HELLO and Merry Christmas,

The Hawks Nest Tea Garden Progress Association Incorporated had a successful Annual General Meeting last Tuesday 13 December.

Thank you to all who attended and enjoyed the AGM, including acknowledging our three new Life Members, Christian Patterson, Leigh Allen and Trevor Jennings – thank you!

I am very happy to announce our 2023 Management Committee comprising Trevor Jennings (Vice President), Sandra Bourke (Secretary and Public Officer), Kay Jones (Treasurer) and Christian Patterson, Jeannette Hart, Kath Verdon and John Verdon.

I have the privilege of being President and another year of improving Tea Gardens, Hawks Nest and surrounds.

I especially welcome our two new committee members, Gloria Churchill and Bryony Barnes.

At the AGM, I presented my annual report which addressed six key areas: our strong advocacy to government; our renewed strategic focus; the grants program; local projects and MCC work order tracking; our improved communications; and our commitment to regular meetings and compliance with NSW Fair Trading:

• Strong Advocacy: In 2022 we advocated to all levels of Government on a range of issues impacting our community including the prolonged Tea Gardens Pool closure, road damage, lagging maintenance, and aging infrastructure.

This will increase in 2023.

• Strategy: We resumed strategic planning with a vision for a vibrant, connected and happy community that cares about our unique coastal environment and our twin villages.

To that end we seek to preserve what we value about Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens: our beaches and land, the Myall River, our environment, and to create opportunities that benefit our community including for volunteers, culture, arts and local businesses; to achieve this local support is critical.

• Grants Program: This year grants became a key source of funds to get stuff done and this trend will continue given the MCC’s financial constraints.

This year, we joined the Community Fundraising Centre giving us virtual access to a national database of grants as well as tools for fundraising, event management, donations, and sponsorship.

We have worked hard to improve our submission rate and quality, completing five and winning three (for the Seniors Festivals and Audio-Visual Equipment).

• Local Projects and Work Orders: We continue to support a range of local projects and have submitted over 20 Work Order Requests to MCC for action plus reporting issues to the EPA, NSW Roads and the Office of Local Government.

• Community & Communications: We were busy supporting community events with highlights such as the MCC – Totem Skate Clinic; Anzac Day by donating library books to the TG school; hosting our first fundraiser – the Masquerade and Comedy night with over 80 tickets sold and almost $1000 raised for local projects.

We also have a new website that promotes the Myall River Art walk; regular Newsletters, NOTA updates, and on Facebook with additional moderators committed to fostering safe and civil debate on community matters and reporting trolling.

• Regular Meetings and Compliance: Our management team has ensured Association business complies with Fair Trading NSW. In 2022, we met each month and held a General Meeting every second month – sixteen meetings in total.

It is significant that this year, the wonderful Myall River Art Walk Group came under the auspices of the PA.

We also are supporting the Galleries in the Garden inaugural Annual Anderson Art Award and look forward to seeing all the entries.

Looking ahead, in 2023 our strong advocacy and grants program will continue to gain momentum.

I am focused on improving our local maintenance program and taking the opportunity presented by the State Election to better represent our interests to local and state government.

Finally, I believe that several recent decisions by MidCoast Councillors appear to serve interests other than those of our local community.

I believe progress must occur, but we need to hold the line on our coastal village vibe and support zoning compliance. Please consider joining the HNTGPA to assist us in 2023.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year – Bruce Murray and the Management Committee.

By Bruce MURRAY, President, Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association