SEBA News
President's Report - July 2019 - June 2020
I would like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the highlights and achievements for the year. It can be said that 2020 has been a year like few others with the Covid-19 pandemic causing many restrictions on organisations like SEBA. The ability to arrange gatherings and fund-raising events has been very much curtailed. We look forward to a more open environment where we can support those communities, medical research organisations and the needy in 2021.
We received the sad news that one of our original members, Ernie Payne had passed away in early August. Ernie was a long-time member of SEBA and for many years was also very active in the Lions Club organisation. Fortunately, several of our members were able to attend Ernie’s funeral and at the same time represent SEBA.
The Charitable Heart of Sydney Foundation Award. This year we chose Father Chris Riley, Founder and CEO of Youth Off the Streets to receive the award.
September – SEBA Annual General Meeting
Christmas donation for St Vincent de Paul Society, Maroubra
February – Chinese New Year Dinner with Australian Chinese Charity Foundation
If you weren’t there, you’ve missed a great evening with over 200 members and guests, gathered together to enjoy a delicious 10 course dinner, accompanied by fabulous wines at Zilver Restaurant, Haymarket with entertainment provided by Ian Epondulan. The evening provided a successful outcome for Mary’s House Domestic Violence Shelter where we raised over $15,000. The live auction attracted generous bids for the limited signed State of Origin Jersey won by the New South Wales Blues amongst some other popular auction items. We also ran a silent auction for six different items and a raffle on the night with 42 prizes.
The Charitable Heart of Sydney Foundation were delighted to make their annual award in 2019 to Father Chris Riley – Founder and CEO of Youth Off the Streets. Father Riley was a very worthy albeit reluctant recipient who prefers to promote his organisation rather than himself. SEBA made a surprise donation to Youth Off the Streets for $5,000 which was very much appreciated by Father Chris.
SEBA held the AGM on 20th September 2019 for the year 2018/2019. The meeting was held immediately following the Mary’s House fundraising event at 10.45pm at Zilver Restaurant with all members at the function in attendance.
The meeting elected the following members to the Board :
Greg Bugden – President
Luci Ozcan – Vice President and Fundraising Chair
Milan Grzic – Director and Public Officer
Vincent D’Cruz – Director and Secretary
Craig Jones – Director and Treasurer
Lesley Bell – Director and Raffle Co-ordinator
SEBA also donated $3,000 to St Vincent de Paul Society at Maroubra to assist in their Christmas fundraising appeal where they support local families with children who are severely disadvantaged. The funds are used to provide a few Christmas gifts for those who are left without and to help by providing breakfast to young school children who often arrive at school missing food at home. Support is also given to buy school requirements and fund school excursions where otherwise these children would miss out.
For our first networking event of the new year we attended a Chinese New Year banquet at The Marigold Restaurant, hosted by The Australian Chinese Charity Foundation. And no respectable CNY celebration is complete without the noisy pounding of the drums and the clanging of the cymbals for the traditional lion dance.
This event coincided with a major fundraising aimed at assisting in the Bushfire Emergency Relief Appeal in partnership with the Salvation Army. SEBA donated one Silver Table and the directors not only attended this function in support but also donated $2,000 to this worthy cause. The ACCF appeal realised donations totalling $164,739
The 2019/20 year has presented a difficult environment for SEBA to be able to fully realise its objectives of fundraising and providing a platform for members to meet and provide services to our charity support groups. Having said that we did have some memorable achievements throughout the year of which we can be proud.
As President I am blessed to have had the support of a small group of like-minded individuals who share the SEBA passion. I want to thank those people who served on the Fundraising Committee for the generous amount of time and money they invest for SEBA – many hands make light work – so thank you all for contributing to a very successful event.
In closing, I would like to once again thank my Board of Directors and members for your support. I am grateful to all the sponsors and friends I have had the pleasure to meet and work with. Thank you all for your generous and continued support that you have shown to me and SEBA.
Here’s to a successful year ahead. May you, your family and friends all enjoy the upcoming festive season and travel safely particularly in this restricted current environment.
Kind regards,
Greg Bugden – President
SEBA - Notice of Annual General Meeting
SEBA - Minutes of Annual General Meeting
From the President's Desk - June 2019
SEBA welcomes the New Year with opportunity and progress. Your directors wish you a successful year ahead and look forward to seeing you at our future events.
You will have received our invitation for the first luncheon speaking engagement this year. We are fortunate to have Trevor Rowe join us on Wednesday 11 April at the Marigold Restaurant for lunch and a presentation on Australia’s financial future, our place in the global environment and what’s ahead. Trevor is a renowned speaker, so I encourage you to attend and bring business associates, family and friends along. Please book early via the flyer provided.
I am delighted to confirm that the fund-raising event in June last year for the Sydney University Nerve Research Foundation provided SEBA with the funds to donate $46,000, an event we all should be truly proud of. Thank you for your support. In June this year we are looking to support another charity which is involved in the bone marrow transplant field; the organisation is the Arrow Bone Marrow Transplant Foundation at St Vincent’s Hospital. For this to be a success we rely on the generosity of members and businesses to donate prizes for the auction and raffle. Sponsorship is always appreciated by taking tables and assisting with wine and other goodies. I look forward again to your help. Please let me know if you could volunteer to help on the committee or on the night during the event. Your assistance will contribute to another successful evening.
SEBA needs to build and grow our membership base. Please encourage family, friends and business associates to join our group. There are no joining or ongoing fees for our members. We now only ask $100 to join for corporate membership which provides for a number of benefits. Speak to Bede Long our current acting membership chair.
Cheers,