All members of the Wilderness Society Inc were invited to attend.

It was also possible to attend the AGM by joining a meeting in one of our local campaign centre locations, connected via tele-communications to the Melbourne meeting.

Minutes of the meeting

Click here to view the draft minutes of the meeting.

The rest of this page has been left as it was prior to the meeting, for reference.

AGM Details

Date: Saturday 19 November 2011

Time: 2:00pm Eastern Daylight Time (see below for your local time)

Agenda: Confirmation of minutes of previous AGM; campaign report; financial report; other reports; election of committee; appointment of auditor.

Format: The meeting will be held simultaneously at the locations below, connected via telecommunications. It will be convened and facilitated from the Melbourne location:

Nominations for the Committee of the Wilderness Society Inc

All members are eligible to nominate for election to the Committee of Management of the Wilderness Society Inc. Nominations have now closed.  Download a nomination form. Read the TWS Inc Committee of Management Code of Conduct.  Nominations were to be submitted in writing by 20 October to allow other members to view the information in plenty of time before the meeting.

Details of nominations for the Committee of Management received by the deadline are here.

Meeting papers

AGM agenda

Minutes of previous meetings:

• TWS Inc Special General Meeting 11 December 2010 - Draft Minutes
• TWS Inc Annual General Meeting 11 December 2010 - Draft Minutes
• Facilitator's confirmation of the minutes of both meetings

Annual Review (incorporating Director's Report, Convenor's Report and Treasurer's Report)

Auditor's Report and Financial Statements

Nominations received for the committee (nominations have now closed)

Election rules (set by the Committee of Management)

TWS Inc Constitution as amended 11 December 2010

Modified Consensus Decision Making Policy (how we make decisions at TWS meetings)

View a copy of the letter sent to all members on approximately 15 September 2011 by mail or email notifying them of the meeting.

For further information please call 1800 030 641.

State and Local TWS Organisation Annual General Meetings

Launceston - 22 May 2011

The Forever Wild Bequest Program will be holding an event at the Launceston Campaign Centre with an update by Tasmanian Campaign Manager Vica Bayley followed by drinks and afternoon tea at Fresh Cafe on Sunday 22nd May.  A free bus will also be available to take southern Tasmanian supporters from Hobart at 10am, returning that evening.

Adelaide - 29 May 2011

The following Sunday afternoon (29th May) Forever Wild will be holding its first event in Adelaide for nearly two years at the South Australian Campaign Centre with National and Regional updates presented by South Australian Campaign Manager Peter Owen.  Peter will address the five key areas of SA that are crucial for providing connectivity between species, habitat, climate and people - our coastal waters (marine parks), the Murray Darling Basin, the Range/ Arid Lands of the Lake Eyre Basin, the Northern Flinders Ranges and 'Wild Arc' (Eyre Peninsula to the West Australian Border)

To register your interest in either event, please contact Juanita Frost, Forever Wild Bequest Program Manager, on 03 9038 0829/ 0437 963 006 or email:
juanita.frost@wilderness.org.au

When: Saturday the 14th May - 11.30 am

Where: Royal Park then march to Civic Square

Speakers include: Peter Cundall and Lucy Landon-Lane

Buses from Hobart: $20 - $30 return. To book phone 03 6224 1550

This rally is organised by Tasmanians Against the Pulp Mill.

Note: Wear black

The 2011 Climate Action Summit will be held in Melbourne from the 9th to 11th of April.

Featuring dozens of inspiring talks and skill-building workshops, this year’s event focuses on the theme ‘From the Ground Up’ and is a great opportunity to share information and collaborate to build the community movement for real action on climate change. 

On Monday the 11th participants will come together as a diverse movement to take part in an inspiring ‘No New Carbon’ action in Melbourne’s CBD.  Monday afternoon will provide an opportunity to present the outcomes of the summit and to relax and mingle with experienced climate campaigners over a few drinks.

