The Latest Newsletter March 2015

C&WM News
General Meeting Wednesday March 4th 7 pm at GAZA
Community Club 232 North East Rd Klemzig
SSAA-CWM - ACTIVITY PROGRAM-2015
(DRAFT VERSION – 10/02/15)
Please note: many dates and DEWNR activities are still unknown or subject to approval.
DATE
08 /03/15
ACTIVITY
Range Day at NESSCI
COORDINATOR
George S.
09 - 13/03/15 Witchelina (NFSA) Project – S/L & cull
Kaz H
16 -20/03/15
Brookfield
Ali W
17/03/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
27- 30/3/15
Hiltaba – Spotlighting & cull
Rick F
SSAA State Meeting 12noon at CWA
Council
11/04/15
Range Day at Monarto – 10am – 3 pm
Council
14/04/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
11 -15/05/15
Bimbowrie CR & Boolcoomatta - cull
Phil J
TBD /05/15
Onkaparinga River NP - cull
Kaz H
12/05/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
15 -18/05/15
FFPP - S/L + BCR Bait & cull
Kaz H
17 -22/05/15
Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges RNP - cull
TBD /05/15
Brookfield
Ali W
31/05/15
Range Day at NESSCI
George S
TBD /06/15
Dutchman Stern CP – cull
Kaz
-- /06/15
SSAA State Meeting 12noon at CWA
--/03/15
Gil H
Council
12 -15/06/15 Hiltaba – Spotlighting
Rick F
13/06/15
Accreditation Course (theory)
Gil H
15 -19/06/15
Brookfield
Ali W
16/06/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
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17/06/15
CWM General Meeting 7pm at Gaza Comm Club
22 -25/06/15
Flinders & V-G RNP – Wildlife Surveys
12/07/15
Range Day at Monarto – 10am – 3pm
Council
21/07/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
01 -07/08/15
Gawler RNP – cull
Rick F
09/08/15
Range Day at NESSCI
George S
14 -17/08/15
FFPP - Spotlighting
Kaz H
18/08/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
04 - 07/09/15 Hiltaba – Spotlighting & cull
07 -11/09/15 Witchelina (NFSA) Project – S/L & cull
Council
George S/ DEWNR
Council Rick F
Kaz H
TBD /09/15
Onkaparinga River NP – cull
Kaz H
15/09/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
--/09/15
SSAA State Meeting 12noon at CWA
Council
16/09/15
CWM AGM 7pm at Gaza Comm Club
Council
04 - 09/10/15 Bimbowrie CR & Boolcoomatta – cull
Phil J
11/10/15
Range Day at NESSCI
George S
20/10/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
31/10/15
Accreditation Course (theory)
Gil H
01 - 06/11/15 Vulkathunha-Gammon RNP – cull
Gil H
07/11/15
Council
Range Day at Monarto – 10am – 3pm
13 - 16/11/15 FFPP – S/L + BCR Bait & cull
Kaz H
TBD /11/15
Dutchman Stern CP – cull
Kaz H
17/11/2015
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
TBD /08/15
Brookfield
Ali W
11 - 14 /12/15 Hiltaba – Spotlighting
Rick F
TBD /12/15
SSAA State AGM 12noon at CWA
Council
15/12/15
CWM Council (meeting 7.00pm CWA)
Council
16/12/15
CWM General Meeting 7pm at Gaza Comm Club
Council
NB: - All cull dates cover shooting from first sunrise to last sunset excepting FFPP and PESTCAM which
are from first sunset to last sunrise.
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OFF PROGRAM (IRREGULAR) ACTIVITIES – please check with Activity Coordinator for details before
registering.
Barossa/Hills – quick response/SA Water/Forestry SA
Graham H 8337 5388
Fleurieu – Forestry SA
Telowie/Burra/Redbanks
Jim A 8390 1882
Shane F 8634 4362
Buckaringa (3/13, 5/13, 8/13, 11/13) / Yookamurra
Mark P 8380 5336
Midweek Range (Monarto)
Chris C 8374 2175
Gluepot, Pualco, Pandappa
Phil J 0408431750
Lameroo District
Evan R 8764 2169
Mt Brown CP
Gum Creek Stn cat, fox, rabbit control
Rob & Sue S 8636 2691
Dennis D 0409 098 68
Every effort will be made not to make changes, but PLEASE CHECK ACTIVITY PROGRAM
FOR UPDATES ON WEBSITE (www.hunt-cons.asn.au ) and/or Activity Coordinator.
President’s Report March 2015
The judgement of the case brought against our
club by former member Mr J Ridgway has been
brought down, and the reasons published.
