Australian Hydrographers Association

Minutes of Meeting Held at Hydrological Services Pty Ltd 17^th Feb. 2001

 

Meeting opened at 1110 hrs. by Alex Miller.

 

Present: A. Miller, M. Lysaght, J. Tilley, K. Lewis, A. Springall, D. Burt, A. Polchleb, S. Walker,

L. Marshalll, N. Harper, M. Cooper, P. Hyde, P. Sheahan, A. Current, G. Armstrong, W. Steen,

J. Skinner, W. Barrett, C. Hall & K. Bennetts. A total of 20.

 

Alex Miller welcomed all to the meeting and extended a special welcome to the representatives from both the NSW Technical & Further Education Commission (TAFE), Mr. Mike Cooper & the Open Training & Education Network (OTEN ), Mr. Neil Harper.

Alex Miller also extended a special thanks to Les Marshalll for travelling from Hobart to attend the meeting.

Interim Meeting Officers:

Chair -                   Alex Miller

Minutes Secretary –   Jim Tilley

Moved – Bill Barrett, seconded – Kevin Lewis

Carried

 

Proxy votes received from: Steve Bird, Ray Alford, Greg May, Don Alexander, Alf Wojcik, Tracy & Colin Rudd were handed to the Chairman.

 

Apologies: Steve Bird, Alex Vesic, Ross Benjamin, John Dawson, Colin Baird, & Martin Doyle as well as Proxy votes.

 

Alex Miller explained that the meeting would run according to the Constitution.

 

Election of officers

 

Chairman                Alex Miller

Editor                    Les Marshall,

Secretary                Jim Tilley, (moved Bill Barrett, 2^nd John Skinner),

Treasurer                Max Hayes

Committee Members John Skinner, Kieren Bennetts

 

State Representatives:

NSW            Jim Tilley,

Qld              Ray Alford,

Vic              Max Hayes - (no one else from Vic has made contact),

SA               Mark Harvey (changed from Russell Marks),

Tas              Steve Buckland  (changed from Les Marshall),

NT              Dave Williams,

ACT            Bill Steen,

WA            Michael Whiting,

New Zealand Martin Doyle.

 

All present were in favor of all nominations.

 

 

 

Reports from previous meetings.

 

Alex Miller spoke on the meeting that was held in conjunction with the last HYDSYS user group meeting in the ACT. (See Record)

Michael Lysaght then gave his report from the Perth meeting held in conjunction with the Water 2000 conference (See Record).

 

Correspondence

Some comments were received from members not able to attend.

Jim Tilley read & tabled emails (also previously distributed) from Scott Walker, & Colin Beard. Martin Doyle pledged NZ Hydrological Society support in his capacity as the NZ Hydrological  Society Representative (he also belongs to the AHA) & inviting both organisation members to participate, where appropriate, in each others conferences, news letters etc.

 

Treasurer’s Report.

Alex Miller reported there was approximately $10,000 in the bank.

 

General Business.

1. Newsletter.

 

Dennis Burt suggested that all members be rostered on, alphabetically, to submit a brief article of general interest about themselves, work, projects etc., to insert into the monthly newsletter. 

Dennis Burt's idea was acceptable to all present.

Alex Miller spoke to the idea of a quarterly hard copy magazine.

It was decides that a monthly A4 electronic copy (where possible) would be forwarded to members, together with a quarterly magazine.

 

1. Web Page.

 

Web page address:     http://hydrographers.50megs.com

 

Les Marshall requested feedback from members on the website layout.

The web is site is currently free of charge.

When completed, will be transferred to a paid site

 

2. Membership

i. Fees

 

Bill Steen moved, seconded by Dennis Burt that the fees be set at $60 from now to the end of 2001 and $40 for students, retirees & associate members providing they are all paid by 30^th April 2001.

For 2002 the fees change to $95 & $60 respectively.

