AAFV 2011 Annual Report

AllianceFranรงaise de Melbourne We teach French

2011 Report Annual

MELBOURNEAUSTRALIa

Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria Trading as

Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne A.C.N. 005 140 385

2011 ANNUAL REPORT (Year ending 31 December 2011)

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT This year was a momentous year at the Alliance Française de Melbourne (AFM) for several reasons.

In August, we bade farewell to the director Patrice Pauc who spent four years at the Alliance. His professional dedication and passion , particularly in the cultural arena will be sorely missed. We are grateful to Patrice for his important contribution to the history of our Alliance, established in 1890 and the oldest in Australia. Whilst we lamented Patrice’s departure, the board was more than delighted to welcome on board Saliha Lefevre to lead the team in September this year. Sally brings to the Alliance a wealth of experience acquired during her previous postings in Africa, India and Bangladesh. Sally’s innovation, flair and professionalism have already impressed the board.

Teaching French is at the core of the Alliance’s mission. Notwithstanding the global financial crisis this year, the Alliance enrolment continued to grow with 4,120 class and course enrolments from the participation of 2,283 students. Income for language products rose to $1,357,488 this year (compared to $1,241,936.00 in 2010).

The Berthe Mouchette poetry competition, which began in 1893, continuted to flourish this year.

More than 13,000 students from 100 Victorian secondary schools participated in the competition in 2011.

On the cultural front, the Alliance offered a varied and rich program in 2011. Nine exhibitions were held at Eildon gallery, including four with our valued partners: the Midsumma Festival, the City of Port Phillip/East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation, the Victorian College of the Arts, and Monash University.

Stork Productions Theatre Company, resident at AFM since April 2009, and its last year at the Alliance again put on three high standard productions including one about Simone de Beauvoir. The board is very pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate with such a high profile and professional theatre company over the last three years and wishes it the very best in the future.

Melodious sounds continued to resound from the basement of the Alliance with 5 “Jeudis Jazzy” concerts over 2011. The Alliance’s partner, the Australian National Academy of Music, organised two free concerts in April and September. Mauricio Carrasco, the Chilean guitarist dazzled us with his faultless performance of old and new music.

The Fête de la Musique program expanded this year thanks to the financial support of the City of Port Phillip with performances at 6 different venues around the City of Port Phillip on 21st June.

Other musical events included the collaboration with the Australasian World Music with the energetic DJ Click in concert; the talented pianist Dominique Fillon at the premiere jazz venue in Melbourne, Bennetts Lane; and the equally talented bass clarinettist Denis Colin and his skilful musicians at the Recital Centre and the Wangaratta Jazz festival.

This year’s Alliance Francaise French Film Festival attendance surpassed everyone’s expectation by enjoying yet another record audience with approximately 130,000 spectators thus making it truly the largest festival of French cinema outside of Cannes. In Melbourne, we had 39,628 admissions which represented a 35% increase on 2010. We were pleased to welcome the charming actress Clotilde Hesme from Angèle et Tony who was invited to the festival. On a similar vein at the Alliance the month of the Documentary “Vive les femmes” held over 2 weeks attracted around 90 members.

Our collaboration with RMIT University and ISFAR continues to grow with the intimate and stimulating colloquium “Melbourne Salon”.

The annual regular events continued in 2011 such as the Bastille Day celebration in collaboration with Red Bennies, the Beaujolais Nouveau; the Christmas Market/Open Day with 3,000 attendees and more than 30 stalls.

The Francophonie week was celebrated for the first time in 2011 with the active participation of students and some of the francophone communities in Melbourne.

The Alliance acquired DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status in 2011 and established a building fund enabling the Alliance to receive donations to upkeep its glorious heritage protected Eildon Mansion.

In recognition of the generosity of Jean Marie Violette, former administrator of the Alliance, who died in 2008 and left his estate to the Alliance, the Violette Fund was launched at the Beaujolais Nouveau soirée. Thank you to all of you who made a donation that night. The Board continued to work on the glazing link project, one of Jean Marie’s wishes, in 2011 and hopes to finalise the project in 2012.

I would like to thank all the directors of the Board for their professionalism and expert contribution that is crucial to the successful management of the affairs of the Alliance. We welcomed three new directors to the board this year (Michelle Wild, Randy Marshall and Katherine Wynn).art Without the students and the members the Alliance would not exist. I thank them for their interest and participation in the Alliance’s courses and cultural activities. The high reputation as a French language centre that the Alliance enjoys would not be possible without the highly qualified and competent teachers at the Alliance whose dedication has maintained the interest of the students in their continued aim of increasing their language proficiency while enjoying the various cultural offerings at hand.

