President Christina Holmdahl Speaks At the April meeting of our branch I notified you of the increase in membership fees that have been imposed on us by the National April 2017 Number 253 Executive without due and proper process of consultation with all the Working for Australians in branches of A.I.R. at a time when Retirement we continue to lose members. Association of Independent Retirees The Tasmanian Division of A.I.R. will meet on 11 May (A.I.R.) Limited 2017 and our branch representative at that meeting, Vice ACN 102 164 385 President Shane Dennington will raise the matter as well Newsletter as voicing our displeasure at the lack of proper process surrounding the increase, none of which will be retained by Northern Tasmania Branch the branches. PO Box 332, Launceston, 7250 It is the view of many that the branches currently pay far E: [email protected] too much to the National Body as a percentage of the (03) 6330 3322 membership fee. We ask why the National Body thinks it is reasonable to raise subscription dues by $10 for singles DATES 2017 and couples without reference to the branches and National retaining 100% of the increase. General Meeting Friday 19 May Specifically, a single will pay $56; the branch retains only IDG Meeting Friday 26 May $11.50, Division $2.50 and National $42.00. A couple will pay $82.00; branch retains $13.00, Division $5.00 and Committee Meeting Monday 15 May National $64.00. The retention rate for the branch for the second person of a couple is $1.50. This seems unfair as WINDSOR COMMUNITY PRECINCT already expressed by many of our members. RIVERSIDE, TAS 7250 What representation did the State Division President make MEETINGS COMMENCE AT 10AM on our behalf regarding this increase in subscriptions? Are the representations stated in the Board minutes? The loss of membership is not unique to our branch of A.I.R. This is happening to every branch in Australia The organisation is a shadow of the once powerful advocacy body for independent retirees. This must change and change quickly. Respectfully submitted to our Membership, Remember Lunch after General Meeting!! Christina Holmdahl, Riverside Hotel 19 May 2017 Northern Tasmania Branch President See Page 4 Bottom Column 1!! 1 April General and IDG Meetings in Pictures PRESIDENT CHRISTINA HOLMDAHL SANDRA BELL HELEN MCLAUGHLIN NORMA BARWICK ALAN BEST GLENN ROBINSON REG LEHNER MARY HUTTON EVELYN TURNER DON CALVER LAURIE LAVER MARY CORNISH and visitor ALTHEA HARRISON SANDRA BELL BARBARA LAVER CHRIS ELLIOTT HANS BOSMAN GAYE ROSE ISABEL DEJERSEY MARY DOYLE 2 Report on April General Meeting It is difficult to comprehend that we live on an island that has a tree that is older than Christianity. The Huon pine grows only 1 mm per year, becoming 3 metres wide and 40 metres tall and living longer than 3,000 years! Those of you who were able to attend the April General meeting learned these facts from the movie shown about the early “piners” that risked their lives venturing into the Tasmania wilderness beginning in 1890’s logging until 1983 when the government declared the Gordon and Franklin River areas a reserve for the precious timber. The documentary, part dramatization along with real footage focused on interviews from a few men who survived living and working in remote Tasmania felling the Huon Pines. These men travelled through dangerous rapids and waterfalls up the Jane, Franklin and Gordon Rivers Some of the journeys would take ten(10) days in small boats known as punts to cover the seventy(70) to ninety(90) miles. The men would have to bring all their provisions of rice, flour, dried beef, and vegetables to last them the three months in the wilderness. They would also hunt wallabies for stews to supplement their food supplies. The men would return to Strahan after being in the bush for the 3 to 4 months and stay in town for 1 to 6 weeks before heading back to the wilderness. From the interviews of those men who worked as piners in the 1930’s, most were in their late teens at the time taking on these dangerous journeys into areas where no white men had preceded them. At the onset of WWII, most of the “piners” would join the army to fight and there was a decline in logging the trees which lasted until the 1980’s when it would cease completely. There are many logs that were felled 50 years ago available for salvage with a licence. The Huon pine is coveted for its characteristics of not rotting, being strong and solid. It is still used to make boats and by some artisans and craftsmen for furniture and decorative items. The scientific world also has an interest in the timber. By boring a small 5mm hole and extracting a core the rings may be counted for