PRESIDENT'S REPORT: January 2010

Dear Members

At long last useful rain has fallen over large parts of western NSW and QLD, NW Western Australia and parts of the NT.  Whilst there are still some places waiting for the real break in the season (including the ACA office) at the time of writing the Cyclone Season appears to be starting for real so with some luck this could bring widespread rains and as little damage as possible.

Since the last magazine your NCCA delegates travelled to Tamworth for the Annual NCCA meeting.  Several major rule changes were enacted as a result of that meeting, chiefly concerning status of horses.  These rules will be brought into effect from the 1 February 2010 Nationwide and appear in this magazine and on the website. A new rule book will be forwarded to all members shortly. I ask all committees and competitors who are unsure of the new rules to contact the ACA office or any councillor. One other interesting outcome from the NCCA meeting was that member bodies agreed that a suspension from any NCCA affiliated association would automatically be extended to all other organisations. 

The management council of recent times has received a significant number of Code of Conduct Complaints; which have contributed to a disturbing trend.  We have a experienced growth over recent years, some areas more so than others.  As a new competition year nears, I would like to ask all Campdrafters, both young and old, rookies or seasoned travellers, to reflect on the core principles of our sport.  Without the huge numbers of volunteers who put on our events, we would all be playing tennis or lawn bowls.  Now whilst in some instances you as a competitor may feel aggrieved over a decision made by a judge or a committee, at no stage do you ever have the right to be abusive or conduct yourself in a manner that is offensive to the individuals involved or those nearby. There are appropriate channels for you to lodge your complaint if you feel that it warrants further attention, and I can assure you that concerns voiced through the proper channels to the ACA Management Council WILL be investigated fully. However as in any other sport, sportsmanship must be shown. Not every matter will be resolved to every individual’s satisfaction. 

The wonderful world of campdrafting is still a sport.  The friendly, inclusive community that exists at each and every event is testimony to that. However we need to respect that culture and the fact that the volunteers are just that, volunteers, or we run the very real risk of losing committees and judges, which would be fatal to the sport as we know it now.  We do ask that committees also be mindful of the fact that many competitors go to extreme lengths to be able to participate in your events and as I stated in an earlier report, please don’t forget that only 5-6 years ago drafts were being cancelled due to lack of nominations.

As you will no doubt notice the ACA has included a new event at the Black Toyota Blackall National Finals; the Top 30 Open Rider Shoot-out. This is bound to be an exciting spectacle.  Preparations are in full swing for what promises to be a memorable event for the Blackall community. Get your nom’s in early and get set for what lies Beyond The Black Stump! We wish the Blackall committee well with the staging of this prestigious event.

Until we all meet along the road wishing you all the best of health

Sean Dillon
ACA President

>> Please click here to read Noel's AGM Report July 2009

PREVIOUS PRESIDENT'S REPORTS:

August 2009
AGM July 2009
May 2009
February 2009
November 2008
AGM 2008
May 2008
April 2008
September 2007
August 2007