It is important to recognise and acknowledge the diligent and hard working team at the Alliance this year. In particular, I would like to thank Patrice Pauc, Director (until August); Saliha Lefevre (from September); Alice Gauny, Deputy Director, Françoise Libotte, Cultural Events Manager; Penny Matthews (Administrator); Aurelie Pierre , Assistant to Head Education – School Program Coordinator); Elise Froumson, pedagogy assistant; Fabienne Roussel , Librarian; Karine John (until March) and Kellee Lewis (from April), Berthe Mouchette Coordinators; Elyne Astruc (Head Receptionist) and the team of receptionists: Nicole, Clémence, Francine, Nadie ; MathieuVendeville ( designer); and our full time teachers Janina and Anne-Laure. Last but not least, a special mention for Bryan Browa whose task is to make sure that Eildon Mansion looks impeccable in all its glory!

Gilbert Ducasse Chairman

2011 CULTURAL PROGRAM January -Exhibition : “Love Journeys” curated by Julien Leyre presented as part of the Midsumma Festival, 18 Jan to 6 Feb at AFM’s Gallery February -Exhibition: “Celebrate” an exhibition by the artists of the East Gippsland Aboriginal Arts Corporation as part of the City of Port Phillip « Yalukit Willam Ngargee » Indigenous festival - 9 Feb to 26 Mar 2011 at AFM’s Gallery -Event: Conference with Yannick Haenel, French writer, on 15 February 2011 at AFM. -Music: Jeudi Jazzy: “The New Impromptu Quartet” on 10 February 2011 at 8PM at AFM’s basement.

-Book club 1: Prix littéraires Session 1, 16 February 2011at AFM’s library -Atelier Cinema: “Under the sand” on 16 February 2011 at AFM’s basement.

March - Exhibition: “Seven Deadly Sins” by Patrice Martin de Barros (03 Mar - 01 Apr) at Alliance’s gallery - «Blue Skies» at the State Library of Victoria from 25 March to 31 July (AFM is partner) - Event: Alliance Française French Film Festival from 09-27 March 9 in 5 Palace Cinemas.

-Concert: Sonidos de Canarias, organised by the Spanish Consulate, 8 March 2011 at AFM’s Ballroom (AFM partner) - Book club 1: Prix littéraires Session 2 on 9 March 2011, Session 3 on 30 March - Book Club 2: Prix littéraires Session 1 on 16 March - Francophonie week at AFM from 28 March to 02 April -Atelier Cinema : « Crazy » on 30 March 2011 -Diner en Français : at the Moroccan Restaurant on 31 March -Dance: «No one will tell us» with Rosalind Crisp on 15, 16 & 17 March at Sylvia Staehil Theatre (AFM is partner) April -Music: Concert by chilean guitarist,Mauricio Carrasco on Wednesday 6 April 2011 AFM’s Ballroom.

-Concert by ANAM on 14 April 2011 at AFM’s basement -Concert: Dominique Fillon at Bennett’s Lane on 17 April organised by AFM. -Atelier Cinema: “Crazy” 6 April at the AFM. -Journée de la francophonie: 2 April 2011 with Francophone bands.

-Event : Melbourne Salon: Deconstructing linguistic cultural differences on 15 April with Dr Kerry Mullan and Dr Christine Béal Exhibition : « Red Light Dark Room » by Gemma-Rose Turnbull from 08-29 April 8 at AFM’s Gallery.

-Book Club 2: Session 2 on 6 April 2011, Session 3 on 27 April 2011 May -Exhibition: «Forecast» by graduate of Monash University from 04-21 May 2011. AFM’s Gallery -Atelier Cinema: «Love me no more» on 25 May 2011 -Excursion: Winery Discovery at Sutton Grange Winery on 1 May 2011 -Theatre: Stork Theatre «Anna Karenina» by Leo Tolstoy from 25 May to 12 June 2011.

June - Exhibition: “Between the Spokes” by Kathy Watt from 23 June to 26 July at AFM’s Gallery.

- Music: Fête de la musique on 21 June – 30 bands at 6 venues around the City of Port Phillip.

- Jeudi Jazzy: concert “The New Impromptu Quartet” on 9 June at the AFM. - Event: Winery visit at Sutton Grange Winery near Bendigo on 26 June 2011 - Book club 3: «Les romans épistolaires» Session 1 on 29 June 2011.

