8 AUGUST 2024 – From the Hawthorn RSL Club in Victoria, Nasho Fair Go made a defining mark in its short but profound two-year history.
Voting on a new constitution and structure, members at today’s annual general meeting approved a motion for the association to become a company limited by guarantee, a crucial step allowing Nasho Fair Go to continue expanding beyond Victoria.
- In short: At today’s AGM, Nasho Fair Go members voted to restructure the organisation as a company limited by guarantee.
- Nasho Fair Go’s membership base has outgrown the scope of its original structure as a state-based association.
- The restructure will allow them to acquire more than 50 per cent of its members and income from outside of Victoria.
- What’s next? A transitioning committee has been appointed until a new national board is established over the next few months.
At 11.56am AEST, the group shed its status as an association and became Nasho Fair Go Ltd after a unanimous vote.
Since commencing as a Victorian association with three founding members in February 2022, it has exploded to 3,218 members from over Australia.
As it has been acquiring more than 50 per cent of its memberships and revenue from outside of Victoria, it cannot continue to operate under the existing arrangement.
Nasho Fair Go President Geoff Parkes said the transition will help them become a “truly national” organisation.
“I’m chuffed, it’s been a long journey, 14 months really, but we know it’s the way forward, but it’s been really worth while and quite exciting that we are embarking on a new structure,” he said.
“As we have grown, we have faced constant constraints in being a Victorian incorporated association seeking to operate across the country.
“The committee looked at this in detail and believes that transferring to a public company limited by guarantee provides the most flexible and appropriate structure.”
Nasho Fair Go will continue its work with a caretaker committee until a new national board is established.
Any proposals for expenditures related to advocacy will be reserved until then.
“This is a transition committee, so we are – over the next 12 months – transitioning to the full board structure,” Mr Parkes said.
“That board structure, we intend to be much more formal than it is to date, and we will make sure we get input from all the states.”
The restructure will see 9 members appointed, giving them the option to have at least one representative from each state and territory.
“Over the month or so, we will co-opt the people onto the board from each state who we think will help us and be very beneficial for us,” he said.
“Then, at this meeting next year, all positions will be up for reelection.”
With a view to applying for deductible gift recipient status, the transition will help Nasho Fair Go appeal to donors and politicians to further their advocacy work.
“Companies limited by guarantee are designed to meet the needs of not-for-profit and charitable sectors,” Mr Parkes said.
“They are well understood by donors and government departments.
“For companies that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, they have simplified and reduced regulations and costs.”
Since launching, Nasho Fair Go has had several big wins.
“One of the major achievements we’ve had as an organisation is the publicising of the veterans White Card,” Mr Parkes said.
“I got a phone call just last week from a bloke who said, ‘thank you, I never heard about the White Card until I joined Nasho Fair Go; I put in a claim for deafness and tinnitus, and I just got a payment from the DVA for $69,000.’”
“So if you don’t think the White Card is of any value, you want to give it a crack.
“It’s one of our great weapons.”
Mr Parkes implores anyone who may have a gripe to come forward.
“We have got the ear of DVA – we have got two senior people, who have been appointed to be my earpiece if I’ve got a gripe, and I’ve had a couple of major wins for people who had serious problems,” he said.
“If you think you have a serious injustice, and you’re running up against a brick wall, I can’t guarantee I can help you, but I can certainly bring it to their attention, and then I can guarantee it’s at the top level.”
Other details:
- 86 members attended the meeting and Nasho Fair Go received 309 proxy votes
- Geoff Parks was elected as President
- John Hussey was endorsed as Vice President
- John Cardwell was sworn in as Treasurer
- Kim McDonald was elected as Secretary