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11 December 2007
Dear Members,
Congratulations and thank you to all our persistent AWGA members for the success at the recent AWI Board elections. Because of your determination & action to vote for new Directors, The AWI Board now has more balance, and improved marketing & business skills.
AWGA welcomes Roger Fletcher and Chick Olsson as new Board members to AWI.
The Australian wool industry voted the following way at the AWI Board election at Geelong in November 2007:
Name |
For |
Against |
Roger Fletcher |
160,464 |
43,000 |
Chick Olsson |
141,513 |
62,000 |
Kevin Bell |
139,709 |
74,000 |
Hugh Nivison |
127,000 |
78,000 |
Robert Pietsch |
119,084 |
77,000 |
Peter Sykes |
113,809 |
57,000 |
It is understood that Bell, Nivison & Pietsch’s tally also included
AWI Chairman Ian McLachlan’s open proxy votes of up to 30,000 votes,
which indicates the strength of the overwhelming grass roots vote in favour
of Fletcher and Olsson. Unfortunately the Chairman did not support all
his board again, by not voting for Peter Sykes. In the 2006 election the
Chairman did not support incumbent Board member Wal Merriman who was returned
with a large vote anyway. By modern Corporate standards, a Chairman is
supposed to be neutral in these matters. What a shame for our industry’s
future that there has been such open division in the past on this AWI
board, manufactured by the AWI Chairman.You can continue to support the
positive changes in the leadership of our wool industry in the following
ways;
- Encourage other woolgrowers to join AWGA,
- Encourage other woolgrowers to become AWI shareholders & vote,
- Write letters on important current issues to the state rural papers,
- Be active if you are members of state farming organisations,
- Vote at the 2008 AWI elections for candidates with better business skills,
- Nominate as a Director of AWGA.
Let’s build the Australian wool industry again, with a target of 120 million sheep by 2012, including more wool sheep. Let’s be positive about wool & grow more wool! Thank you for your support and please accept this AWGA badge and wear it with pride.
Martin Oppenheimer
Chairman AWGA
Walcha NSW
0413 580 040
02 6777 2124
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