President's Report AGM 2025
President's Report
Annual General Meeting - 2024 - 2025
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING14 SEPTEMBER 2025President’s ReportIt is my pleasure to present to you the Annual Report for 2024 – 2025.The past year has been quite rewarding as we have had a continual increase in attendance at our functions.It was a pleasure to welcome many new guests over the year as well as to see many join us after a short break.I am confident that with your support we will uphold these numbers in the coming year. My sincere thanks to all our Committee Members who work untiringly in various way behind the scenes, doing their best to ensure our guests have a very enjoyable time.Thank you to all Table Co-ordinators who strive to obtain the numbers to make our functions a success. Your efforts are greatly appreciated as our main goal is to assist the Less fortunate in Sri Lanka.Membership for 2024/2025I am pleased to mention, that as a result of our Membership drive, we now have a total of 563 members on the role. However, we need to continue to encourage guests to join the Club, in order to keep increasing our member numbers, as several of our elderly folk have either moved into Retirement Villages or Nursing Homes and some have moved on, therefore our numbers continue to deplete.
With regards to Cataract Surgery - currently the DBU has not been receiving new requests for cataract surgery. This is due to the fact that, Sri Lanka is offering free health services in Colombo and its suburbs, especially for eye health
The Club donated 80 pairs of spectacles to a local charity, who in turn distributed it to deserving people in Australia and around the world. To date, the Club has donated 860 pairs of used spectacles through this project.
My sincere thanks to Allan Pinder who is ably assisted by Eric Harmon, for the hard work they do.Beneficiaries Program
At present, we support 191 welfare beneficiaries in Colombo and 30 in Batticaloa, making a total of 221.
They received 4 quarterly payments as well and a mid-year bonus and a Christmas bonus. We also continue to maintain an Emergency Fund to provide for medical and any emergency payments as may be required, and this is beside their usual pension payments.
Many thanks to Shireen Ferdinand and Yvonne De Vos as well as Etienne Jayatunge and Joey Caspersz at the DBU in Sri Lanka for their untiring work as we strive to care for the less fortunate in Sri Lanka.
Shireen has co-ordinated the Welfare Beneficiaries Program for several years and is now having a break. Many thanks Shireen for all that you have done in supporting this program. It is greatly appreciated and I would like to wish you all the very best on behalf of the Eighty Club as you step down from the position of Welfare Beneficiaries Co-ordinator.
Student Sponsorship Program
Currently in Colombo 120 students receive financial assistance through the Club’s sponsors, of which -
12 students are at A Level, and
11 students are undertaking tertiary studies. They are paid from the PSET Scheme (Post School Education and Training Program) which was set up by the late Mr Ivor de Kretser.
97 students are either in primary or secondary school. In Batticaloa we sponsor 45 students.
6 students are studying at A Level.
6 at University, and1 in the PSET Scheme.32 students in primary or secondary school.The total number of students sponsored in Colombo and Batticaloa stand at 165 with the addition of 2 potential sponsorships for Colombo and 2 for Batticaloa for the quarter.
I would like to thank Etienne Jayatunge and Joey Caspersz in Colombo and Terry Stockvus and Eugene Barthelot in Batticaloa for their assistance in this program.
Many thanks to Trevor Collette and Dal Drieberg for all the work they do to maintain this program and enable the children to obtain a better education, which would subsequently give them a better quality in life.
My sincere thanks go to Marie de Kretser who has worked tirelessly for 20 years as the Club Secretary. That is an amazing milestone! Thank you so very much Marie. You have been a corner stone of the Club and done a stellar job! I enjoyed working with you this past year. On behalf of the Eighty Club, I would like to wish you all the very best as you find time to do the many things you would like to do.
I would like to also convey my sincere thanks to our Treasurer - Angelo Herft for his untiring work in managing the financials of the Club and in assisting the Club in leading up to functions and thereafter, as well as to Ingrid Harmon and Chris Harvie for their assistance in the accounting.
Fund Raising Committee
Thank you to all those in the Fund-Raising Committee who work untiringly behind the scenes to assist in organising the respective lunches and dances, with special mention to Jil Amit who has prepared all the raffle tickets for distribution at every function. All you do has not gone unnoticed. It is much appreciated.
I would like to also say thank you to George & Yvonne De Vos for their involvement with the lighting, décor, etc at various functions as well as assistance with ticketing etc. Many thanks to both of you.
Many thanks to Earle Ferdinand our Editor cum Past President, the one we lean on for assistance and advice. His unwavering support and all the hard work he has done untiringly over the years, as well as behind the scenes is just amazing!! He truly has done his best to assist the less fortunate in Sri Lanka.
Thank you very much Earle as you take a back seat from Editing – but that will be a while yet!!! Together with all the Committee I would like to wish you a well-deserved rest. I am sure we will be turning to you from time to time for advice and support. I hope you keep a little bit of your time to give us a listening ear!!
Last but not least – I would like to thank my husband Melville for his support and for putting up with my busy schedule.
Many thanks everyone for your support and for making the time to attend our Annual General Meeting for 2025.
God bless you all.Esther KnowerPRESIDENTEIGHTY CLUB OF MELBOURNE INC.