The Federation is the peak representative body for co-operatives in New South Wales.
A co-operative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations, through a jointly owned and democratically controlled enterprise.
The Federation was thrilled to be able to organise a dinner , sponsored by Lawler Partners, for the sector to meet and listen to Ian MacPherson, the co-operative and credit union practitioner and academic from Canada in November, on the same day as our AGM. Ian spoke about "Why there should be an international year of co-operatives", a good way to get us thinking about 2012.
Ian was in Australia to meet with fellow academics from around the world at a symposium at Sydney University. The Federation continued its association with the University, by organising the dinner during Ian's visit. For those who weren't able to attend the Symposium,. his paper can be accessed here. We hope to have Ian back again late next year, in his capacity as an expert on indigenous co-operatives.
The Executive Officer and Chairman travelled to Adelaide to attend the SA conference and the Co-operatives Australia meeting held in October. The main topics of conversation at the CA meeting were the progress on the Co-operatives Nation Law, collection of the data to prepare the 2011 update of the Top 100 list, co-operation between the States and preparation for IYC 2012. An effort is made to have a face-to-face meeting of the States that constitute the CA each year, with other meetings occurring by teleconference.
Nine rural co-operatives were visited in August when an Effective Governance Workshop was held for the directors of Yenda Producers Co-operative Ltd - those that we managed to photograph were (clockwise) Walbundrie Co-op, Yenda Producers, Riverina, Young Fruitgrowers, Walbundrie, Riverina, Tullibigeal, an unusual silo sighted along the way and Coleambally Irrigation.
The Federation held it's March 2010 Board meeting in Wauchope, for a change. Usually meetings are held in Sydney, as the least expensive alternative for our scattered board members. But as we now have a majority north of Sydney, this change seemed a good idea. Not only did we hold our meeting, but we had tours of several of the facilities of the Hastings Co-operative and even a dinner together that night - we rarely have time for social interaction, so this was an appreciated opportunity by those who stayed on. The city members also enjoyed the chance to get into the clean air!
The 2010 conference in Sydney was a great success, featuring speakers from throughout the co-operative sector in Australia and with keynote speakers from Italy. For more details, click here.
A not-for-profit co-operative in inner west Sydney celebrated it's 30th anniversary in November 2009. The Ethnic Child Care, Family and Community Services Co-operative hosted a get together of many of those that had/have been involved over the years, much to the pleasure of those that caught up with long lost friends. Our NSW Governor, Marie Bashir, was a very welcome opening speaker, talking as she did from her personal experience of the ethnic communities sector.
On November 16 a group of co-operators from Argentina visited Sydney on their tour of Australian agricultural and co-operative venues. As part of our responsibility to encourage and maintain international contacts, we met with them and gave them a summarised report on co-operatives here. The delegation of 23 represented the peak bodies and the grain co-operatives of Argentina - a powerful force which was surprised by the size of our sector. It's disappointing that international visitors can't visit more co-operative businesses but the distances involved in travel to regional areas makes the time required impossible in most instances.
The Annual General Meeting of the Federation was held at Parliament House on November 6, 2009. This was immediately followed by a luncheon for members with the Minister for Fair Trading, the Hon Virginia Judge. A luncheon is organised regularly to enable an exchange of views between the sector and the Minister and her staff. Key issues were the delay in release of the proposed new legislation, the continuing need for mutual recognition provisions (to overcome current foreign co-operative status for those trading interstate) and the need for action to raise the profile of co-operatives within the general community and professional circles.
The Executive Officer attended the Co-ops WA - Creating a New Future Annual Conference in Perth in September. The Key Note speaker was Fabio Chaddad, who is now with the University of Missouri. (Remember he visited Sydney in 2006?). He presented a very insightful economic and structural analysis of co-operatives. There were other interesting topics, including three speakers who addressed the new West Australian Co-operatives Act, which was making its way through Parliament at that very time and is expected to take effect from April 1, 2010.
The annual meeting of Co-operatives Australia (all other meetings are held by teleconference) was timed to coincide with this conference.
