BY Nick Richardson Bronte RSL Club has denied accusations made by attendees of last week’s liquidation meeting that the decisions made were illegitimate and lacking in transparency. Newly elected President of the Bronte RSL Club and secretary of the sub-branch, Simon Paterson, stressed that only members were invited to the meeting and that the vote was legitimate. “At that meeting, Club members voted almost unanimously against the motion and resolved to keep the Club in existence with a view to reinstating a new Club within the proposed redevelopment of the Macpherson Street site,” Mr Paterson said. “This has been voted and supported by the Bronte RSL SubBranch head office and part of the deal with land owners Bronte RSL Sub-Branch and the developer.” This was supported by subbranch President, Peter Hillman. “It was run right,” Mr Hillman said. “Obviously there are some disgruntled people, but people think there is a chance for the club to continue. Only seven people voted with that block to end the club. The other 40 voted for it to continue.” Mr Paterson said lawyers were
present at the meeting to oversee the vote. “A new Club Board was elected at the meeting over the watch of an administrator working within the constitution and bylaws.” The decision to continue the club was conditional on the club providing a commercial return to the sub-branch to provide community services it had heretofore provided, including “the well-being, care, compensation and commemoration of serving and ex-serving Defense Force Personnel and their dependents”. “These days, community clubs need to offer a lot more than poker machines, bingo, and a meat raffle to attract patronage,” Mr Paterson said. “Our goal is to create an offering which encompasses a range
of uses, which might include a gym and other health, community and family-related services.” Mr Paterson would not respond to accusations that the meeting was “a coup d’état” on the part of developers. “The plans for a new club are a quarter or a fifth of the size of the original club,” said Mr Hillman. “The club could not continue in the old building. Costs were too high.” Mr Hillman could not confirm membership checks were made at the meeting and was unsure of when there was last an Annual General Meeting. “Even if they hadn’t had an AGM, I know the committee has been meeting, the board of management has been meeting,” he said. Photo: Chris Peken
Bronte RSL Club denies meeting illegitimate
Coogee MP Bruce Notley-Smith outside Bronte RSL
Bike paths for Bondi Junction BY Emily Contador-Kelsall Bondi Junction is set to receive new bike paths in the midst of a Sydney-wide push for motorists to take up cycling. Waverley council has entered into a contract agreement with landscape architecture and urban design office Spackman Mossop Michaels to start designing bike paths at Bondi Junction. The creation of bike paths is part of council’s Waverley Bike Plan 2013 and Complete Streets Project, which aims to improve the public domain at Bondi Junction. Councillor and Chair of the Community Safety Committee, Angela Burrill, hopes the project will result in improved access and safety for cyclists and pedestrians. The project is in its early stages; “completing engineering surveys, traffic and pedestrian counts, reviewing existing documents, consultation with stakeholders including residents and local business owners, preparation of draft design” are part of the future design process, said Cr Burrill. Councillor Andrew Cusack, who voted against the motion, does not believe bike paths are suited to the Waverley environment. “Whilst I believe (the cycle way) is a noble, environmentally and ‘politically’ correct thing to do, I am extremely anxious about ‘force fitting’ bikes onto our streets. I have seen and been saddened by many, many accidents and even deaths of late,” he said. Carol Thompson, a cyclist in support of bike paths, also recognised the dangers of cycling. “Cycling is a growing activity across many age groups, and with that comes more accidents and near-misses both with traffic and pedestrians,” she said. Cr Cusack acknowledged the potential success of cycle ways, such as those at the City of Melbourne, although does not feel Waverley can
experience this success. “I don’t want the blood on my hands because we are trying to do something that I believe appears impractical given the complexities of our road systems in Waverley.” “If you want to cycle, it may be safer to find a nice park with a bike track.” Cyclist Annabelle Drew, who cycles to La Perouse via Bondi and the coast, strongly supports the development of cycling infrastructure as an investment for the future. “Everywhere that provides our daily necessities such as shops, services and schools needs paths and provisions for cyclists.” According to council’s Complete Streets Project, the council aims to develop a safe and convenient bike network and provide infrastructure that is suitable for all cyclists, catering for potential growth in cycling.