For waged participants, the conference is $50 for Saturday and Sunday, or $25 for one day only.  If you’re not working, then it’s $10 per day.  There’s also a delicious low cost lunch available for $8 per day, which can be paid for online.

To register your place and pay securely for the Summit, click here.  You can also sign up for updates about the Summit on the easy online form.

Where: Styx Valley When: Saturday 12th February

In addition to providing us with clean air and clean water, our forests also play an important role in managing the Earth's climate, by regulating the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Every day Tasmania's forests breathe in carbon dioxide, store it as carbon in their trunks, branches, woody debris and soil and breathe out oxygen. This process, called photosynthesis, means that forests all over the world, including Tasmania, have played a crucial role in providing this planet with a safe climate. Unfortunately, forests all over the world are being logged and cleared, releasing stored carbon as greenhouse pollution and contributing to the climate change problem.

Forestry Tasmania has publicly refused to measure the carbon lost through logging and under current Government policies, the full emissions from logging and landclearing are not being measured as part of Tasmania's overall greenhouse gas emissions. This approach is akin to Tasmania burying its head in the sand and is unacceptable - so we have decided to do something about it.

With the help of a team of volunteers, we have been measuring the amount of carbon stored in forests around Tasmania which are scheduled for logging. Measurements have taken place in the Upper Florentine, the Styx Valley, the Blue Tier and the Tarkine.

You can join us, and find out how much we have to lose if these special places are destroyed by logging for woodchips. This is your opportunity to discover (or rediscover) Tasmania's beautiful forests, and contribute to the climate change solution at the same time.

The next Community Carbon Accounting Days will be in the Styx Valley on Saturday 12th February.To find out more or to register, use the contact information below.

The Wilderness Society Tasmania is hosting an event in the Styx. This will include workshops, walks and information.

You can hear about the signing of the Tasmanian Forests Statement of Principles - what does this mean? Workshops on community carbon accounting will give you the chance to measure and record the carbon stored in our high conservation value forests. Still Wild Still Threatened will present a workshop about surveying quolls and devils in forests scheduled for logging and you can take a short walk amongst some of the magnificent giants of the Styx.

The signing of Tasmanian Forest Statement of Principles brings the Styx Forest a step closer to being declared a National Park. Agreement has been reached to deliver protection for high conservation value forests identified by conservation groups. If government support the agreement, this will be delivered by a moratorium on logging which will lead to formal legislated protection.

Sadly, logging and roading of the Styx continues - only 4671 ha was protected in 2005 under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement despite the Prime Minister's election promise that all the Styx old-growth would be protected (18,700 ha in the Styx and the Florentine).

Come out to the Styx to remind yourself of its beauty and value. It will be a perfect day for families.

How to get there:

Important information

Bring lunch, water, a sun hat, a raincoat and stout shoes.

It will take approximately 1 ½ hours to drive to the Styx – see the map. You will be travelling on well formed gravel roads, many kilometres from the nearest township and out of mobile range. Fill your petrol tank before leaving town.
 
Bushfire warning: Please do not light campfires or smoke cigarettes while in the forest.
 
The event will be cancelled if the weather conditions are inclement  phone 0448 678 897 or 0400 644 939.

Car pooling check out ‘The Wilderness Society Tasmania’ facebook page

Contact the campaign centre, visit the website or the Wilderness Society Facebook page and keep an eye on your email inbox for more details.

Where: 50 & Better Centre - 108 Bathurst st Hobart (between the State Library and the Playhouse Theatre at the end of Mathers Lane)

Citizen science filing the gaps in knowledge Join inspiring volunteers for a public briefing and forum on community driven citizen science. The forum will be followed by a workshop to explore new opportunities to engage people in researching the high conservation values of Tasmania's native forests.

