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PRESIDENT'S REPORT 2006-2007
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Councillor Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook spoke at the ACT AMA Annual dinner on 16th October |
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Dr Simon Willcock spoke at our last AGM on "The War, The Boomers and Alphabet Soup". |
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Council decided that the AGM would be held after the November Council meeting, that |
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Past Councillor Dr Stella Dalton was congratulated on being appointed a Member in the |
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Sadly, Councillor Dr Norma Stephens, better known to us as "Babette", a
Past Vice-President |
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Councillor Dr Clement Loy was granted leave for five months in May this year for overseas study. |
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After due process of advertising for and interviewing potential candidates, Council was advised |
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Annual Reports for 2005 and 2006 were sent to the National Library. |
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The NSW Medical Board advised that about 5,000 names were accidentally omitted from the |
More recently, in response to a recent amendment to the Corporations Act 2001 to make compliance with Australian Standards on Auditing, and based on the guide "New Requirements for Directors in Auditing Standards", Councillor Dr Richard Herlihy prepared a paper which was minuted. This documents our compliance with each of the new requirements on management of this organisation. He and a sub-committee under his charge will continue to oversee that our governance continues to meet these new responsibilities.
Confidentiality is always critically important in everything that our organisation does. Each month the Councillors meet to discuss the needs of the beneficiaries individually and to decide what aid to give. We are always grateful to the AMA NSW for providing the facilities for our meetings and also to the NSW & ACT Medical Boards which provide the mailing list for our annual appeal.
Once again our sincere appreciation goes to Gary Scarr of BT Financial Group for his expert management of our investment portfolio and to Dennis Mattiske and Bill Nussbaum for their accounting and auditing services and much other invaluable advice. Thanks also to Danielle Doughty, in her administrative and book-keeping role, to Matthew Coombes for his continuing computer support services and to Mike Hawkins of In-2-Art whose thoughtful advice on design and layout for our appeal materials is always much appreciated.
Each of our dedicated Councillors continues to bring to this organisation a plethora of skills and experience. I wish to thank Dr Vincent Wong in his role as Treasurer and Dr Andrew Wines in the role of Secretary, Vice-President Dr Furio Virant for chairing some meetings and Vice-President Gary Galambos for managing our website www.mbansw.org.au expertly. In fact, all of the Councillors, including the new ones as "observers", need to be thanked for their contribution to our discussions about beneficiaries and for ensuring the smooth and efficient running of the Association and its meetings over yet another year.
Finally, on behalf of the Council, I wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mary for her magnificent devotion and commitment to the work of the MBA of NSW over the past 43 years and to wish her all the best for the future.
I am sure that the varied experience and wisdom of our present Councillors and the fresh input from our new Councillors will ensure a continuation of the present level of care to those in need. Our new social worker will provide the same counselling support and advice as has been given to our beneficiaries in the past. I look forward to carrying on the great work that the Association has done for so long.
Dr David Chen
President
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to present the Treasurer's report for the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW for the year ended June 2007.
Through the generosity of our medical colleagues, we were able to raise $204,731 from appeals and donations in the past year. However, this amount is insufficient to offset our expenditures. We spent a total of $295,120 on our beneficiaries, while the running costs of the organization amounted to $158,110. The income raised by donations and our running costs had remained stable compared to the year ended June 2006 but the payment to our beneficiaries has gone up by 7.2%. This highlights the fact that provision of financial support is still an important means by which we help our beneficiaries.
In the past twelve months, our investment portfolio has continued to perform well. Not only did it allow us to cover our expenses, we even ended up with a net surplus of $115,907 for this financial year. The income generated from our investment portfolio totalled $364,406, which included adjustment of our investments according to market values. This cannot be achieved without the superb advice from BT Financial Group and we would like to thank Gary Scarr for his excellent work.
As in previous years, we are grateful to Dennis Mattiske and Bill Nussbaum of HLB Mann Judd for their sound and friendly advice. Our book-keeper, Danielle Doughty, has given me great assistance and her expertise is invaluable in keeping our accounts in order. Finally, I would like to express my special thanks to Mary Doughty for her help and guidance over the years.