July -Event: Bastille Day Party on 15 July at Red Bennies -Melbourne Salon: «The existential piano» presented by David Hood on 29 July at AFM -Exhibition by the students of the Ecole Française de Melbourne, 28-30 July at AFM’s Gallery -Atelier cinema: «Tous les matins du monde» on 27 July 2011 - Book Club 3: Session 2 on 20 July August - Jeudi Jazzy: Sonya Veronica’s on 11 August at AFM’s basement.

- Atelier Cinema: «Socialisme» on 31 August 2011.

- Theatre: Stork theatre: «Helen & Clytemnestra» by Jane Montgomery Griffiths from 3 to 21 August -Book Club 3: Session 3 on 10 August September -Competition: Photo competition of AF Fondation: “Planète Femmes” -Exhibition: “2010 VCA Graduates, Alliance Française Award Exhibition” from 1 to 24 September at AFM’s gallery.

- Concert: Music Underground by the ANAM on 8 September at AFM’s basement.

-Jeudi Jazzy: concert “Barker Trio” 15 September at AFM’s basement.

- Event: Open day “discover all things French at AFM” on 17 September -- Exhibition: «YM Me(lbourne)» by Emmanuel Bernardoux from 29 September to 23 October 2011 at AFM’s gallery.

October -Jeudi Jazzy: concert Daniel Gassin 20 October at the AFM. -Book club 4: «Les premiers romans» Session 1 on 18 October: -Music: La Société des Antipodes (Jazz) on 28 October at MRC supported by AFM -Atelier Cinema: «Zazie dans le metro» on 12 October -Theatre: Stork theatre: «Euripides’ Helen» from 26 October to 13 November.

-Event: Apéritif en Français on 27 October at Lina’s Bistro à Vins.

November -Melbourne salon: Georges Perec on 8 Nov at AFM’s Ballroom -Book Club 4: «Les premiers romans» Session 2 on 8 Nov, Session 3 on 29 Nov. -Book presentation: Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex new translation by Constance Borde and Sheila Malovany-Chevallier on 17 Nov at AFM’s basement -Berthe Mouchette Competition Prize Giving Ceremony on 16 Nov at Glen Eira Town Hall -Music: DJ Click at the AWME on 17, 19 & 20 November 2011, supported by AFM. -Event: “Beaujolais Nouveau” 18 November at the AFM. - Exhibition: «Becoming Vanishing» by Cyrus Tang & Elizabeth Presa from 22 Nov to 8 Dec 2011 at AFM’s gallery -Atelier Cinema: «La journée de la Jupe» on 23 November at AFM. - Cinema : Le mois du documentaire : Juliette Binoche dans les yeux on 28 Nov at AFM’s basement - Cinema : Le mois du documentaire : Ariane Mnouchkine, Aventure du théâtre du soleil on 30 Nov at AFM’s basement December - Cinema : Le mois du documentaire : Les plages d’Agnès (Agnès Varda) on 6 Dec at AFM’s basement -Cinema : Le mois du documentaire : Isabelle Huppert on 8 Dec at AFM’s basement -Event: French Xmas Market & Open Day 10 & 11 December at the AFM.

SECRETARY’S REPORT The year ending 31 December 2011 was another excellent year for the Alliance Française de Melbourne in its elegant ‘Eildon’ premises, and which are being fully utilised for a broad range of cultural and social activities complementing the highly regarded language classes.

The Board of Directors managed many issues at its regular meetings, and included consideration of a number of proposals and decisions. The Board held 8 meetings during the year under the Chairmanship of Gilbert Ducasse, President of the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne. He is also the Victorian representative on the Federation of Alliances in Australia.

The work of the two Board Sub Committees - Finance/Governance and Building was much appreciated throughout the year. Both Sub Committees have been very active and provided comprehensive information to the Board enabling sound decision making on major issues, such as the implementation of the Jean-Marie Violette’s wishes through his significant legacy to the Alliance.

The Board Agenda has become increasingly complex with a number of matters arising and matters for decision needing thorough discussion; often requiring exchanges of emails to ensure decisions are made in a timely and efficient manner and to ensure all Board members are consulted. Of considerable importance to the Board are the written reports by the Director and the Deputy Director to inform the Board about student numbers, course development and programs, staffing matters and a range of cultural initiatives with Alliance partners.

