Our Patron
The Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), was the Patron of the Australian Red Cross Society. This was Sir Peter’s final year as our Patron having stood down from the position at the end of June. His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) the newly appointed Governor-General has kindly agreed to be our Patron moving forward.
We would like to express our appreciation to Sir Peter for his esteemed patronage throughout his term of office. He and Lady Cosgrove engaged with our members, volunteers, staff and others associated with Red Cross on many occasions. We thank him for hosting functions in Canberra, recording opening addresses for our Centenary Summit in 2014, recording many World Red Cross Day messages and for his personal visits to see our work in action. These visits included a trip to our Katherine office in 2014, attending a meeting in Singleton with volunteers, delivering meals to our clients on National Meals on Wheels Day in August 2016 and, along with our President, meeting with people affected by drought in Gundagai in September 2018.
Council of the Society of Australian Red Cross
Meeting once a year at the Annual General Meeting, the Council’s responsibilities include receiving reports and financial statements and electing and appointing Office Bearers and Additional Board Members. The Council is made up of the President and 53 voting members, including all members of the Australian Red Cross Board, up to six Special Councillors and 32 members elected or appointed by the Divisional Advisory Boards (DABs) of each state and territory, one of whom must be a youth member from each state and territory.
Membership of the Council
Special Councillors: John Hood, John MacLennan, Aisling Blackmore, Michael Legge AM, David Hamill AM and Catherine Walsh
Council members appointed or elected by each Divisional Advisory Board to attend the 2018 AGM were:
ACT Division: Ritu Clementi, Carl Currey, Robert McLaughlin and Mikayla Simpson
NSW Division: Margaret Kiehne, Anne Knox, Kerry Gray and Ella Rasmussen
NT Division: Foster Stavridis, Tanyah Nasir and Deven Patel (youth position vacant)
QLD Division: Helen Clarke, John Pinney AM, Leann Wilson and Tasman Bain
SA Division: Thilan Legierse, Keith Wilson, Marian Wicks and Georgia Hagias
TAS Division: Barbara Charlton, Frances Maxwell and Mashuka Tabassum (one vacant position)
VIC Division: Garry Nolan, Shane Charles, Bev O’Brien and Rimza Faseehudeen
WA Division: Karyn Collins, Taliah Payne, Kat Sharpe and Laura Gabriel