Speakers include:

David Obendorf - (Wildlife Veterinarian) Citizen science filing the gaps in knowledge

Lily Leahy - (Still Wild Still Threatened) Flora and fauna surveys and devil camera trapping

Liz Johnstone - (The Wilderness Society) Community Carbon Accounting

Jenny Weber - (Huon Valley Environment Centre) Protecting habitat for Tasmania's wildlife

For more information on event or to RSVP, please call Liz on (03) 6281 9130 or email: 

 liz.johnstone@wilderness.org.au

Where: Styx Valley When: Saturday 6th november

In addition to providing us with clean air and clean water, our forests also play an important role in managing the Earth's climate, by regulating the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Every day Tasmania's forests breathe in carbon dioxide, store it as carbon in their trunks, branches, woody debris and soil and breathe out oxygen. This process, called photosynthesis, means that forests all over the world, including Tasmania, have played a crucial role in providing this planet with a safe climate. Unfortunately, forests all over the world are being logged and cleared, releasing stored carbon as greenhouse pollution and contributing to the climate change problem.

Forestry Tasmania has publicly refused to measure the carbon lost through logging and under current Government policies, the full emissions from logging and landclearing are not being measured as part of Tasmania's overall greenhouse gas emissions. This approach is akin to Tasmania burying its head in the sand and is unacceptable - so we have decided to do something about it.

With the help of a team of volunteers, we have been measuring the amount of carbon stored in forests around Tasmania which are scheduled for logging. Measurements have taken place in the Upper Florentine, the Styx Valley, the Blue Tier and the Tarkine.

You can join us, and find out how much we have to lose if these special places are destroyed by logging for woodchips. This is your opportunity to discover (or rediscover) Tasmania's beautiful forests, and contribute to the climate change solution at the same time.

The next Community Carbon Accounting Days will be in the Styx Valley on the first weekends of November and December.To find out more or to register, please call Liz on (03) 6281 9130 or email: liz.johnstone@wilderness.org.au

Where: The Wilderness Society Shop, Shop 8 Galleria, 33 Salamanca Place, Hobart

Vica Bayley, Tasmanian Campaigns Manager, will be discussing the outcome of the 2010 Federal Election and the effect this will have on the Wilderness Society’s WildCountry vision.  The recent historic announcement by Gunns Ltd to end the logging of native forests in Australia has been 30 years in the making through tireless efforts of the Wilderness Society and other environmentally conscious groups.  

Find out how this will impact on both the Tasmania and national forestry and plantation industries and what still needs to be achieved.

All guests at this event will receive a 20% discount from the TWS Shop - what a civilised way to get prepared for the festive season!  We will also be arranging a bus from Launceston to Hobart for the day.

For enquiries or to register your interest in this informative event, please contact Juanita Frost on 03 9038 0829 or email bequests@wilderness.org.au

Speakers include:

Vica Bayley - Campaign Director for the Wilderness Society Tasmania
Will Mooney - Huon Valley Environment Centre
Jenny Cambers-Smith - West Wellington Protection Group

For more information on this event please contact us on 03 6224 1550 or email liz.johnstone@wilderness.org.au

Community Carbon Accounting Weekend
When: Weekend of October 2nd -3rd
Where: The Blue Tier

With the help of a team of volunteers, we have been measuring the amount of carbon stored in forests around Tasmania which are scheduled for logging. Measurements have taken place in the Upper Florentine, the Styx Valley, the Blue Tier and the Tarkine.

You can join us, and find out how much we have to lose if these special places are destroyed by logging for woodchips. This is your opportunity to discover (or rediscover) Tasmania's beautiful forests, and contribute to the climate change solution at the same time.

To find out more or to register, please call Liz on (03) 6281 9130  or Ruth on (03) 6331 7488 or email liz.johnstone@wilderness.org.au and ruth.groom@wilderness.org.au

Volunteer with us at the Falls Festival in Tasmania

These toilets are a fantastic environmental initiative, saving thousands of litres of water and turning 50 tonnes of waste into 1 tonne of soil-feeding compost! 

In return the Wilderness Society receives a much-needed donation to help save our treasured wild places, protect Tasmania's threatened forests and keep up the fight to stop Gunns’ proposed Tamar Valley pulp mill.

