment environment.
The search for funding, grants and donations needs to continue. We have a lot more work to do to in that regard so that our improvements and initiatives can continue. The recent DGR endorsement will help encourage more in this regard.
Challenges Ahead
There are a number of other challenges emerging. Not least of these is the Victorian Government changes to planning implementation which will impact parts of our catchment and the ability of the community and Council to have a say at the local level. We are engaging with others to address what is a metropolitan and statewide issue.
The Catchment Keepers report highlights more of the substantive and on-the-ground achievements we have made in the last six months.
Hope to see you soon at our meetings and events.