ANTHROPOLOGICAL

SOCIETY

of

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

MINUTES

50th ANNIVERSARY DINNER & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Thursday 4 December 2008

Uni Club, University of Western Australia, Crawley 7.30pm

Present:

President: Edward McDonald.

Vice Presidents:Greg Acciaioli, Chris Griffin.

Secretary:Peter Randolph.

Treasurer:Bob MacMath.

Professional Committee:Edward McDonald, Will Christensen.

Members& Friends: Leif Andraessen, Rita Armstrong, Margaret Behrndt, Jerome Bowen, Paul Bowen, Daniel Bruckner, Bryn Coldrick, Carina Coldrick, David Cook, Phyllis Costello, Erin Dumbauld, Judith Fisher, Stuart Fisher, Laura Gladstone, Lois Hall, Penny Lee, Sophie Stirling, Isabelle MacMath, Phil Moore, Jane Mulcock, Ruth Randolph, Ray Tauss & Niniek Toley.

Apologies:

Ross Chadwick, Gaynor Dawson, Bill Day, Carina H, Megan McCorry, Katie Phillis, Anja Reid, Mike Robinson, Bob Tonkinson, Myrna Tonkinson, Carol WarrenGuy Wright.

1. Toast to absent friends and others who could not attend:

A toast was made to former member Rob Walster who passed away early in 2008. Members also toasted those who cannot be present today because of other commitments. Eddie McDonald thenasked everyone to raise their glassesfor the 350th anniversary of the death of Oliver Cromwell who had perpetrated massacres against the Irish. Everyone joined in enthusiastically. Peter Randolph drank to Cromwell’s overthrow of the monarchy even though it only lasted for a short time. A toast was also made for the 100th anniversary of famed French anthropologist Levi Strauss.

2. Raffles:

Two raffles were announced, each with three prizes.

Black tickets were for ASWA 50th Anniversary wines – A Cabernet Merlot and a Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. Winners were Ruth Randolph, Sophie Stirlingand Chris Griffin.

Red tickets were for an ASWA 50th Anniversary polo shirt. Winners were Paul Bowen, Jerome Bowen and Rita Armstrong.

The ASWA 50th Anniversary wines, polo shirts and carry-bags were also available for sale. ASWA members and friends were reminded that the polo shirts were made by a co-operative in Bali consisting of the widows of Balinese men who died in the Bali bombing in October 2002 and thatsome of the profits from the sale of the shirts will be returned to the co-operative.

3. Annual Award Presentations:

The following awards were made to the acclamation of ASWA members and friends.

Berndt Memorial Prizes for excellence in anthropology are made to a 3rd or 4th year student at the principal universities with courses in anthropology or sociology. These awards include a certificate and cheque for $250 from the Berndt bequest.

Recipients of the Berndt Memorial Prizes for 2008 were:

  • David Cook from MurdochUniversity- presented by Greg Acciaioli.
  • Jo-Ann Child from EdithCowanUniversity-Chris Griffinaccepted the award on her behalf.
  • Ruth Crow from UWA – Greg Acciaioliaccepted the award on her behalf.
  • Sarah Turvey from Curtin University of Technology - Will Christensenaccepted the award on her behalf.

Ethnosciences McDonald Applied Anthropology Prizeis awarded for a student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in applied anthropology. This award includes a certificate and cheque for $250 donated by Eddie McDonald, principal anthropologist of Ethnosciences.

Recipient:

Jerome Bowen,for his role in the Tenganan Water Supply Project, a joint use of anthropological and engineering skills - Greg Acciaioli provided a glowing account of the project to date – presented by Eddie McDonald.

4. General Business

4.1 President’s Address: Edward McDonald presented an overview of the Societies activities in 2008 and provided a brief outline of activities proposed for 2009 including:

  • A panel to discuss the interrelationship between anthropology and public policy, possibly including an emphasis on policy related to Aboriginal heritage.
  • A workshop on methodology.
  • Incorporating selected postgraduate seminars into the program for ASWA.

4.2 Treasurer’s Report: Bob MacMath presented a summary of the status of the Society’s finances. A copy of the report is attached.

4.3 Election of Office Bearers: Eddie McDonalddeclared all positions vacant and indicated that nominations for some positions had already been received. He also called for any further nominations from the floor.

  • President – A joint nomination was received from Will Christensen and Phil Moore. Will Christensen and Phil Moore propose to share the role as both are likely to be unavailable for some periods during 2009. As the shared arrangement appeared to be acceptable to the Members present, Eddie McDonald withdrew the nomination he had submitted.Will Christensen and Phil Moore were elected unopposed as joint Presidents.
  • Vice Presidents (x2) – A nomination was received for one of the Vice President positions from Rita Armstrong. As retiring President Eddie McDonald indicated he would, ex-officio, take up the other Vice President position. Rita Armstrong and Eddie McDonald were elected unopposed as Vice Presidents.
  • Secretary – A nomination was received from Jane Mulcock. Jane Mulcock was elected unopposed as Secretary.
  • Treasurer – Bob MacMath was nominated from the floor to continue as Treasurer. Bob MacMath was elected unopposed as Treasurer.
  • Professional Committee Members (x3) – A nomination was received from Megan McCorry to be a member of the Professional Committee. Eddie McDonald and Greg Acciaioli were nominated from the floor to also be members of the Professional Committee. Megan McCorry, Eddie McDonald and Greg Acciaioli were elected unopposed to the Professional Committee.

5. Special Business

Bob MacMath rose to put a motion to the ASWA Members that for his long and outstanding service to ASWA Eddie McDonald should be made an Honorary Life Member of the Society. Bob’s motion was immediately seconded by Greg Acciaioli and followed by a flurry of other seconders. The motion was carried by instantaneous acclamation by all those present.

The merriment continued, including the awarding of several Velcro (Applied Anthropology) Awards and several Kula Ring (Reciprocity) Awards.

Recipients were:

  • VELCRO & KULA RING Award – Phil Moore for even applying anthropology to football (the round ball variety) and for simply reading everything.
  • VELCRO Award – Chris Griffin for the recent publication of Travellers (‘Irish gypsies’) in East London.
  • VELCRO Award – Stuart Fisher for conducting heritage studies in the Metropolitan Area.
  • KULA RING Awards - Isabelle MacMath and Sophie Stirling for being there to assist (a euphemism for ‘put up with’) Bob and Eddie.
  • KULA RING Award – Greg Acciaioli for keeping anthropology going around (and around).
  • VELCRO Award – Erin Dumbauld for applying anthropology on three continents.

The meeting was formally closed at about 10.00 pm.