INAUGURAL MEETING – FRIENDS OF SOUTH RHINE CEMETERY SOCIETY
Sunday 19th September 2010, 2pm, South Rhine Sunday School Hall
Present: Rhys Bartle (Chair, Mt Pleasant UC Congregation), Sara & Lester Miller, Anne Harkiss, Len & June Shearer, John & Judy Shearer, Briony Argent, Marion McEwin, Beryl McCallum, Maysie Rundle, Rosalie Philcox, Peter Gardiner, Heather Franke, Malcolm & Betty Ann Kempe
Apologies: Ross Drew, Mary Miller, Chris Kingsnorth, David & Maxine French, Donald Wegener, Cynthia & Trent Hughes, Helen Drummond
It was agreed that Rhys Bartle would chair the meeting and Marion McEwin would take minutes.
MOTION – It was proposed that an association be formed to be known as the Friends of South Rhine Cemetery Society Inc. and that action be put in train to formally incorporate. Proposed: Lester Miller Seconded: Maysie Rundle Carried
The Society will be a vehicle to protect donated funds and will provide a focus for organised support for the care and management of the Cemetery.
Committee Members – The following people were proposed and duly elected to the committee
- Lester Miller Proposed Briony Argent Seconded Maysie Rundle
- Ross Drew Proposed Marion McEwin Seconded Maysie Rundle
- John Shearer Proposed Judy Shearer Seconded Rhys Bartle
- Anne Harkiss Proposed John Shearer Seconded Betty Ann Kempe
- Rosalie Philcox Proposed Lester Miller Seconded Beryl McCallum
- Marion McEwin Proposed Rhys Bartle Seconded Lester Miller
It was agreed that this committee would meet in a few weeks time to elect office bearers, appoint a public officer, progress the constitution and set up banking facilities.
As ownership of the Cemetery is vested in the Uniting Church of SA (UCSA) it is necessary for the Society to:
- Formally advise UCSA of its formation and seek recognition of its role
- Report to the property committee of the local UC congregation
- Furnish an annual report and associated audited financial statement
Financial matters
- The Society should aim to set up a capital investment fund that can provide ongoing income for maintenance and improvements
- $916.80 collected at the final South Rhine Service is currently in trust for the Society and funds should also be available from the sale of old library books.
- We should explore a possible grant from sale proceeds of South Rhine Church.
- It is no longer practical to offer free burial plots. It was agreed that in future burial plot registrations would cost $450. A lesser fee would be set for ashes internment. Donations from families with existing reserved plots would also be encouraged.
- A bank account needs to be opened. It was noted that UC invest offers a good rate for an interest bearing cheque account but that this would need to be opened as a sub-account of the Mt Pleasant Congregation.
- Once the Society is incorporated there is the opportunity to apply for grant moneys.
- Ms Anona Fitzgerald was appointed as auditor
Curators Report
- There are not a large number of burial plots left although probably adequate for the existing level of demand. There is considerable scope for ashes internment.
- The fence is in quite good condition although the gate needs fixing as a strainer post has been damaged. An extra pedestrian gate would be useful.
- Gum trees surrounding the cemetery are prone to drop limbs that could damage graves and we should consider removal or substantial lopping
- The meeting recorded a formal vote of thanks to John and Judy Shearer for their work as curators and maintenance of the Cemetery over the years.
A small subcommittee that can respond quickly, if necessary, should be set up at the first committee meeting to assist the curator and oversight requests for a burial plot.
Membership
The meeting agreed to open public membership of the Society. All new applications for membership must be approved by the committee. There would be no membership fee as such, although donations would be encouraged.
Meetings
General meetings will be held twice a year in spring and autumn with the AGM held in spring. The accounting year will end on 30th June each year.
The meeting recorded a formal vote of thanks to Rhys Bartle for all his work including: the closing service for South Rhine Church in April; preparing a draft constitution for the Society; and assisting with planning for this inaugural meeting.