OUT AND ABOUT: PRESIDENT GOES NORTH
During August, the current QJA President, John Carpendale, whose term of office expires at the 6 November 2021 Annual General Meeting, undertook a trip to meet with regionally-based branch committees and members. For the week commencing Monday 2nd August, meetings were scheduled at Kingaroy, Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Emerald; however, the South East Queensland COVID-19 lockdown prevented the President from leaving home for that entire week. Disappointingly, it was necessary to cancel those meetings.
•
QJA’s strategic direction and the important role performed by Branches;
•
Acquiring an understanding of the needs and expectations of regionally-based members
•
Answering questions on general QJA and JP matters
While present at various QJA branch meetings during this week, the President presented QJA Appreciation Awards to those Branch Committee members who had served for at least five years.
ROCKHAMPTON
As the lockdown was lifted at 4pm on Sunday 8 August, John departed Brisbane and flew to Rockhampton the next morning so that the commitments made for the week commencing 9th August could be honoured. This involved attending three Branch meetings and three informal gatherings at centres where QJA Branches used to exist.
A meeting was held at the Rockhampton Leagues Club Board Room (see photo below) at 5:30pm on Monday 9 August. While in Rockhampton, the President also met separately with QJA Life Member and former QJA Director, Raymond Young OAM and recently-elected QJA Rockhampton Branch Deputy Chairman (and Acting Secretary), Len Herron.
The topics discussed at the gatherings attended by the President on this regional trip included: • Understanding the different roles performed by QJA and the JP Branch, DJAG, and the way in which the two organisations work cooperatively;
At this meeting, some attendees expressed confusion and uncertainty about the difference between their QJA membership number and their official JP/CDec registration number as issued by the Queensland Government. This matter is discussed and explained on page 26.
•
Understanding and utilising the benefits and value of QJA membership;
QJA Quarterly
Spring 2021| 20