The Board of Directors welcomed three new members appointed at the Annual General Meeting in May 2011 – Michelle Wild, Katherine Wynn and Randy Marshall. They contributed their valuable expertise during the year in diverse ways.

The Board continues to address the best means by which to support the role and functions of the Alliance and the work of its staff who work tirelessly in making the many events held at the Alliance so successful, in addition to ensuring that the regular work of the Alliance is maintained to high standards. A strategic focus of the Board has been on promoting broader membership of the Alliance within the Victorian community and exploring ways of increasing student numbers. There were more than 400 members of the Alliance in 2011.

In September 2011, Patrice Pauc, the highly valued Director of the Alliance for 4 years, departed. He was replaced by the new Director, Saliha Lefevre who has been actively developing the role of Director in new directions as well as maintaining the strong cultural focus that Patrice Pauc had given the Alliance during his tenure. Under her leadership considerable efforts have gone into marketing the activities and language courses of the Alliance in creative ways.

Inez Dussuyer Secretary

TREASURER’S REPORT The financial performance of Alliance Française de Melbourne (AFM) has continued to strengthen over the last few years, with the following audited, net profit results: • 2011 - $106,610 • 2010 - $36,739 • 2009 - $7,686 The strong financial performance reflects a continued and steady growth in revenue of approximately 15% while expenses grew at 11% over the course of 2011.

The key element in the improved financial performance for 2011 was a very significant increase in net proceeds from the annual French Film Festival, combined with a steady growth in student numbers across the board.

Investment in our new website was completed, and the website launched at the beginning of this year and now contains more contemporary functionality, including capacity to pay on-line. These improvements are expected to result in both improved efficiency in marketing activities as well as simplified administrative processes over time.

The Finance sub-committee completed an initial feasibility study for the proposed second site of AFM and that assessment indicates that such a site should be financially viable under reasonable assumptions. The key next step is to identify an appropriate site and develop a more detailed costing model prior to any formal commitment.

The balance sheet also remains solid, with ongoing improvement in our overall cash position and improved coverage of our current liabilities, largely due to a reduction in borrowings of $100,000.

For the budget of 2012, AFM management, under our new Director, Saliha Lefevre, has been strongly focussed on developing a very detailed bottom-up budgeting for all activities, given what the Board and management consider may be a more challenging economic environment.

For the year ahead, the budget is intended to support the following key initiatives: • funding for the position of Deputy Head/Head of Teaching, a role that has been filled by Alice Gauny but for which the French Government announced the cessation of its funding, from August 2012 • a new approach to improved marketing of AFM through greater use of social media, • an expansion of classroom facilities at our existing site (the work has already been completed by the time of the 2012 AGM); and • the potential trialling and implementation of a second site for AFM in metropolitan Melbourne, likely to be located in the near northern or eastern suburbs Under the direction of our Director, Saliha Lefevre, and our Administration Manager, Penny Matthews, AFM has confronted a considerable challenge to identify sources of internal funding for the position Deputy Director/Head of Teaching as well as ensure the ongoing growth and success of AFM – the Board is confident that our budget for 2012 will permit these critical operational and strategic objectives to be attained.

Finally, I acknowledge the excellent work of the whole AFM team, led by Saliha Lefevre and her predecessor Patrice Pauc, Alice Gauny with the support of the Penny Matthews, Administration Manager.

Peter ROHAN Treasurer

DIRECTORS’ QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr Gilbert Ducasse (Chairman since May 2009) B.A. L.L.B Director, Legal and Governance Services, La Trobe University Solicitor (commercial, information technology and intellectual property law) since 1986 Consultant to the Arts Centre, Victoria, River Festival for the opening of Southgate (1992) Executive-Director, Australian commercial and cultural week in Italy (1990).

Lawyer to Department of Industry, Technology and Resources (1986-1990) including Company Secretary, Overseas Projects Corporation of Victoria Ltd. (July 1988-November 1989) 10 years Member of the Board of Directors Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria (Vice-Chairman May 2002 to May 2009) Committee member of the Fédération des Alliances Françaises en Australie Incorporated since 2011 Dr Philip Anderson (Vice-Chairman since May 2009) Lecturer in French, Monash University B.A. (Hons), Dip. Ed. (Melbourne), Maîtrise de Lettres Modernes, D.E.A. (Aix-Marseille I) Ph.D. (Monash).

