RAS,' ANNUAL REPORT 2012 The Royai ricultur, Society of Victoria Di- 2012 RASV OFFICE BEARERS COUNCILLORS Patron Life Councillors The Honourable Alex Chemov AO, QC J Balfour Brown Governor of Victoria DG Beard WRR Beggs AM President AC Bott SC (Stephen) Spargo II Bucknall JM Burston Vice President RM Butler D (Deborah) Pollett Hodgson NA Edwards APM CJ Fox AM Board of Directors A Gibson SC (Stephen) Spargo (Chairman) RF Haselgrove AM D (Deborah) Pollett Hodgson (Deputy Chair) LR Latta II (Ian) Bucknall CR Lyons DS (Scott) Chapman MT Marriott MJ (Matthew) Coleman JW Rae OAM AJ (Alan) Hawkes PJB Ronald OAM NE (Noelene) King OAM AJ Russell GJ (Geoff) Phillips JH Seymour AM JA (Joy) Potter IMcK Starritt PJB (Jason) Ronald OAM FRI Stephens KW Urquhart Chief Executive Officer Council Members M (Mark) O'Sullivan J Allen RS Bell Company Secretary BM Crotty J (Jon) Perry Dr RCE Cust L Falvey Registered Office K Jordan Melbourne Showgrounds NE King OAM Epsom Road, Ascot Vale 3032 BE Laws Victoria Australia ER Lithgow Telephone +61 3 9281 7444 P McMahon Facsimile + 61 3 9281 7592 GJ Phillips D Pollett Hodgson Auditors BWA Redpath PKF IMcC Rough Chartered Accountants AF Rowden Level 14, 140 William Street A Shears-Carter OAM Melbourne 3000 SR Shelmerdine AM Victoria Australia SC Spargo GB Starritt Bankers Hon P Walsh MP National Australia Bank Limited JC Watson AM Level 28, 500 Bourke Street Melbourne 3000 Victoria Australia Solicitors Aliens Linklaters Level 37 101 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 Victoria Australia 2 The Royal AgricUltural Society of Victoria Limited ACN 006 728 785 Office Bearers RASV CouncillorS'' 2 RASV Introduction 4 President's Message /, CEO's Message 2011 Royal Melbourne Show RASV Events & Awards 2011/2012 Summary of Awards Venue Management Corporate Governance Financial Reports 27 Annual Report 2012 3 RASV INTRODUCTION The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) is a member based organisation that promotes and celebrates agriculture through events which link industry with consumers and ultimately aims to improve the quality and increase demand for Victorian agricultural produce. Our focus is on delivering value to industry, those with a direct In addition, the RASV conducts non core agricultural events such involvement in primary and secondary production, particularly in as the Royal Melbourne Horse Show, Australia's biggest horse Victoria and our role is to link consumers to industry product breed show. and produce. Furthermore, the RASV manages the Melbourne Showgrounds, The RASV supports industry by conducting successful events such Victoria's largest and most versatile venue for trade shows, as the Royal Melbourne Show, Victoria's largest annual community exhibitions and events. Feature events held at Melbourne event which provides industry with unique opportunities to enhance Showgrounds include Equitana, Gift Fair, International Truck, Trailer consumer awareness and understanding. The Royal Melbourne & Equipment Show, Stereosonic, Soundwave, and the National 4X4, Show also provides industry, particularly beef, dairy, sheep, and Fishing Camping & Outdoors Expo. fleece with an important platform to benchmark and celebrate quality. We are committed to: Other events the RASV conducts to support industry include: • Being valued by industry for our ability to link industry to • Royal Melbourne Wine Show, the celebration of excellence in consumers Australian winemaking and one of the nation's most respected • Providing industry with opportunities to connect with consumers, wine shows primarily through events • Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards, fast becoming Australia's • Growing membership and delivering great value to our members most celebrated fine food event • Generating operating surpluses to enable future investment in our • Australian International Beer Awards, Australia's largest beer events, member benefits and Melbourne Showgrounds facilities show and the pre-eminent showcase of premium beer and brewing excellence in the Asia Pacific region Improving the organisation by supporting and developing our employees and by implementing the appropriate systems, processes and infrastructure to enable the development and Each of these events celebrate product quality, encourage delivery of quality events and superior service. benchmarking, and act as a unique platform for industry promotion and education. -11111*. t"" it ". AI NPR 1 J11123.1,0, •:#1.4.44" Board of Directors Back row, left to right: Alan Hawkes, Scott Chapman, Noelene King OAM, Mark O'Sullivan (CEO), Geoff Phillips, Jason Ronald OAM and Matthew Coleman. Front row, left to right: Deborah PoIlett Hodgson, Stephen Spargo (Chairman), Ian Bucknall and Joy Potter. Executive Team Left to right: Jon Perry (General Manager, Corporate Services), Mark O'Sullivan (CEO), Linda O'Halloran (Manager, Human Resources) and Brad Jenkins (General Manager, Marketing & Business Development). Absent: Michael Martin (General Manager, Site Operations & Logistics). ual Report 2012 6 The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria