Diluted Thinking
Meryl Dorey held the position of president from the formation of the AVN in 1994 until 1 Jan 2013 when Greg Beattie took over the helm. The AVN only publicly announced the change of leadership in a media release on 11 Jan 2013 after two separate media stories on 10 Jan described Greg Beattie as AVN president. Beattie was replaced as President by Annatasha (Tasha) David in 2014. Meryl Dorey resigned as Public Officer on 28 June 2015, replaced by Rebecca (Bek) Henry. Since then, AVN has seen two more Public Officers, Brett Smith, and now Wayne Baird.In its early days the AVN had many groups throughout Australia. These groups were promoted by the AVN until early 2002 when the sole named contact for the organisation became Meryl Dorey.
The AVN has refused requests from the general public for details of its committee. Section 29 of the Incorporated Associations Act 2009 states that:
(1) An association must keep a register of committee members in accordance with this section.As the AVN held an authority to fundraise, it was also obliged to supply certain documentation and information to the public on request (fees may apply) as laid out in Section 47 of the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991:(2) The register must contain the following particulars in relation to each committee member:
(a) the committee member's name, date of birth and residential address,
(b) the date on which the committee member takes office,
(c) the date on which the committee member vacates office,
(d) such other particulars as may be prescribed by the regulations.
(5) The register must, at all reasonable hours, be kept available for inspection, free of charge, by any person.
47 Public access to informationNOTE: The AVN lost its authority to fundraise in March 2014 after an investigation by the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing into the fundraising activies of the AVN (refer Everything Charitable Stripped).(1) A person or organisation that is (or, within the previous 12 months, was) the holder of an authority must, within 30 days after being requested to do so by any person, furnish the person with:
(b) in the case of an organisation - such information as the regulations may prescribe concerning the objects and constitution (including the names and addresses of members of the governing body of the organisation) of the organisation.
Current Committee Members
On 28 February 2013, the AVN advised in a media release Procedural unfairness by Department of Fair Trading that a member of the public, Mr Ken McLeod, had requested the names, occupations and addresses of the AVN's management committee from NSW Fair Trading by a request for information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.Ken McLeod has denied that his GIPA submission included a request for details of the AVN committee. I am, however, aware of a complaint lodged by another member of the public with NSW Fair Trading and the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming & Racing (OLGR) in regard to the AVN failing to supply this information in accordance with the Incorporated Associations Act 2009 and the Charitable Trusts Act 1993. Of course, a similar complaint may have been lodged by anyone.
The AVN advised in a media release on 1 March 2013, Mea Culpa , that after seeking legal advice the AVN committee decided to comply with the request to avoid significant fines and had supplied NSW Fair Trading with details of its committee on 28 February 2013. I assume that NSW Fair Trading will be providing the original complainant with the details of the AVN committee. Whether this person chooses to publicise this information or not, we'll have to wait and see.
The AVN fought against
making the names of its committee available to the public, claiming that their identities should be protected
"due to a long history of harassment and threats by members of the SAVN
toward those who support the AVN". I'll include more information about these
claims in a later post, but in the meantime we should note the following:
Up until 2001,
the AVN had many support
groups located around Australia and it publicised the contacts for these groups on its
website and in various correspondence. It also published on its website the
names of the committee and the positions they held.
As of 2002, the AVN's
sole named representative has been Meryl Dorey and it
hasn't publicly made available the names of its committee members since 2001.
Update 5 March 2013:
RE: complaint that the AVN failed to provide details of its committee members.
The NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing (OLGR) advised a complainant on 5 March 2013 that "I am satisfied that AVN has contravened the requirements of section 47 of the Act, however on balance, am not persuaded it is in the public interest to take enforcement action at this time." They further explained that "...section 47 does not contemplate a role that may precipitate an increased risk of invective engagement", and "I am satisfied that there has been conduct which may be construed as harassment of Ms Dorey and AVN and accept AVN's apprehension around aggravating this contact should the information be released." The complainant was not provided with any examples of the harassing conduct.
Directors - ARBN: 077 002 923
The AVN used to be a Registered Australian Body, ARBN: 077 002 923. It commenced on 9 Jan 1997 and was formerly known as the Australian Council For Immunization Information Inc. It was voluntarily deregistered on 24 August 2010. Please note that the AVN as an incorporated association is a separate legal entity.The following is the list of directors as appears in the extract of the organisation.
| Name | Location | Appointment date | Cease date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | Bangalow, NSW | 18 Jan 1998 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Fiona Kristine Kane | Glenmore Park, NSW | 1 Jul 2005 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Rick Allen | Floreat, WA | 29 Aug 2008 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Molly Knight | Maldon, VIC | 29 Aug 2008 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Melissa Begg | Goonengerry, NSW | 29 Aug 2008 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Michael Francis Stacey | Maldon, VIC | 29 Aug 2008 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Jenny Mobson | Spence, ACT | 4 April 2009 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Barry Lunn | Safety Bay, WA | 4 April 2009 | 24 Aug 2010 |
| Greta Touzel | Newrybar, NSW | 29 Aug 2008 | 4 Apr 2009 |
| Stuart Craig McPhee | Mullumbimby, NSW | 1 July 2005 | 29 Aug 2008 |
| Lynne Marie Grimsey (Gozzard) | Bonogin, QLD | 18 Jan 1998 | 1 July 2005 |
| Maureen Dorothy Hickman | Harbord, NSW | 24 May 1996 | 18 Dec 1997 |
| Cara Letho | Wahroonga, NSW | 24 May 1996 | 18 Dec 1997 |
| James Anthony Townley | Ashfield, NSW | 24 May 1996 | 18 Dec 1997 |
| Debra Kay Venables | Beverly Hills, NSW | 24 May 1996 | 18 Dec 1997 |
| Susan Dorothy Lindberg | Wynnum, QLD | 18 Jan 1998 | 1 July 2005 |
Source: ASIC - Current & Historical Australian Registered Body Extract
2019
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Aneeta Hafemeister | President |
| Meryl Dorey | Public Officer |
Other committee members unknown.