Volunteering with the Loo Crew at The Falls Festival is a wonderful and fun way to see in the New Year.
This year’s line-up features INTERPOL (USA) JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS (USA) PUBLIC ENEMY(USA) KLAXONS (UK) TAME IMPALA LADYHAWKE (NZ) PEACHES (USA) PAUL KELLY, THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS, and ASH GRUNWALD, just to name a few, and heaps more local and international acts still to be announced!!

So come volunteer with us and be part of our infamous 'LooCrew' and get rewarded with free entry to the Festival, VIP camping, hot showers, the occasional hot meal, and a bunch of other Falls Festival perks. (Did someone say ‘after party’?)
 
If you’re interested in applying to be join the 'LooCrew' for this summer, from 28th December 2010 to 1st January 2011, get in touch.
 
Email to shayne.mcgrath@wilderness.org.au  with 'LooCrew volunteer' in the subject line and we’ll be in touch to confirm your spot on the team

Thanks a bunch,

Shayne McGrath
‘Loo Crew Coordinator’

It's time for a forest solution

Right across Tasmania, ordinary people just like you are asking why we can't have jobs and protect our native forests.

Most Tasmanians agree - we want to protect our beautiful ancient forests, and we want a thriving timber industry. The solutions are clear.

Our Common Ground is holding a community forum. Come along and find out more about those solutions.

• New jobs in tourism
• Protect our ancient forests
• Secure timber jobs by processing plantations locally
• Restore trust in our democracy

Jobs. Forests. Together.

Community Forum

12 noon, Saturday 13 March
Braddon Hall - Burnie Civic Centre

Our Common Ground is a coalition of people from across the political spectrum trying to end old fights. The Wilderness Society Tasmania is a founding member of Our Common Ground.

We're looking for a funky, new, activist t-shirt that can be proudly worn by our volunteers. You can decide on the messaging and colours, but remember to check out the Volunteer section of our website to guide your decision.

The Wilderness Society is a grassroots organisation, which campaigns to conserve Australia’s great wild places. We rely on volunteers and activists to take our environmental messages out into the community.

The Reward
If your design is chosen as the winner, we’ll display it on our website, include your design (and profile) in ‘Wilderness News' Magazine and create our new range of organic cotton activist shirts to your specifications and with your name on them. You’ll get a sample of the final product too of course.

How to enter
email your entry to:
malcolm.fisher@wilderness.org.au
Subject heading: The Great T-Shirt Competition

And send in your design by 17th May

Thanks so much for your interest in the Wilderness Society and World Expeditions' Franklin River Rafting competition. This competition is now closed. Winners will be advertised in the next edition of Wild News, our email newsletter.

• Sign up to receive Wild News >>
  

The Wilderness Society and World Expeditions are giving away a trip on the Franklin River.

Departing on 14 March for 12-days, the trip has a total value of $2,695.  The lucky winner will raft down the Franklin, one of Australia’s last truly wild rivers.

The protection of the Franklin River marks the beginning of the Wilderness Society. This trip is both a classic rafting expedition and a positive way to contribute to the care and custodianship for one of the world great wilderness rivers. Along the way, you will be working with Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife to help remove small outbreaks of noxious weeds that have crept onto the banks of this almost pristine river.

Enter now!

Maybe you’ve seen the serene majesty of a whale shark gliding through Ningaloo’s pristine waters.  Perhaps you’ve been awed by the silent grandeur of a tall Tasmanian forest. Or possibly there’s just a beautiful, hidden spot in a nearby national park where you picnic again and again.

Tell us in 25 words or less, why you love that special wild place.

Entries close 12 January 2010.

More info:

The twelve day trip includes 8-days rafting, 1-day sailing, 3-days community project and 11-nights camping. Meals, experienced guides and equipment will be provided. You don’t need any previous rafting experience, although you do need to be fit. To find out more visit World Expeditions.

Terms and conditions (16KB PDF)