A subcommittee was recently formed for the selection of Branch Life Membership.
Research was completed and assessed and five members were awarded life membership. It was an easy decision to make once we looked into what each person had contributed to the branch. There were others that could have also been awarded life membership but we all agreed that five was a sufficient number this year. Our AGM was delayed until January due to Covid 19 and that is where the awards were presented.
The recipients were:
Warren Yardy
Warren has been an ASA member since 1988. Warren has been the GV Branch treasurer from 2000 to 2013 when he resigned due to ill health. He then become treasurer again in 2015 and currently still holds that position. Warren currently has been on the committee for 18 years. Warren is very good at his role as treasurer taking on many tasks including the Annual Bird Expo, assisting in Aviary Visits, organizing Christmas Functions and collecting money for all functions.
Bruce Trotter
Bruce has been an ASA member since 1964. Bruce is the only GV Branch member that was at the inaugural meeting (1978) which was seeking interest to form a branch. He is still a very active member today in his 86th year. Although Bruce has not held an executive position he has helped in many ways over his time at the club including opening up his aviaries for clubs to visit and organized morning / afternoon teas and lunches. He has attended most aviary visits and has given talks not only at our branch but also ASA meetings and conventions. Bruce has also been a great contributor of the expo, putting up our advertising signs at various locations around Shepparton and Mooroopna and arranging the date and venue changes by a sign writer each year (which he sourced at no cost). Bruce also organized the catering supplies for our expo for many years.
Mark Bollard
Mark was our assistant sales steward for 22 years from 1985 to 2007 and Sales Steward for four years from 2007 to 2011, and has been on the committee for 26 years.
The positions of Sales Steward and Assistant Sales Steward oversees a large range of items such as catching nets, books, leg rings, food supplies etc and was especially very busy during the Bird Expo up until commercial sellers started attending and stocking similar products. When Mike retired Mark took over the position for another four years. Mark has also been very generous with his time in helping get kitchen appliances working not only for our Bird Expo but also our monthly meetings. Mark is always more than happy to open his aviaries up for branch aviary visits.
Carl Wallden
Carl was an ASA member for many years and a GV branch member from very early on. He was membership Steward from 1984 to 1988, and then Assistant Secretary from 2003 to 2012, Carl was on the committee for 13 years. Carl helped the branch in many ways over his time at the club including opening up his aviaries for clubs to visit and organised morning / afternoon teas and lunches. Carl hosted many guest speakers during the early years of the club. The branch also held many Christmas functions at his place over the years. Carl attended most aviary visits and I remember asking Carl where he would like to go on an aviary visit and he responded with “I don’t care where we go”. Carl also built a shed at his property that housed the old tables/trestles that we used at functions and bird expos. Carl would still be very much involved in the branch but his condition has not allowed him to continue. Unfortunately he was unable to be present to accept his award.
Tod Osborne
Tod is a current ASA member, just unsure as to how many years. Tod was GV Branch treasurer for six years from 1983 to 1989, and Vice President for 13 years from 1992 to 2004 giving him a combined 19 years on the committee. Tod is also very involved with the VAC and is currently the branch representative, a position he has held for many years. Tod helps the branch in many ways including opening up his aviaries for clubs to visit and organising morning / afternoon teas and lunches on his own and often states “don’t worry about it I will look after it all”. Sandra does most of it I reckon. Tod attends most aviary visits. He is very good at sourcing and organising more aviaries to visit (at short notice) other than those already on the itinerary.
Mark Reynolds
GV Branch ASA
President