Lecteur d’anglais, Université d’Aix-Marseille III (1974-83), Chargé d’enseignement, Institut d’Etudes Politiques d’Aix-en-Provence (1979-82), Head of Languages, St Michael’s Grammar School (1984-85), Tutor in French, La Trobe University (1986-87).

11 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

(Secretary March 2007 to May 2009) Dr Inez Dussuyer (Secretary since May 2009) BA (Hons), MA, Dip Crim, Dip Pub Pol (Uni Melb), Doct. Sociol (University of Grenoble) Former Ingénieur de Recherche (CNRS), GIS Economie et Sante and Institut Alexandre Lacassagne, University Claude Bernard, Lyon; Charge de Cours, University of Savoie, France Former public servant in the Victorian Department of Justice Currently Principal Investigation Officer, Victorian Ombudsman Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors 17 years' involvement with the Association of the Alliance Française de Melbourne and 9 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

Mr Peter Rohan (Treasurer since September 2009) Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) – University of Melbourne Master of Economics – University of New England Elected Fellow, Institute of Public Administration, Australia Certificat Practique de Français Commercial et Economique and Diplôme Supérieur de Français des Affaires (at the Alliance Française de Melbourne) Management consultant for 25 years Currently Partner and equivalent with Ernst & Young for 15 years 2 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

BOARD MEMBERS Mr Robin Brett QC B.A., LL.M. (Melbourne University).

Member of the Victorian Bar practising in commercial law since 1981.

Appointed Queen's Counsel in 1996.

Chairman of Victorian Bar Council, 2003–2004.

Student at Alliance Française de Melbourne since 2005.

2 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

Mr Mark Cleary BA Honours - The University of Melbourne 15 years consultant in aviation – retired Member of the Alliance Française de Melbourne since 1975 3 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

Mr Warren Fagan - Judge County Court 1984-2004 Queens Counsel specialising in Commercial and Administrative Law Federation of the Alliances Françaises in Australia Vice President 2002-2004 & Président 2004-2010.

6 years Committee Member of the Alliance Française de Melbourne and 15 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

(Chairman May 1997 to May 2009) Ms Angela Jurjevic B.A,, Dip. Ed.,Dip Lib.,Graduate Diploma of Education.

Ecole Nationale d'Administration 2004 Executive Director, Department of Planning and Community development 3 years Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria Mr Kevin Lane BA, Dip Ed TFFL/TEFL, (Melbourne). Certificate IV -Workplace Assessment and Training.

Thirty-five year's experience language teaching and training in France and Australia.

Assessor of VCE French - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Member of the Alliance Francaise de Melbourne since 1985.

2 year Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria.

Mr Randy Marshall BA (Dunelm), Dip Ed (Melbourne).

Trilingual secondary and tertiary teacher (English, Humanities, Spanish, French) with extensive Business experience in advertising, direct marketing, public relations, journalism and speechwriting.

Regular Alliance Française course participant since 1985 Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria since May 2011.

Ms Michelle Wild B.Ed, Languages – Melbourne State College General Manager, Flying Fruit Fly Circus Former CEO, Strange Fruit Productions (6 years) and Director, Michelle Wild Management (10 years) Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria since May 2011.

Ms Katherine Wynn B.Ec, L.L.B, DipLang(French) – Monash University Senior Analyst, Deloitte Access Economics Member of Alliance Française de Melbourne since 2008 Member of the Board of Directors, Association of the Alliance Française of Victoria since May 2011.

ATTENDANCE AT 2011 BOARD MEETINGS

TOTAL NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD IN 2011: 8

No of Meetings Entitled to Attend

No of Meetings Attended

Philip

Anderson

8

6

Robin

Brett

8

8

Mark

Cleary

8

6

Gilbert

Ducasse

8

6

Inez

Dussuyer

8

6

Warren

Fagan

8

5

Angela

Jurjevic

8

5

Kevin

Lane

8

8

Randy

Marshall

5

5

Peter

Rohan

8

6

Michelle

Wild

5

3

Katherine

Wynn

5

5

AllianceFranรงaise de Melbourne We teach French

Association of the Alliance Franรงaise of Victoria (Trading as Alliance Franรงaise de Melbourne) A.C.N. 005 140 385 | A.B.N. 91 005 140 385 51 Grey Street ST KILDA VICTORIA 3182 AUSTRALIA (P.O. BOX 2042 ST KILDA WEST VICTORIA 3182 AUSTRALIA) t: +61 3 9525 3463 | f: +61 3 9525 5064 e: info@afmelbourne.com.au | w: www.afmelbourne.com.au