At the APS NSW Annual General Meeting 2026 over 40 members arrived from geographically far-flung groups – Harbour Georges River, Illawarra, Menai Wildflower Group, North Shore, Northern Beaches, Parramatta Hills, Southern Highlands, Southern Tablelands and Sutherland.
The result of the election at the APS NSW AGM 2026 is that the positions of President, Vice-President and Membership Officer were not filled. Harry Loots was re-elected as Treasurer. The district group delegate positions are not part of the election process. These APS Board positions are filled by John Desmond (Southern Highlands), Ann London (North Shore), Barbara Lewis (Southern Tablelands), Rhett Morson (Newcastle) and Tony Maxwell (Parramatta Hills). Subsequent to the AGM Phyllis Heggie (Harbour Georges River) and Janice Hughes (Nowra) joined the Board and Merle Thompson was elected to be the non-delegate Membership Officer at a Board meeting. It is noted that all positions are unpaid.
Additionally, no-one has yet volunteered to organise the Quarterly Gatherings.
History has shown that a dwindling cohort of volunteers is a risk for any community organisation, and is in essence a threat to its continuing life. After the close of the formal business of the AGM, 5 members spoke about this crisis developing in APS NSW right now.
It was acknowledged that many people in the room were either past Board members or have been active in their local district group for a long time. Nevertheless, there’s an obvious need for more people to become involved in APS NSW. Not only are Board positions vacant, but there has also been a sharp drop in volunteers coming forward to take on specific tasks.
We need people with management, administrative, creative or technical skills, and a sense of common purpose!
A handful of members over the years have asked what benefit do they get from the combination of their personal membership and their group’s membership to APS NSW. We were informed that APS NSW provides –
- Public liability and volunteers’ accident insurance. This is connected to its membership of the Nature Conservation Council, an arrangement that provides cost-effective insurance for community organisations at a price a district group would unlikely be able to afford.
- Directors’ Insurance is also covered.
- The services of Accounting for Good, which fulfil financial and corporate obligations on behalf of the groups and APS NSW as a whole.
- Through this service, APS NSW provides the funds and remits the GST owed by district groups to the Australian Taxation Office.
- The website, with a trove of information including the plant database, articles, and group newsletters. District groups can publicise their activities on the home page and the state-wide events calendar as well as on the pages dedicated to their group’s information.
- The website also provides electronic collection of membership dues, plus practical information about ASP NSW itself and the tasks involved in running a district group.
- Quarterly APS NSW eNewsletter Native Plants for NSW which links a number of articles written by members about Australian plants, the environment and group activities.
- Quarterly gatherings held in conjunction with host groups with much hospitality, walks and speakers. Experts generously educate us up to university standard!
- Membership of Australian Native Plants Society (Australia), which includes the quarterly journal Australian Plants and eligibility to attend the ANPSA bi-annual conference as a member.
Obviously to maintain these benefits takes constant effort.
Members spoke of how APS NSW had become more relevant to them in recent years with its developing focus on conservation and environmental issues, and the benefit of having Dan Clarke as Conservation Officer. The topics and speakers at both APS NSW Quarterly and district group meetings consolidate this focus.
Most APS NSW roles and small tasks can be performed from the home, whilst maintaining contact with other members. Eight Board meetings a year are held by Zoom.
Another strong benefit of volunteering is the networking and communication involved in tasks that reach multiple groups. That communication is invaluable in itself.
Further, we all have common interests and APS NSW provides the facility to strengthen the ties between both groups and individuals, to foster an environment where we share and learn from each other, and to speak for our common concern for the planet.
All who spoke after the formal AGM meeting suggested members consider involvement by volunteering for a role or a task within APS NSW. Members are also asked to make a concerted effort to galvanise others from within their district group. The future of our organisation depends on us!