August 2018 Newsletter

Restoration of the QIA continues apace. Membership grows steadily as new members join and former members re-join. Thank you for your support.

I am very pleased to report that, over the past year, your Board has adopted a very conservative financial approach to the activities of the Association. All our functions have operated at a profit. Most of the Association’s funds have been invested in term deposits.

While the results for the financial year have not yet been finalized and are subject to audit, a profit in the order of $20,000 will be the outcome.

MEMBERSHIP CARDS

Membership cards have been produced and sent to members. If you have paid your membership and not received your card, please contact enquiries@queenslandirish.com.

Thanks to the volunteers who helped with the card distribution – Carmel O’Brien, Michelle Hayes and Barbara Devine under the direction of Vice president, Seamus Sullivan.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEEETING & BOARD ELECTION

The date for the Annual General Meeting has been set as Wednesday 21st November 2018.

The date for membership eligibility to stand for election to the Board is 30 June 2018. Only National Members are eligible to stand for election to the Board.

PLANNING THE FUTURE OF THE QIA

The Board is undertaking a detailed planning process as it works towards setting a course for the future of the QIA. One of the first steps was a survey of members and others to get their input into what people want the QIA to be. The Board engaged a specialist consulting firm to assist with this process. The first of a number of full day meetings was held on the 12th of May.

The task of finding a suitable premises has commenced. The Board will seek to acquire the most suitable premises that the QIA is able to afford.

JAN DOOLEY RIP – GARY BALKIN RIP – Tony Jackman RIP

It is with sadness that I advise of the passing of three long term members of the Association. Both Jan and Gary were friends to many in the QIA and the broader community. Tony was very involvedwith the QIA Bridge Club for many years.

FUTURE EVENTS

1.TARA HALL DINING CLUB

All dinners are held at Hotel Urban Brisbane 345 Wickham Terrace Spring Hill.

Time: 7.00pm – 10.30pm

Happy Hour: 6.00pm – 8.00pm

Dates:

Wed August 29th 2018 -Mix Nights  ( Partners Welcome )

Wed September 26th 2018.

Wed October 31th 2018.

Wed November 21th 2018.

Wed December 12th 2018,-Mix Nights  ( Partners Welcome )

NEW MEMBERS AND VISITORS ARE MOST WELCOME

For bookings please contact Tony Pisani – Email : fartacus8@gmail.comor phone : 0468 969 148.

2.TIGH GAELACH LADIES’ DINING CLUB

The Tigh Gaelach Dining Club celebrate a long history of enjoying good food, wine, and wonderful company.  Our inaugural dinner was held in June 1987 and was organised by very active female members of the Queensland Irish Association.

We meet at 7:00 pm on the last Wednesday of the month between February and November at Mick O’Malleys Irish Pub, 171-209 Queen Street, Brisbane.  Our ladies enjoy pre-dinner champagne, an interesting and varied two course meal with wine, beer or soft drink throughout.  We have monthly raffles with great prizes.  Dinners cost $45 and membership is $5 per year.

NEW MEMBERS AND VISITORS ARE MOST WELCOME

Bookings and enquiries can be made by contacting:

Michelle Fitzpatrick, President on 0403 384 223 or mitchfitzpatrick@hotmail.com or

Patsy Gerrard, Secretary on 3396 7320 or ptgerrard1@optusnet.com.au

Any bookings need to be made by Wednesday the week prior to our dinner.   When booking, please provide all names of those attending, a contact number and any specific dietary requirements.

We have a great committee who help support our members and they all work hard to make our evenings fun.  We’d love you to join us.

3.SENIOR MEMBERS LUNCH – October 2018

4.CHRISTMAS GATHERING – December 2018

Other events will be added in the next newsletter.

BLOOMSDAY CELEBRATION – 16 June 2018

The  Bloomsday Celebration was held on the stage in the Queens St Mall where actors in period costume  performed excerpts from James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses”.

The performers and the crowd were then led to upstairs at Irish Murphys by QIA Pipe Band piper, Mavis Williams, for further readings and much celebration of this significant day for Irish literature.

Many thanks to our performers/readers – Mogens Routhe-Johansen, Paddy Farrelly, Ellen Rafferty, Dan O’Neill, Sile deBhal,  Matthew, and Paul Cesar.

Thank you to Mavis Williams, Angela Laylee and Bruce Williams for distributing QIA flyers in the Mall.

RUGBY TEST DINNER – SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018

The dinner was attended by a group of Rugby enthusiasts. Ireland were too good for the Wallabies on the night. One member supported both teams by wearing an Australian jersey and an Irish Rugby scarf.

Thanks to Robert Ward, Michael Byrne and Mike Reynolds for their assistance in running the event. Thank you to David O’Farrell and Michael Byrne for the donations for the raffle.

QIA EVENTS – BOOKINGS & PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS

During this period when the QIA does not have its own premises, all events have to be held at commercial locations. We attempt to keep the cost to members as low as possible and run events that break even or have a small profit. We hold some events where there is no entry charge and members purchase food and drinks of their choice. We have negotiated some arrangements where the owner of the venue does not charge a room rental, but takes the proceeds of food and drink sales. In other cases, we have to pay a room hire fee. The raffles that we hold help to defray the cost, and we thank you for your support.

Most venues insist that the QIA advise and pay for the number of attendees a week or more in advance. This is so that they can purchase food and drinks, and schedule the right number of staff.

We have recently experience of members and their guests wanting to attend and pay for functions at the last moment. We have done our best to accommodate this but cannot do so into the future.

We ask for your help by booking and paying for events by the date nominated.

Where an event is free to members, we also incur costs so we would appreciate an email or a phone call message to let us know if you are attending.

The most efficient way for the QIA to receive payment is by bank transfer from your bank account to the QIA account. This saves the time and effort of a visit to the city to clear the post office box, and then a visit to the bank to deposit cheques. If you are paying by bank transfer, please include your name in the appropriate field on the screen so that we know it is you making the payment.

We understand that not all members use internet banking and are happy to accept payment by cheque.

MEMBERSHIP

The Board decided that all membership renewals and applications would cover the period until 30 June 2019. Membership is $44.

Click here for: Membership Renewal Form and Membership Application Form.

There are two ways to renew membership or become a member-

1.Membership forms can be scanned and emailed to enquiries@queenslandirish.com, and payment made by internet bank transfer to the bank account number on the form. Please make sure that you include your name on the bank transfer so that we can identify your payment.

Or

2.Mail completed form and a cheque to PO Box 12745, George St. Brisbane 4003

Thank you for your continuing support of the Queensland Irish Association. We look forward to seeing you at future events.

Jeff Spender

President – Queensland Irish Association