The full judgement of the Honourable Justice
Nicholson is available at:
(4) “...that the plaintiff is still a member of the
association.
(5) The plaintiff requested “An injunction
restraining the defendant from taking further
disciplinary action against the plaintiff in respect
of events up to the commencement of these
proceedings”
http://www.courts.sa.gov.au/Judgments/
Lists/Judgments/Attachments/
1792/2015%20SASC%207.pdf
(6) Plaintiff asked for damages
The claims being made were that Mr Ridgway
had been unfairly removed from membership of
SSAA H&C Branch.
Justice Nicholson summarised his 57-page
judgment thus:
Mr Ridgway asked the Supreme Court to
adjudicate that:(1) “... in and about the
expulsion the association did not adopt the
principles of natural justice. “
(2) “...that the purported expulsion of the
plaintiff as a member of the defendant is null
and void and of no effect.
(3) “...that in breach of section 61 of the
Associations Incorporations Act the defendant
has engaged in conduct concerning the plaintiff
that is oppressive or unreasonable”
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(7) Plaintiff asked for costs
Held:
1. The plaintiff was provided with proper notice of
the defendant’s complaints against him together with
sufficient time to prepare for and to address them at
the 20 March 2013 meeting and to this extent was
afforded natural justice.
2. In reaching its decision to expel the plaintiff, the
defendant did not act oppressively or unreasonably
within s61 of the Associations Incorporation Act
1985.
3. The defendant failed to afford the plaintiff
procedural fairness at the 20 March 2013 meeting
and, as a consequence, the resolution expelling him
from membership for the 2012/2013 year was
invalid.
4. In the circumstances, the plaintiff’s membership
expired as at 30 October 2013.
5. An order for reinstatement of membership is not
appropriate, in all the circumstances.
6. The plaintiff is entitled to an award of damages in the amount of $500. (2015) SASC 7 Reasons for decision of The Honourable Justice Nicholson 28 January 2015
When looking at the result members should
very much follow the judge’s remarks - that the
outcome must be read in the context of his
detailed judgement.
Such reading will underscore how the judge
viewed the enormous effort members of the
Council, and Shane Fantinel as Member
Protection Officer, put in to try and resolve this
issue, and how he viewed Mr Ridgway’s
continuous attacks on the club and the
President George Sobolewski.
On almost every issue, the judge held that the
club had acted correctly, and that nothing the
club could have done would have stopped Mr
Ridgway from continuing his “written warfare”
on the club. {page 43, para 160}
However – while it was not part of the initial
case brought by Mr Ridgway’s side – the judge
found two technical flaws in the administration
of the “Show Cause” meeting at which Mr
Ridgway was expelled. The latter part of that
meeting, after Mr Ridgway’s lawyer had left and
the decision to expel was debated and voted on
– was not recorded. Also, two members of
Council had been involved in the initial issue
should not have taken part in the discussion or
vote. While it was accepted this would not
have made any material difference to the
outcome, nonetheless it was held that these
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points amounted to a denial of natural justice
and therefore the expulsion was invalid. He
was awarded $500 damages for this, but was
specifically denied reinstatement to the club.
This should be viewed in the context that the
Supreme Court is intended to deal with civil
cases that exceed $100,000 in claims.
Given that the former member is now gone and
the club has largely been exonerated, the real
issue is the question of costs. Our club has
used its entire reserve of funds, built up over 21
years, to defend itself in this pointless and
wasteful case. Mr Ridgway would have
expended a great deal more. It is considered
that there is a good case for recovery of much
of that cost from Mr Ridgway, and our legal
representatives have been instructed to pursue
those costs in the hearing to take place shortly.
I invite members to attend our next quarterly
meeting at Gaza on Wed March 4th where, no
doubt, this entire issue will be discussed in
detail.
On behalf of the Council, I thank the members
for their support throughout this long and very
oppressive saga. We trust it will soon be
behind us and we can focus all our efforts on
what we are here for – Conservation and
Wildlife Management.
Tony Judd
President, SSAA (SA) – Conservation and
Wildlife Management branch.
CONTACT WITH MEMBERS
Please be advised that the Branch cannot
communicate with you if you have changed
your Email or postal address, or any of your
telephone numbers. So, please advise of any
changes – many seem to have multiple Email
addresses, which can be confusing if one
becomes defunct.
YFRWPA
As I mentioned at the last General Meeting, this
branch was very much instrumental in the
establishment of the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby
Preservation Association, when some 90 members of
H&C (now CWM) put in $1000 each to purchase
land (with Commonwealth government assistance)
and start the project.