I_III •. J7 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE The RASV has promoted Victorian agriculture for more than 160 years and it remains a priority for the RASV to maintain its agricultural competitions and events. A key objective of The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria It is appropriate to note that during the year some of our long (RASV) is to ensure the importance to Victorians of agriculture standing Committee Chairs retired and I refer particularly to and food products is well understood. outgoing Committee Chairs Geoff Beard of the Horse Committee, Stephen Shelmerdine AM of the Royal Melbourne Wine Show While the success and continued growth of Victoria's largest Committee and Robyn Johnson of the Art, Craft and Cookery annual community event, the Royal Melbourne Show, plays a Committee. They should feel extremely proud of all they have vital role in reminding all Victorians, especially those based in contributed to the RASV over many years and I thank them most Melbourne, that agriculture and food are at the core of everyday sincerely for their hard work in furthering the Society's interests. life, the RASV wants to do more to emphasise their importance. Their dedication to the RASV's cause has been outstanding. A central theme of the RASV's strategy in coming years will be On a sad note, I record the passing of an RASV stalwart and to ensure that all of the RASV's food and agriculture related much admired and respected former President, RT (Bob) events and activities are as relevant and contemporary as Balderstone CMG MC. Bob was a Councillor for 41 years during possible. To assist the RASV to achieve that objective, the - which time he served on a number of RASV committees including co-operation and support of advisory groups in relevant the Beef Cattle Committee, the Farm Management Committee industry sectors will be important. and the Finance Committee. He served as President of the RASV Further, enlisting the help of the next generation of agricultural for six years from 1976 until 1982 and was also the inaugural leaders will be necessary to assist the RASV promote the Chairman of the Young Farmers Finance Council and a Trustee importance of Victoria's food and agriculture sector. The RASV of Marcus Oldham College. will also be doing all it can to encourage more younger people Bob gave of his time most generously to the development with a keen interest in these areas to become involved in thought and promotion of agriculture, particularly through the Royal leadership and knowledge exchange events which are organised, Melbourne Show and beyond over so many years. Bob promoted or sponsored by the RASV. personified the very best of rural life and his great humility will In this context, the RASV has contributed recently to several be enduring for all those who knew him. educational initiatives, industry networking, and award On behalf of the Board, I would like to extend my sincere thanks programmes with a particular focus on youth including support to our management team and all of our volunteers whose hard for the Business/Higher Education Round Table (BHERT) scoping work has made it possible for the RASV to fulfil its objectives and study of skills shortages in agriculture entitled, Rebuilding the achieve the financial outcomes reflected in the RASV's accounts Agricultural Workforce Report. In addition, the RASV provided as set out in this year's annual report. a submission to the Parliament of Victoria Rural and Regional Committee for their Inquiry into the capacity of the farming sector to attract and retain young farmers and respond to an ageing workforce. Of course, the continued growth of the venue operations at the Melbourne Showgrounds will be of paramount importance not only for underpinning the RASV's overall financial position but also to enable the RASV to fund many of its planned initiatives. At the RASV we are very fortunate to have the dedicated support of many remarkable people who make our vision possible and Stephen Spargo provide their time on a voluntary basis to help the Society. President Annual Report 2012 CEO'S MESSAGE Over the past 12 months, the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has celebrated success and excellence through its major events and initiatives and has laid the foundations for future prosperity. Building on 150 years of excellence, the RASV is embarking on a From food to wine, the RASV's Royal Melbourne Wine Show journey guided by a new 2012-14 Strategic Plan which is committed celebrated the 50th anniversary of the coveted Jimmy Watson to promoting and celebrating agriculture through events that link Memorial trophy in 2011. industry to consumers. With an ongoing investment in youth in agriculture, the RASV The ultimate aim is to improve the quality and increase demand for continually increases opportunities for the next generation to be Victorian agricultural produce and over the next three years, we will: involved with the organisation and the Royal Melbourne Show. 1. Be valued by industry The youth focused program at the 2011 Royal Melbourne Show 2.