age and growth cycles and evidence of the greenhouse effect. The Bob Crane Weekend in Strahan celebrates the “piners” with a wood chopping contest and a stage play depicting the “piners” lives. After this viewing of The Oldest Living Tasmanian: The Huon Pine, Shane Dennington took us through the paces for “Rules of the Road”. This consisted of 35 questions, of which 15 are compulsory and must be answered correctly as required by the Tasmanian Government for a Driving Licence. I am PLEASED to announce that, through the group effort, we passed with 33 of 35 correct!!!! JEFF LOSH JANINE AND ROB PATRICK MICHAEL FENTON-JONES 3 May General Meeting Program May IDG Meeting Guest Speakers Guy Barnett, currently Hon. Kerry Finch MLC is Minister for Resources currently a Member of the and Minister for Building Tasmanian Legislative and Construction is a Council for Rosevears first Liberal Party member of the being elected in May of 2002. Tasmanian House of Prior to 2002, Kerry worked in Assembly representing the the media including 7HT Division of Lyons and Parliamentary Secretary to Hobart, 2MW Murwillumbah, the Premier. Guy was born and raised in Lyons 2km Kempsey, 7LA Launceston, ABC Radio first attending Hagley Farm School before Tasmania and WIN Television. Prior to taking obtaining a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws office, Kerry had his own media company, Kerry (World Heritage) from the University of Tasmania. Finch Media. He has worked in law firms in Melbourne and Kerry sees himself as a community representative Washington, D.C. At 26 years of age he was and has championed the environment of the Tamar appointed senior advisor to the former Tasmanian Valley and the health of the Tamar River. He was Premier and member for Lyons (Hon Robin Gray), the instigator and chairman of the select committee the youngest in Australia at the time. He has been which recommended that the Tamar and its Senator in the Howard Government advocating the catchments should be managed by a single needs of rural and regional Tasmanians, prior to statutory authority. being elected to State Parliament in 2014 as a Member for Lyons. Guy is a champion for small business, a strong advocate for volunteerism and is an Ambassador Fred: What are we doing after Meeting today? I for Diabetes Australia and Motor Neurone Disease only hope it involves food! Australia. He established the annual Tasmanian Pollie Pedal charity bike ride to raise awareness Mabel: Yes, Fred, we are for Diabetes Tasmania and has spent 10 years as going across the road to a board member of St Ann’s Aged Care. Somehow the Riverside Hotel for he has also found time to write and edit political lunch with other Members and health publications. from A.I.R. Fred: Did you already AND sign up? Mabel: No need. We will be asked by show of Chris Elliott, Managing hands at the beginning of the Meeting who would Partner of Crowe Horwath like to participate. Launceston will again be Fred: Can I order anything I want on the menu? with us to answer all those Mabel: Yes, everyone will order and pay for questions (or give us his their own. I may even shout your lunch Fred! educated view) you will Fred: Hard to turn down that offer and no undoubtedly have in regards to the Federal dishes for me to wash and dry. Count me in! Budget 2017-18 as it relates to investments. He Join your fellow Members Friday 19 May 2017 for lunch following the General Meeting will also relate the Key Highlights from the Monthly House View both globally and domestically. Riverside Hotel 407 West Tamar Road Riverside, Tas 7250 4 Report on the Investment Discussion Group (IDG) April Richard Piesse, Senior Financial Planner, Camerons, Launceston spoke about Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF) detailing the pros and cons. The main pro was taking control of your funds, This encompassed many aspects like choosing your investments, lower fees and even in your estate planning. The word control occurred several times in his address. There is now an opportunity for limited recourse borrowing by the fund to allow gearing. But it has limitations, i.e. if your fund borrows for a house and you then live in the house loan must be repaid. Cons include time, costs, filing tax returns, audit cost, actuary advice and meeting the sole purpose test. The minimum sum recommended for a SMSF was $200k, personally I thought the amount to warrant the setting up and administering costs would be more. Even if specialist are employed for advice the buck stops with the trustee and a breach could attract a $360k fine To save complications if a trustee dies it was recommended that a corporate trustee would be the way to go.