Newsletter

Dear Members and Friends,

2024 Annual General Meeting

The Board of Directors and I would like to thank the members who participated in the 2024 Annual General Meeting (AGM). You took the time to care about the affairs of the meeting, fulfilled the obligations and responsibilities of the members and voted in favour of the motionsproposed by the Board of Directors, so that the affairs of the association can be advanced and keep pace with the times, thank you for your confidence and support of the Board of Directors, your encouragement and support is the motivation for the directors to work hard to serve the members! 195 members attended the 2024 AGM on 19 January 2025 to vote for the Constitution Amendments. Items confirmed & approved during the meeting are as follow: -

1.      The minutes of Annual General Meeting held on 28/4/2024 were confirmed. Oi Ping Amy Mok (1540) moved. Eric Fong (2284) seconded. All agreed.

2.      The audited 2024 financial report was adopted. Helen Chau (1069) moved. Yiu Sim Chiu (1248) seconded. All agreed.

3.      Appointed James Gock & Co as Accountant, Oliver Lai & Co as Auditors and Edwin Kwan of Pancific Legal as Company Solicitor. Sum Chow (1020) moved. Yin Fong Chow (1159) seconded. All agreed.

4.      Total ballot paper issued is 282 (including proxies).Voting results for the Constitution Amendments are as follows: -

                         Agree              Disagree                 Abstain            Total (including proxies)

Motion 1     248 (87.94%)     31 (10.99%)              3 (1.06%)             282

Motion 2    248 (87.94%)     32 (11.35%)              2 (0.71%)              282

Motion 3    246 (87.23%)     34 (12.06%)             2 (0.71%)              282

Motion 4    246 (87.54%)     33 (11.74%)              2 (0.71%)              281

According to the GYT Constitution 75% of the votes are required to pass the Special Resolution. Therefore, the above Special Resolutions are passed.

Special General Meeting

The Special General Meeting (SGM) held after the above AGM to consider and pass a special resolution to amend Rule 26. (2) of the Constitution. It is proposed to replace “twenty percent (20%)” by “ten percent (10%)”. Such that the amended Rule 26. (2) should read as follows:

“A minimum of ten percent (10%) of members on the membership register present in person (being members entitled under these rules to vote at a general meeting), shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business of a general meeting.”

 Voting results for the above special resolution are as follow:

                                          Agree              Disagree           Abstain        Total (including proxies)

Special Resolution   229 (82.08%)     48 (17.20%)        2(0.72%)        279

According to the GYT Constitution 75% of the votes are required to pass the Special Resolution. Therefore, the Special Resolution is passed.

Resignation of director & In Memory of the late Mr Ducman Allen Yip

On 5 November 2024 Mr William Chow resigned as Director due to the relocation of family to Byron Bay and was accepted by the Board. We would like to thank Mr Chow for his dedication and selfless dedication to serving the members during his past tenure as a director and wish him a happy and healthy retirement. The Board unanimously resolved to appoint Simon Chen, a former committee member as a replacement Director.

 At the same time, we will always miss the former vice president of the association, Mr Ducman Allen Yip, who passed away last year, Mr Yip served the association for many years during his lifetime, he worked hard, served the members with simplicity and sincerity, he paid great attention to the historical record preservation of the association, and he was the first to see the advertisement for selling of the Kensington property and recommend the purchase. He is a native of Dongguan, with a successful career, he has devoted himself to serving the publics in different community associations, helping them to integrate into the mainstream society, and contributed a lot to multiculturalism, which is an example for future generations to follow!

Lunar New Year Dinner

The celebration of the 2025 Lunar New Year, Tribute to Elders & HSC Scholarship Award dinner was held on Monday 10 February 2025, at Zilver Chatswood. A total of 364 members together with 20 guests attended the event. All attendees received a gift pack on the night and senior members received a red packet as well. The winner of the 2024 HSC Scholarship is Mr Benjamin Chau (ATAR 99.70). Congratulations to Benjamin for his outstanding achievement and he was presented with the $3,000 scholarship award.There were lucky draws for all attendees. Also, plenty of fabulous entertainment including the lion dancing and singing. Everyone enjoyed the dinner and entertainment performance.

The Riverboat Postman Cruise

Just an hour from Sydney’s CBD and connected by both train and freeway, the historic Hawkesbury River mailboat at Brooklyn is the perfect day trip for locals and visitors.

Come cruising with us on the Hawkesbury Mail Boat, the famous Riverboat Postman, and enjoy the magnificent scenery of the lower Hawkesbury River as we deliver the mail and other essentials (the odd bottle of whiskey or rum...) to the river-access-only settlements upriver from Brooklyn. We leave the wharf at 10am each weekday except public holidays, regardless of the weather - after all, ‘the mail must get through’!