2018
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Wayne Baird | Public Officer |
| Aneeta Hafemeister | Committee member |
Other committee members unknown.
2017
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Annatasha (Tasha) David | President |
| Wayne Baird | Public Officer (from June) |
| Brett Smith | Public Officer (from Feb) |
| Meryl Dorey | Committee member |
| Trent Wiseman | Committee member |
| Aneeta Hafemeister | Committee member |
According to AVN's
2016 annual financial statement submitted to NSW Fair Trading, there were seven committee
members as at 31 Dec 2016.
Brett Smith served as Public Officer from Feb to Jun 2017.
2016
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Annatasha (Tasha) David | President |
| Trent Wiseman | Committee member |
| Meryl Dorey | Committee member |
| Aneeta Hafemeister | Committee member |
Other committee members unknown.
2015
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Annatasha (Tasha) David | President |
| Rebecca (Bek) Henry | Public Officer |
| Meryl Dorey | Committee member |
| Aneeta Hafemeister | Committee member |
Note: Rebecca Henry became the public officer on 28 June 2015, replacing Meryl Dorey.
Dorey has made statements on social media that she has retired from AVN duties and is
now only a member.
Other committee members unknown.
2014
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Annatasha (Tasha) David | President |
| Meryl Dorey | Public Officer |
| Aneeta Hafemeister | Committee member |
Other committee members unknown.
2013
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Greg Beattie | President |
| Meryl Dorey | Public Officer |
| Annatasha David | |
| Bek Henry | |
| Kaye Marskell | |
| Annalisa Swadling |
2010
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Jane Beeby |
Other committee members unknown.
Source: AVN 2009 annual financial statement lodged with NSW
Fair Trading in 2010. The certificate of compliance was co-signed by Jane Beeby.
2009
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Rick Allen | |
| Lynne Grimsey | |
| Sue Lunn | |
| Molly Knight | |
| Fiona Kane | |
| Melissa Begg | |
| Barry Lunn | |
| Jenny Hobson |
Source: AVN 2009 annual financial statement made available by AVN.
2008
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Greta Touzel | |
| Rick Allen | |
| Lynne Grimsey | |
| Sue Lunn | |
| Molly Knight | |
| Fiona Kane | Secretary |
| Melissa Begg |
Source: AVN 2008 annual financial statement made available by AVN
2007
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Rickie Allen |
Other committee members unknown.
Source: AVN 2007 annual financial statement made available by AVN
2006
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Stuart McPhee | Treasurer |
| Susan Snowden | |
| Carol MacDonald | |
| Fiona Kane | Secretary |
| Maureen Hickman | |
| Jennifer Harrington |
Source: AVN publications and 2006 annual financial statement made available by AVN
2005
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Susan Snowden | |
| Carol MacDonald | |
| Fiona Kane | |
| Maureen Hickman | |
| Jennifer Harrington |
Source: AVN 2005 annual financial statement made available by AVN
2002
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Trevor Wilson | |
| Marcel Van Den Bos | |
| Susan Snowden | |
| Deirdrie Cullen | |
| Carol Campbell |
Source: AVN 2002 annual financial statement made available by AVN
2001
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | National President |
| Trevor Wilson | National Vice-President |
| Gillian Carter | National Secretary |
| Deirdrie Cullen | Queensland State Coordinator |
| Majella Gee | National Group Leader Liaison |
| Leigh Hutton | National Sales Coordinator |
| Rob Inie | National Membership Coordinator |
| Susan Snowdon | National Internet Research Officer |
| Marcel Van Den Bos |
Source: AVN publications and annual financial statement made available by AVN.
2000
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | National President |
| Verona Gibson | National Vice-President / AVN (WA) Secretary |
| Gillian Carter | National Secretary |
| Madeleine Russell | National Treasurer |
| Debbie Sloane | National Treasurer |
| Deirdrie Cullen | Queensland State Coordinator |
| Nevine Atlagic | National Sales Coordinator |
| Rob Inie | National Membership Coordinator |
| Sebastiana Pienaar | National Internet Research Officer |
| Susan Snowdon | National Group Leader Liaison |
| Louise Manuel | Special Projects Coordinator |
| Michelle Gaynor | AVN Sydney Coordinator |
| Sally Roberts | AVN (WA) Asst. Secretary |
Source: AVN publications and annual financial statement made available by AVN
1999
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | National President |
| Verona Gibson | National Vice-President / AVN (WA) Secretary |
| Debbie Sloane | Treasurer |
| Susan Lindberg | |
| Deirdrie Cullen | |
| Nevine Atlagic | |
| Sebastiana Pienaar | |
| Rob Inie | |
| Louise Rowe | AVN (WA) Asst. Secretary |
Source: AVN 1999 annual financial statement made available by AVN
1998
AVN Committee Members
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Meryl Dorey | President |
| Lynne Grimsey | Vice-President |
| Susan Lindberg | |
| Debbie Sloane | |
| Kathy Scarborough | |
| Sebastiana Pienaar | |
| Verona Gibson | |
| Gina Rourke | |
| Greg Wilson |
Source: AVN 1998 annual financial statement made available by AVN