JUSTICE KIRBY APPRECIATION BY CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS A THE NEWLY REGISTERED ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY JUSTICE KIRBY APPRECIATION SOCIETY IS IN TURMOIL AFTER ITS MEMBERS REFUSED TO PASS MOTIONS, ACCEPT REPORTS OR CALL FOR ELECTIONS AT ITS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
“Bloody functionalists” grumbled one member at the end of the meeting.
“Apparently every member wanted to feel like Justice Kirby” said the Society President “so when we put up basic motions like accepting the Treasurer’s report or opening nominations for the election of the new committee, the membership voted against them as their sort of ‘dissent’.”
The full transcript of the Secretary’s dissolution motion is attached below:
This allegedly was followed by hours of tense negotiations between the members as some sort of compromise was sought. The Vice President of the Society examined the Society constitution but her interpretation of a legal resolution to the crisis was blocked by other members of the Committee on the grounds that her ‘legalistic’ approach was inconsistent with the wishes of the original drafters of the Society constitution.
“Well, we lasted longer than the Justice Lionel Murphy Appreciation Society” another member stated cheerfully.
“Members, it has been brought to my attention that there are now differences of a irreconcilable nature between members that have caused this society significant angst which will likely grow in size and toxicity if, as it is the current trajectory, left unattended to such an extent where such diplomatic resolutions will be useless, hence the realisation that it may, upon closer examination of the facts, be a more prudent course of action, as an elected representative of this society and a student undertaking a bachelor of laws at this university, to seek the immediate dissolution of this establishment by placing at the discretion of the membership a motion that, if duly seconded and affirmed by the majority of members assembled, would carry out the aforementioned objective of winding up this society and distributing its assets in an equitable manner in accordance with the prescribed club rules and the laws of Her Majesty’s Commonwealth and the State of South Australia in the Year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty. Do I have a seconder?”
Finally the Secretary attempted to put an end to the chaos by moving a motion to dissolve the Society, but this too was rejected by dissenting members. An alterative motion to refer the dispute to the University’s Tribunal of Club Conciliation and Arbitration was similarly voted down. Shortly afterwards, the Society committee left the room, causing quorum to be lost and thus ending the meeting. With all of the business left unfinished, no elections held, no financial report By Felix Eldridge accepted and no way to reconcile angry members, the status of this Society is now unclear.
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