The first Riverboat Postman started the run in 1910, and the tradition continues today with Hawkesbury Cruises, the current custodian of this fabulous day trip. Our skippers are locals who have lived in the area their whole lives - be entertained by the stories of the river whilst cruising in comfort up this spectacular waterway. Be assured that at least 95% of what they say is true...

Our coffee is real, our tea is hot, and our famous ANZAC biscuits are home-made daily to Grandma's recipe. We’ll give you a pretty fine lunch too.

Tour date & time: 24 March 2025 (Monday) from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Cost: $39 per person for members (full fare is $59), lunch & morning tea included

Place to meet: Attendees will gather at 8:40 am at Central Station at Platform 1. We will take the 8:50 am train to Hawkesbury River Station. Alternatively, you can go direct to Hawkesbury River Station and meet the group at 9:50 am.

Number of participants: 50 (Max), please register with our office & purchase tickets if you wish to join. Closing date is 18 March 2025

BRIGADOON - Annual Highland Gathering

The annual event has evolved from its 1978 origins into a cornerstone tradition.

 From its humble beginnings of a handful of pipe bands and spectators, is now recognised worldwide and has grown into one of the finest Highland Gatherings in Australia

 “Bundanoon is Brigadoon” continues to flourish and as the gathering is a non-profit, directing AUD1.5 million toward local volunteer and charity groups.

BRIGADOON IS A TICKETED EVENT: Admission fee $20 per person

Street Parade starts at 9.00 am, (On Erith Street)

The vibrant street parade features 25 Pipe Bands, Clans, and Floats.

The Oval hosts an Opening Ceremony led by the Chieftain of the Day, the massed pipes and drums display (over 500 participants), Scottish Country Dancing and Scottish Highland Dancing and individual Pipe Band performances

The Southern Highlands Kennel and Obedience Club will be in attendance while the Fiddlers Tent beckons with lively tunes and captivating performances, and Swordplay a professional theatrical fencing and stage combat troupe entertain.

The Bonnie Bairns competition is designed for children under five while Grannies’ Storytelling tent and an array of both traditional and non-traditional children’s games ensures a joyful experience for all ages.

The Kilted Dash infuses athleticism and humour, while the Australian Highland Heavy Weight Championship crowns the champion after five demanding events. The mighty Kilted Warriors take on the Bundanoon Stones, epitomizing strength, stamina and tradition.

And to conclude the event, the Massed Pipes and Drums finale, accompanied by the haunting melody of the Lone Piper, will provide a stirring and unforgettable conclusion to the celebration.

Tour date & time: 5 April 2025 (Saturday) from 6:30 am to 4:30 pm

Cost: $20 per person, lunch not included (BYO); GYT provide the bus coach

Place to meet: Attendees gather outside the entrance to Goon Yee Tong (next to the stone lion) at 6:30 am. The bus will leave Haymarket at 6:45 am. The bus will return at 4:30 pm and expect to arrive at Haymarket around 6:30 pm.

Number of participants: 50 (Max), please register with our office & purchase tickets if you wish to join. Closing date is 18 March 2025

Ching Ming Festival Tributes

It will be held on Sunday 13 April 2024 at Luk Fook (六福) Kong Shin Tong (廣善堂) in Rookwood Cemetery. The President and Vice President will lead us in paying tribute to our ancestors (上香) at 10:30am, followed by the distribution of gift voucher to members until 11:30pm. Members are reminded to pay their current year membership fees as we will not be accepting payments at the Ching Ming Festival Tributes. Unpaid members and members joined less than one year are not entitled to collect gift voucher.

We will be arranging a complimentary shuttle bus between the Goon Yee Tong office and Rookwood Cemetery. To reserve a seat, members must pay a $10 deposit for a ticket, which will be refunded on the day in the bus. Bus tickets can be obtained from the Goon Yee Tong office (open Monday to Friday 10 am to 4pm) between 31 March 2024 and 11 April 2024. The $10 will be forfeited if members are absent from the event. Attendees will be picked up outside the entrance to Goon Yee Tong (next to the stone lion) at 9am. The bus will leave Haymarket at 9:30am. The bus will return from Rookwood at 12pm and expect to arrive at Haymarket around 1pm.

Yunnan (Kunming) 15 days Tour

We are planning an overseas tour to Yunnan, China around mid October 2025. Detail information will be announced later when available.

Goon Yee Tong Limited

President, Justin Chan

19 February 2025