Amongst other matters covered, further development work was done on policies; it was decided to join the international lobbying effort for 2012 as the Year of Co-operatives, under the auspices of the United Nations; members agreed to seek data to enable an update of the Top 100 list for next year; extensive discussion ensued on the definition of "social enterprise" and how to advantage co-operatives by placing them within this emerging term; and an update on lobbying efforts regarding the Retooling for Climate Change Program was given - advice has since been received that amendments have been made to ensure that co-operatives fit within the definition of corporation under that program.
In August 2009 the Federation met with a delegation of visiting Indian co-operators. We had previously endeavoured to provide them with some contacts for their visit to Australia and enjoyed discussions and a meal whilst they were in Sydney - the delegation included the Chairman and MD of the National Federation of State Co-operative Banks Ltd, the President of the National Co-operative Union of India and representatives from six State Co-operative Banks. We were surprised by how many problems the sectors in our two countries have in common, though not by the large size of their co-operative sector.
There are half a million co-operatives in India, with 230 million members. They play a major part in rural India. The structure, control, history and problems of the co-operative banking sector are quite different to our credit unions, though. And once again, the size. At some time in the future we would like to consider the idea of co-operative tourism - the opportunity for Australians to visit co-operatives in other countries. There is so much to be learnt from what others are doing.
A recent Effective Governance workshop was held in Marrickville with several Not-for-profit co-operative and other organisation directors attending. Those present found it gave them a better understanding of their role on the Board and suggested that all new directors should undertake the course.
In keeping with co-operatives assisting other co-operatives, in early November 2008 the Federation met with a delegation of Brazilian co-operators. A presentation on co-operatives in Australia was made, in exchange for information on their vitality and success in Brazil.
The group was from Santa Catarina, where co-ops are thriving.
On June 4, 2008 the Federation hosted a luncheon meeting with the Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, and a small group of member not-for-profit co-operatives. The Federation organizes these get-togethers each year to facilitate an exchange of ideas and encourage understanding. Only her early arrival allowed the photographer to notice for the first time the architecture of the Jubilee Room at Parliament House – the photo shows the magnificent ceiling – how could I have missed it previously?
A workshop was held in Coffs Harbour for three co-operatives in May 2008. Boards and management attended the session over two days that was facilitated by Terry Kilmister. Some of the tough questions of board governance and management versus board responsibilities were tackled. And the obvious networking opportunities were taken advantage of by all present.
In February 2008 the Federation, together with University of Technology Sydney, Marrickville Council, Parramatta Council, The Mercury Centre Co-operative, the Association to Resource Co-operative Housing and CCC eNews, organized a special housing conference.
The Living Co-operatively Symposium had a very special guest speaker – Gun-Britt Martensson a Swedish co-operative leader and international co-operative housing expert. Her visit provided an opportunity for us to learn from her vast experience, to reflect on the Australian situation and inspired dialogue and ideas for future options. The Symposium was opened by the Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, and was attended by a wide cross-section of people from around Australia.
Whilst she was here Gun-Britt also addressed those attending a seminar on The Advantages For Your Co-operative of Global Connections. The other speakers were Trent Bartlett, CEO of Capricorn Society Ltd and Peter Gates of The Mercury Centre Co-operative. Gun-Britt was introduced as the speaker at a dinner later that night by the Commissioner for Fair Trading, Lyn Baker. Gun-Britt's topic of A Co-operative Life, kept everyone entranced.
A Workshop was run in July 2007 with the presentation done by the UK Co-operative College. Those attending were surprised by how much they learnt about Co-operative values and principles and their importance for their co-operative. Everyone went back to work the following week with renewed enthusiasm and new ideas to try out.
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The conference, in Sydney in May 2007, was an excellent learning and networking opportunity. Amongst other topics, the conference looked at successful examples of co-operation and ideas for the future.
In 2006 the Federation assisted in publishing an important addition to the literature on co-operatives in Australia – The Democracy Principle – Farmer Co-operatives in Twentieth Century Australia by Gary Lewis. The book was launched by the Commissioner for Fair Trading, Lyn Baker on November 17, 2006.
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The launch was timed to coincide with the Monash Agribusiness Co-operative Leadership and Governance Forum which was held in Sydney over the November 17/19 weekend, in association with the Federation. The keynote speaker, Fabio Chaddad, is an internationally recognised authority on structural change in co-operatives who provided much food for thought for those present. |