Corporate membership was discussed and nominally set at $300 now and the annual fee be decided at a meeting later in the year.

 

ii. Involvement of younger members.

Alex Miller invited the younger members present to participate in this part of the discussion.

Broad discussion followed. It was agreed that the AHA consider funding attendance at conferences by younger members.

 

 

 

 

3. Development of Institute of Australian Hydrographers.

 

i. Selection of a sub-committee to pursue the issue.

 

 The following members were elected to the sub-committee:

         Les Marshall – LKM Hydrographic Tasmania hydrographer@dingoblue.net.au

Scott Walker - AWTPL NSW scott.walker@awtpl.com.au

         John Skinner - ECOWISE ACT jskinner@ecowise.com.au

 

ii. Selection of a sub-committee to pursue Training Courses

 

Alex Miller introduced Neil Harper from Open Training and Education Network (OTEN) He described courses available and handed out information on those courses.

 

Neil Harper started with the Statement of Attainment training program in Hydrology and Environmental Management and explained the course structure.

 

Neil Harper asked the AHA to consider prioritizing the modules to be prepared. He would like a reply, from the AHA, on AHA letterhead as to what those priorities might be.

 

* Distribution of draft letter to the Assistant Director, Open Learning Program to demonstrate the type of support required over the next two years.

 

* The endorsed training package should meet the AHA desired qualification.

 

* Mike Cooper is directed by DET as well as ANTA so he cannot develop or provide qualifications that oppose a training package qualification.

 

* Qualifications must reflect the work requirements and not be influenced by the variety of existing qualifications that have been used in the past for career progression.

 

* If the package is endorsed, the course content cannot be changed for three years.

 

* The Diploma of Hydrology and Environmental Management doesn't meet the requirements of the package.

 

* Package contains core units of competency plus a bank of electives that include competencies from other relevant training packages.

 

* The proposed course does not allow for HSC entry level.

 

Motions:

 

That the AHA pay $200 to become a corporate member of WIETAA

Moved – Alex Springall

Seconded - Alex Miller.

Alex Springall  to draft a letter to WIETAA based on the above.

.

 

The following members were nominated for the training sub-committee: 

Alex Springall (and possibly David Bishop) DLWC NSW,

Don Alexander (and possibly Ray Alford) DNR Qld,

Mark Harvey SA Water,

Greg May WRC WA.

 

The meeting adjourned for lunch at 1315hrs. and reconvened at 1430 after a factory tour of HS.

 

 

4. Organisation of Hydrographic Conference.

 

It was then proposed that an AHA workshop be investigated for the end of February 2002 to be held at UNSW. Committee to decide on time, location and theme.

Committee members for the Conference:

 Jim Tilley UNSW j.tilley@unsw.edu.au 

Graham Armstrong AWT graham.armstrong@awtpl.com.au 

Bill Steen Hydsys WJS@HYDSYS.com,

Michael Lysaght AWT michael.lysaght@awtpl.com.au

 

5. Other Business.

 

i)  Reimbursement of Editor

 

Editorial duties include the preparation and forwarding of :

i. The monthly electronic newsletter.                                            .

        ii. The more substantial quarterly magazine.

       iii. The development and maintenance of the Web Site.

Motion:

That the editor be paid $400 a month plus all reasonable expenses (such as airfares etc.)

To be reviewed at each meeting.

Moved – Bill Barratt

Seconded - Bill Steen

Carried unanimously

                 

ii) Next Meeting

 

In the ACT, before the next Hydsys Users Group meeting.

 

Motion:

Thanks extended to Hydrological Services for making their facilities available and providing lunch.

Moved – Alex Springall

Seconded - Jim Tilley

Carried unanimously

 

Bill Barrett replied that HS was pleased to be of assistance and would be available in future.

 

The meeting expressed its appreciation that Les Marshall had traveled to the meeting from Tasmania.

 

The meeting concluded at 1530hrs.

 

Jim Tilley

Secretary.