BUSHkids Annual Report 2015-16

CHAIR

From the Chairman

The program of celebrations, education and commemorations which highlighted the lead-up to our organisation’s 80th anniversary in December 2015 is now behind us — almost, of which more in a moment — and the year now ending has been one of consolidation, rejuvenation and regeneration with an eye to, as always, the future of BUSHkids and the evolving needs and challenges facing the rural, remote and regional Queensland families we continue to serve. A Council Charter, enshrining for the first time the roles, obligations and expectations of the Scheme’s governing body, was finalised in April 2016. This was the result of a lengthy development process and a great deal of expert input, and I want to single out Council stalwart David Ham OAM, Carlton Meyn and external consultants Jo Copp and Matt Tesch for their contributions. The annual Council Skills Audit, which ensures that the experience and skill sets of our members continue to be precisely aligned with our operational areas, was also completed. Our Investment Policy was reviewed and updated, to ensure that the overall financial health of BUSHkids remains both sound and sustainable. On this note, Council also conducted another periodic appraisal of our property assets in Brisbane and Warwick and carefully considered a number of propositions in the best strategic interests of the organisation. A well-developed strategy in this regard will have long term implications for the future financial security of BUSHkids so that the organisation can continue to provide its services and grow. Another project of 2016 has been to revisit our Constitution. Readers of our forthcoming history book BUSHIES (again, of which more in a moment) will be reminded that this cornerstone document was last revised in 1982, after the Commonwealth legislative changes to our governing Act which enabled the formalising of our title as the Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme following Queen Elizabeth II’s assent to the prefix in 1973. Definitely time for a fresh look at this important legal foundation of our structure, purpose and ethos and we are very grateful to Council member Gloria Ryan and to Clayton Utz for the generous offer to review and recommend updates to our Constitution. A more modern approach to such a document is to provide a general statement as to the object of the organisation, such as is set out in ‘Our Purpose’ of the 2015-18 Strategic Plan. The general statement then adds specific powers to achieve the purpose: for example, “To achieve this object, the organisation may, without limitation, harness the resources of the community in support of the object; do all other things incidental or conducive to the attainment of the object.” Such incremental changes will enable BUSHkids to continue to evolve and grow in the 21st Century while remaining true to the vision of our founders in very different times. Changing times have also touched our Council very deeply this year, not least with the passing of David Ham’s beloved wife Frances after a long but courageously-fought illness earlier in 2016. Our condolences to their three lovely daughters and extended families and we are honoured by David’s renewed commitment in returning to continue to volunteer his tremendous experience and expertise to BUSHkids. Mid-year, Council member Karolyn Harcourt determined that, after almost six years’ service to our organisation, it was time to pursue other interests and the expressions of appreciation on all sides have been warm and heartfelt. “I have great respect for BUSHkids as an organisation and all it has achieved, particularly in the past few years,” Karolyn said and in missing her talents and skills in the future we are nonetheless grateful to have benefited from them for more than half-a-decade. The ongoing rejuvenation of Council ranks remains a key focus and we are looking to ‘co-opt’ (to use the historical term) several new members to amplify our governance capabilities in the New Year. From July 2016, the role of the remarkable Carlton Meyn has been re-titled as Chief Executive Officer and I am sure all will join me in applauding that we have secured his inspirational leadership and energies for a further five-year contract with BUSHkids. In the first five years of his administration, we have added the Commonwealth Department of Social Services to Education Queensland and Queensland Health as funders to whom we also owe our thanks and those of the many children and families across this State whose lives are improved by the work of our frontline teams. To this list I add our core office and clinical leadership teams in Brisbane as well as the many donors, bequesters, fundraisers, members of Friends of BUSHkids and countless other volunteers and supporters. Thank-you, all. In closing, I want to mention two publications which will hallmark 2016 for BUSHkids. First is the elegant A Portrait of a Governor , published by Government House to showcase for the first time all 26 office-holders, including ‘our’ very own Sir Leslie Orme Wilson, whose portrait hangs in our Toowong offices and which was photographed for the book. The second, to be officially launched by our Patron, His Excellency Governor Paul de Jersey AC, on 6 December 2016 is another ‘first’ — a comprehensive history book titled BUSHIES: Stories from the first 80 years of BUSHkids. This magnificent hardback, liberally illustrated with many unique or rare images from our archives and stories from current and former staff members, clients and volunteers is the product of more than two years’ almost entirely voluntary effort by Adrian Harrison and Matt Tesch, built on the pioneering foundations left by Pat Carlin and my earlier predecessor as Chairman, Jim Arkell MBE. Truly, we still have much to celebrate.

Dr Neil J Bartels MBBS LL.M Grad.Cert.Leg.Med. FACRRM

Cover of A Portrait of a Governor and an extract from the full-size painted portrait of Sir Leslie Orme Wilson. Courtesy Government House collection

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