Vincent Wong
Hon Treasurer
My report to the 2006 AGM gave an overview of the social worker's work for the MBA. This is a more personal history. Following a most generous recommendation from Kathleen Hamilton (George), Almoner in Charge at Sydney Hospital, with whom I had worked for six years, I have spent 43 rewarding years working for the Medical Benevolent Association of NSW, following in the footsteps of Katherine Ogilvie and Nancy Mackay/Fleming. I have had the privilege of working with six presidents: Henry Sharp from 1964-1972, Brian Florance from 1972 to 1960, David Pope from 1980-1992, John Newlinds from 1992 to 1996, Richard Herlihy from 1996-2004 and David Chen from 2004 until now. All have given unstintingly of their own time, wisdom and advice during that time. Every member of Council has always been available to discuss the needs of its beneficiaries and to carry on the administrative work of the Association, willing to have their home or surgery invaded at any hour of the day or night.
In 1981, I attended the calling together by David Pullen, then AMA NSW Branch President, of many medical bodies interested in the health and wellbeing of their colleagues. In April 1982, at the request of MBA Hon. Secretary Dr Jim L'Estrange, I was seconded to the position of Social Worker/Executive Secretary of the DHAS NSW and remained in that role for the next 13 years. The MBA's social worker continues to fulfil the role of social worker for the DHAS.
I was part of the preliminary discussions which resulted in the setting up of the NSW Medical Board's programme for impaired registrants and, later, working with impaired doctors and their families. In 1989, Dr Bob Batey asked me to speak at a RACP workshop on the health of doctors and so began my constant plea for doctors to give themselves 'permission to be ill', the same as the rest of the community. It was a great honour to share a segment at the KDMA conference in 1991 with John Horvath and David Pullen, speaking on the health care of doctors and the confidential resources available to assist them.
Having been in contact with the benevolent funds in other states on many occasions, it is certain the MBA in NSW is far ahead in its care of the impaired doctor and the families of all doctors in need.
When my husband, Geoffrey, suffered permanent brain damage in an accident in April 1978, both the children and I were sustained by the support and friendship of my colleagues on the Council of the MBA. David and Margaret Pope found themselves with 'adopted' grandchildren to help and advise.
Finally, I want to say what a friendly and welcoming relationship I have had with the NSW Branch of the AMA and all its staff since the MBA began meeting in its offices in 1972. The other people I wish to mention are Dennis Mattiske, who showed me how to keep a set of books way back in 1982, Bill Nussbaum who is always there for help and advice, Gary Scarr who instantly recognises my voice on the telephone, Mark Kelly who was the MBA's auditor and advisor for so many years and Penny Johnston who is famous for referring difficult cases to the MBA. I will miss you all.
Mary Doughty AM
Social Worker/Executive Secretary
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you as the new Social Worker for the Medical Benevolent Association. I have a lengthy social work background in health - mental health, child and family health, child sexual assault and community research. My most recent position was in Employee Assistance (staff) Counselling, where I gained a clear understanding of the pressures, stresses and strains experienced by the members of the medical profession. I have been sitting in on Council meetings since June. In recent weeks I have contacted and met many of the Association's existing beneficiaries, as well as some new ones. I am coming to appreciate the understanding and wisdom that Councillors provide to doctors and their families and the thoroughly discussed financial assistance that is gifted. I look forward to continuing the work Mrs Mary Doughty has been doing for many years. I thank Mrs Doughty for her patience and support and acknowledge, as do the beneficiaries of the Medical Benevolent Association, her tireless and thoughtful work.
Meredith VcVey
| Office
Bearers President: Dr David Chen Vice-Presidents: Dr FurioVirant, Dr Gary Galambos Hon Secretary: Dr Andrew Wines Hon Treasurer: Dr Vincent Wong |
Councillors Dr George Boffa OAM Dr Felix Choi Dr Christopher Dalton Dr Peter Duke Dr Gavin Frost Dr Stephen Green Dr Richard Herlihy Dr Clement Loy Dr Reem Mina Dr Sue Morey AM Dr John Newlinds OAM Dr Russell Pearson Dr Elizabeth Rushbrook CSC Dr Yvonne Skarbek Dr Chaminda Wijeratne |
Social Worker
Mary Doughty AM / Meredith McVey
Chartered Accountants
HLB Mann Judd
Independent auditor
HLB Mann Judd
Investment advisors
BT Financial Group
Copyright
© 2007-2008.
Medical Benevolent Association of New South Wales. All rights reserved.
Citation suggestion:
Medical Benevolent Association of NSW, Annual Report 2006-7 (http://www.mbansw.org.au/mba/report_2007.htm)
[date accessed]
Last revised: 15 March 2008 13:38