This was some thirteen years ago, and the project is
going well, but many members are getting “long in
the tooth” when on ground works are required. Old
age does not equip us for heavy exercise or for
maintaining high levels of enthusiasm – and some
move on to other interests.
Some memberships are becoming available and I
would like to encourage members to continue our
involvement in this conservation project.
Kaz Herbst
Who’s who and what do they do for you
As a result of elections held at our 2014 Annual
General meeting, changes have occurred within
the Council of the Branch.
All correspondence should be directed to:
Chris Carroll SSAA SA Conservation and
Wildlife Management SA Inc P.O.Box 188 Kent
Town SA 5071
Chris can be contacted on 0415890075 by mail
or E-mail at [email protected]
With passage of time, inflation, and cumulative
interest, as well as quite a high demand for
memberships, the current “good will”/transfer
cost is up to $1800 per membership.
S.S.A.A. S.A. Conservation & Wildlife
Management (S.A.) Inc. Council 2014 / 2015
Although the goat numbers are low, there is
plenty of scope for spotlighting, and there is a
300M “optical alignment” facility – great for
teaching your friends, children and
grandchildren. You can always do some
maintenance, construction and planting, or just
enjoy the spectacular surroundings.
Tony Judd
Feel free to talk to current members, and/or
visit the websites: www.yellowfoot.org and
www.caernarvontrack.com .
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
Firstly, I precede what I write, by saying that I am
NOT an expert in iPhone matters as I don’t own one.
But, I have recently come across a pamphlet about a
“SatSleeve” gizmo which turns your iPhone into a
satellite phone. The $15/month ”Thuraya SatSleeve
Plan” offers satellite calls at 99c per minute – in an
emergency, this may be cheap. All other data, Apps,
SMS, …. functions apply.
Again, rather than giving more non-expert advice, I
would suggest you “google” or go to:
www.thinkmobile.com.au/onenumber
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President
Vice President
George Sobolewski
Secretary
Chris Carroll
Treasurer
Peter Rowe
Council Members
Gary Dunstan, Gil Hartwig, Kaz Herbst, Scott
Jennings, Brad Prior, Alistair Wilkie
C&WM Member .Protection.Officer is Shane
Fantinel
Gil Hartwig, Kym McKenney & Gary Dunstan,
are nominated as club instructors
Gil Hartwig, Kaz Herbst, Chris Green and Jim
Ayliffe are nominated as authorised officers to
witness firearms transfers.
Gil Hartwig and Chris Carroll are nominated to
issue club chits for firearms licence renewal.
Caroona CP: 5-9/01/15
Activity Coordinator: Shane Fantinel
Accredited firearms instructors.
Members: 6
George Sobolewski
Animals taken: 136 feral goats, 1 fox
Paul Sobolewski
Pandappa CP: 5-9/01/15
Tony Judd
Activity Coordinator: Phil Johns
Shane Fantinel
Members: 3
Alistair Wilkie
Animals taken: 17 feral goats, 2 foxes
Raymond Burton
Hiltaba: 18-20/01/15
Geoffrey Frost
Activity Coordinator: Rick Fisher
Chris Carroll
Members: 2
Alistair Wilkie
Animals taken: 49 feral goats, 1 fox
Guest Speaker at March General Meeting
Yankallia: 19/01/15
Brendan Atkinson, known to many for his firearms
journalism will be guest speaker at Wednesday
March 4th General Meeting and will address the
topic of firearms care.
Activity Coordinator: Kym McKenney
C&WM Activity Report Summary
Gluepot Reserve: 3-6/12/14
Activity Coordinator: Phil Johns
Members: 5
Animals taken: 43 feral goats
Mt Remarkable CP: 26-31/12/14
Activity Coordinator: Shane Fantinel
Members: 2
Animals taken: 17 feral goats
Telowie CP: 26-31/12/14
Activity Coordinator: Shane Fantinel
Members: 4
Animals taken: 42 feral goats
6
Memebrs: 2
Animals taken: 5 Western grey kangaroos, 1 fox
Flinders Feral Predator Program (FFPP)
Flinders Ranges NP: 23-26/01/15
Activity Coordinator: Kaz Herbst
Members: 2
Animals taken: 25 feral cats
Mt Brown CP: 23-27/01/15
Activity Coordinator: Sue Scarman
Members: 3
Animals taken: 53 feral goats, 1 fox
Arkaba Station: 2-5/02/15
Activity Coordinator: Dennis Donavan
Members: 4
Animals taken: 20 feral goats, 2 foxes, 75 rabbits
CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS
in his possession ammunition that
exceeds the reasonable needs of
that person for the immediately
following 12 months.
Reasonableness will depend upon
circumstances and justifiable need
of the person in possession of the
ammunition.