Discontent grows over Chapel takeover Published fortnightly and distributed to Bondi Beach, Bondi, Bondi Junction, Dover Heights, Waverley, Tamarama, Clovelly, Randwick, Rose Bay, Coogee and Maroubra. Distribution enquiries call 9212 5677. Published by the Alternative Media Group of Australia. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy of content, The Bondi View takes no responsibility for inadvertent errors or omissions. ABN 48 135 222 169 Group Publisher: Lawrence Gibbons Group Manager: Chris Peken Group Editor: Lucia Osborne-Crowley Bondi View Editor: Nick Richardson Contributing Editors: Lucia Osborne-Crowley and Nick Richardson Contributors: Emily Contador-Kelsall, Jessica Yun, Nick Richardson, Joshua Tassell Arts Editor: Leigh Livingstone Live Music Editor: Chelsea Deeley Dining Editor: Jackie McMillan Advertising Managers: Toni Martelli, Robert Tuitama, George Tinnyunt & Mike Contos Design: Joanna Grace Publisher’s Assistant: Mirjana Laglija Distribution Manager: Danish Ali
BY Nick Richardson The Sydney Presbytery of the Uniting Church will meet this Tuesday (June 24) at a Special Meeting of the Presbytery to determine whether they will proceed with or reverse the decision to dissolve the congregation at Bondi’s Chapel by the Sea. The ministry was dissolved on May 26. Reverend John Queripel, who led the congregation, was stood aside and prohibited from speaking of the processes taking place at the Chapel, attending the
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altmediasydney Reverend John Queripel
Chapel, or meeting with any of the congregational members to discuss the takeover. “The decision to dissolve the Chapel Congregation was a matter of good governance,” said Reverend Bill Crews, co-chair of the Sydney Presbytery of the Uniting Church. “This decision was made following the submission of a Consultation Report to Sydney Presbytery. This Report was in effect a review of the current state of governance at Chapel by the Sea.”
“The Report identified risks brought about because of the Congregation’s incapacity to fulfil the purpose, function and responsibilities specified in Church Regulations.” The claims made by Rev Crews and the Sydney Presbytery are disputed by a member of the local congregation of the Chapel who wished to remain nameless. “The recommendation to dissolve the Congregation at the Chapel arose from processes and a report which were deeply flawed, being almost totally outside the regulations, by-laws, policies and procedures of the Uniting Church,” he said. “This report followed a laudatory report which the Chapel and the minister received marked ‘final’ a short time ago in February. That report noted the effective management of the church’s property and business as well as strongly affirming the pastoral, spiritual and community work of the minister and congregation.” Concern is growing in the community that the takeover will see a number of Church services, including Norman Andrews House, sold. Norman Andrews House has provided homelessness support services for over 20 years. Waverley Councillor Dominic Wy Kanak presented a motion that council write to the Sydney Presbytery on behalf of its constituents to secure in writing an assurance from the Uniting Church Administration that it is not selling
its 48% share in Norman Andrews House at last Tuesday’s council meeting (June 17). Despite assurances from the Sydney Presbytery that Norman Andrews House is at no risk of being sold, there is some ambiguity surrounding its future. Moves have already been made by the Church to maximise the profits of the Chapel’s property portfolio. The Gould Street Laundrette was given notice to leave after they refused to sign a lease which almost doubled their rent and included a demolition clause. It is closing down on June 27. “As a community we have lost butcher shops, fruit shops, we have lost everything, those cohesive elements that binds the community together,” said concerned resident Haydn Keenan. “The unsexy elements get driven out by outrageous rent demands and we, the community, pay the price. This is 21st century corporate religion.” But the Uniting Church has no issues identifying the Church’s property dealings as commercial ventures. “The current rent for the Laundromat is less than market value. The Church has had a number of parties interested in taking over the lease of this shop over the past year,” Rev Crews said. The congregation, supporters of the Chapel and Rev Queripel will be holding a silent vigil outside the special meeting this Tuesday.
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