President's Report AGM 2025

President's Report
Annual General Meeting - 2025 - 2026

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

13 SEPTEMBER 2026

President’s Report

It is my pleasure to present to you the Annual Report for 2025 – 2026.

Having taken on the role of President early this year, I wish to say Thank You to my predecessor Esther Knower for her efforts in increasing attendance at our functions as well as her service over the past two years.

Membership

We now have a total of 575 members .However, we need to continue to recruit new members, to offset the numbers who cease membership due to either personal or financial reasons.
Our Membership Secretary reports that with cataract surgery - currently the DBU has not been receiving new requests for cataract surgery. This is due to the fact that, Sri Lanka is offering free eye health services in Colombo and its suburbs.

The Club donated 80 pairs of spectacles to a local charity, which in turn distributed it to deserving people in Australia and around the world. To date, the Club has donated over 950 pairs of used spectacles through this project.

My sincere thanks to Allan Pinder who is ably assisted by Eric Harmon, for the excellent work and untiring efforts they devote to the Club membership

We have had a total of 1809 guests at our functions last year an increase of 15%

Beneﬁciaries Program

At present, we support 188 welfare beneﬁciaries in Colombo and 37 in Batticaloa, making a total of 225.

They received 4 quarterly payments, as well and a mid-year bonus and a Christmas bonus. We also continue to maintain an Emergency Fund to provide for medical and any emergency payments as may be required, and this is beside their usual pension payments.

Many thanks to Gillian Jansen for her work in servicing this demanding portfolio. Mention must also be made of Etienne Jayatunge and Joey Caspersz at the DBU and Eugene Barthelot, Ligory De Lima and James De Lima at the BCU in Sri Lanka for their untiring work in administering the Welfare Beneficiaries program.

Student Sponsorship Program

The total number of students sponsored in Colombo and Batticaloa stand at 170.

Currently in Colombo 128 students receive ﬁnancial assistance through the Club’s sponsors

11 students are undertaking tertiary studies. They are paid from the PSET Scheme (Post School Education and Training Program) which was set up by the late Mr. Ivor de Kretser.

In Batticaloa we sponsor 45 students.7 are in University and 2 undertaking tertiary studies paid through the PSET scheme.

I would like to thank Etienne Jayatunge, Ruwanthi Palugaswewa and Joey Caspersz in Colombo and Ligory Delima and Chrismalin Ockersz in Batticaloa for their invaluable assistance in administering this program.

Secretary & Treasurer

My sincere thanks go to Marie de Kretser who has returned when the Club was in real need to take on the duties of Secretary.

I would like to also convey my sincere thanks to our Treasurer - Angelo Herft for his untiring work in managing the ﬁnancial affairs of the Club and in taking the lead at our functions.

Angelo has seen the disbursement of funds as follows:

Welfare Beneficiaries – Allowances $65,300 and Bonus payments $10,600.

Student Sponsorships -$43,650

Miani Tech Institute Special Project-$3,000

Cyclone Ditwah Flood Relief -$24,500

Ingrid Harmon deserves a special mention for her assistance in the financial area. Chris Harvie who has greatly assisted in the accounting area and been invaluable in sorting out issues with the Quick Books system gets a big Thank You..

Fund Raising Committee

Thank you to all those in the Fund-Raising Committee who work untiringly behind the scenes to assist in organizing the respective lunches and dances. Their efforts are much appreciated.

I would like to also say thank you to George & Yvonne De Vos for their involvement with the lighting, décor, etc. at various functions as well as assistance with ticketing etc. Many thanks to both of you.

Editor

Many thanks to Earle Ferdinand our Editor. The production and distribution of the Newsletter and his invaluable assistance in planning the social functions. His unwavering support and all the hard work he has done untiringly over the years, as well as behind the scenes is just amazing!! He truly has done his best to assist the less fortunate in Sri Lanka.

I would like to thank all the partners of our Office bearers for their unbelievable patience and support.

Last but not Least -Many thanks to all our members for your support in making 2026, the great success it has been.

Trevor Collette

PRESIDENT

EIGHTY CLUB MELBOURNE