FORUM THURSDAY 23/10/14
Excerpts from notes made at a meeting between Supt
Newitt, SAPOL Firearms Branch and shooting club
representatives.
The attached minutes provide answers to raised
questions/discussion points through reference to
the Act and Regulations – both of which can be
found at www.legislation.sa.gov.au .
Q1 (a)
Can you provide clarification
regarding the transporting of
ammunition and rifles in vehicles,
(b)
clarification of storing
ammunition and amounts,
(c)
criteria and training requirements
for the issuance of firearms
licences?
A1(a)
Firearms regulations, specifically
Regulation 21 (1) (d), Regulation
38 – Security of Firearms and
Regulation 41- Security of
Ammunition states that you must
take all reasonable precautions to
ensure your firearm and
ammunition is not lost, stolen and
does not come into possession of
an unauthorised person.
Ammunition storage must be
separate from firearms.
When you are transporting firearms
and ammunition you must take all
reasonable precautions to ensure
against theft and loss. Practically
this means that you should ensure
that your firearms or ammunition
in your locked vehicle are not
visible. A common sense approach
would be “what would you do
when transporting any other
valuable item in your vehicle?”
A1 (b)
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A1(c)
The storage of ammunition - must
be stored in a locked container
separately form firearms –
Regulation 4. Regulation 36 states
that a person must not own or have
Regulation 19 states the Registrar
may require the applicant for a
firearms licence, or dealers licence,
or for the addition of classes of
firearms, to undertake a course,
written examination, or practical
examination of the safe handling,
carriage and use of firearms.
Courses are produced by SA TAFE
as the only Registrar approved
training (security industry training
must also be approved by the
Registrar).
Q4 (a)
“Can you please tell me about the
reloading/storage of powder etc
under the main roof area of a
house?”
(b)
“Can a club check member’s
security of firearms instead of
SAPOL (especially new
members)”
(c)
“Can you store guns in caravan
etc whilst holidaying and shooting
with SA” and
(d)
“Would a handgun safe fitted in a
caravan be considered to be a
secure arrangement?”
A4 (a)
Safework SA regulates this area.
SAPOL are able to police it based
on their regulations. The following
explain the circumstances around
black powder for reloading
purposes.
i.
If you hold explosives/reloading
powder of a quantity no greater
than 3 kilograms for personal use
i.e., reloading of safety cartridges,
then there are no issues and a
permit/licence from Safework SA
is not required (provided the
explosives/reloading powder is
classified as gunpowder/black
powder). (Classification 1.1D)
Up to 15 kilograms of gunpowder/
black powder may be kept/stored
provided you have a permit/licence
and meet storage criteria controlled
by Safework SA.
ii.
Explosives, gunpowder/black
powder/nitrocellulose/smokeless
powders contained within safety
cartridges (ammunition) needs to
be taken into calculations relevant
to the maximum amounts of
explosives that may be kept/stored
for personal use.
iv.
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Amounts of explosives above 15
kilograms but less than 30 or 60
kilograms (dependent upon
category) may be kept but must
only be done so with a Safework
SA permit/licence and only within
an explosives magazine that has
been certified by Safework SA.
A4 (b)
Members checking the security of
other gun club members is not
supported.
This is a policing
function and one which sometimes
requires some form of policing
authority to be exercised. Police
have an integral part to play in
ensuring the security of firearms in
the community. The Firearms Act
and Regulations allow fit and
proper persons to own firearms and
SAPOL have a very important role
to ensure that people are storing
those firearms in an appropriate
manner, that is why Police have
certain authorities and
responsibilities and that is best
vested in Police when conducting
audits.
A4 (c)
In relation to firearms storage in
caravans - As stated earlier in
Regulation 21 (1) (d) - A person
must take all reasonable
precautions to make the firearms
secure that includes whilst they are
not secured at the home address.
If you hold explosives/reloading
powder designated as nitrocellulose
or smokeless powder (not
gunpowder/black powder) then the
allowable 3 kilograms is treated as
a half weight. This allows a person
to have and use up to 6 kilograms
of nitrocellulose or smokeless
powder.
a. If a combination of explosives
i.e., gunpowder/black powder
and nitrocellulose/smokeless
are kept together, then both
types are grouped into the 1.1D
classification for which the
limit on storage without a
Safework SA permit/licence is
3 Kilograms.
iii.
v.
Amounts of explosives of up to 15
kilograms may be stored for
personal use provided a permit/
licence has been obtained from
Safework SA and all criteria and
requirements for appropriate
storage have been complied with.
(This requires an audit and
approval by Safework SA
inspectors)