Southern Highlands Youth Arts Council (SHYAC)
Appointed at the AGM 22 March 2009
| President:
Allen Cupitt Allen is the Managing Director of a leading regional provider of internet, IT and related services. He has served on the Board of the Berrima District Credit Union for many years, including three years as Chairman. He is a graduate and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Allen is also a founding member and former President of the Rotary Club of Berrima District and has twice been awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. Vice-President: Mandy Bransgrove Mandy has served on the SHYAC Management Committee for several years and is a former Vice-President. Currently she is the SHYAC Production Liaison Manager for The Wizard of Oz, where she is working with the directors and specialist technical staff to help coordinate critical aspects of the upcoming production. Mandy and her husband own and manage two local businesses in IT and domestic services. She hails from a family that has been prominent in show business and television and has been involved with the theatre since she was a child. Secretary: Paul McShane Paul is Managing Director of a Bowral-based company in the book trade that operates nationally and globally via the internet, as well as an international postal freight business. He has an extensive management background at director level in marketing, public relations, fundraising and corporate development across the non-profit, local government and university sectors. He was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2002 for international research and is active in various community service initiatives, including Rotary. Treasurer: Megan Rich Megan formerly practised as an accountant working for several major firms. Currently in her career she is pursuing a long-held interest in working with people with disabilities. Megan is also Secretary/Treasurer of another local theatre group. Public Officer : Deidre Knowlson NB. According the SHYAC Constitution, the Public Officer is automatically a member of the Management Committee unless otherwise elected. Deidre will be well known to SHYAC members and has been the Secretary and Secretary/Treasurer for the Association in recent years, recently taking on the official status of Public Officer. She and her husband own and manage a specialist telecommunications service business. Deidre has also been a volunteer in other organisations and associations, most notably being very active in promoting the MS Readathon to schools over a number of years. Deidre has also taken on the role of SHYAC Membership Secretary for 2009. Publicity: Anthony Ackroyd Anthony Ackroyd is one of Australia’s most successful stand up comics and comedy writers, currently one of the stars of ABC Radio’s Thank God It’s Friday. He has had extensive experience in show business nationally and internationally. Anthony was also the creator and director of the Bowral of Laughs Comedy Festival, a three year project which showcased the cream of Australian comedy. His latest project is called the United Nations of Comedy. While not a current member of the SHYAC Management Committee, Anthony has conducted a successful comedy workshop for SHYAC in the past. POD Project: Steve Gray Steve has been a member of the SHYAC Management Committee over the past six years, most of that time serving as Vice President. He is the SHYAC project manager for the Production & Outreach Development (POD) project. He has 27 years experience in the primary school education sector to principal and assistant principal management levels with associated global budget responsibilities and is also a JP. As well as his various teaching qualifications, Stephen has a Masters degree in Information Technology (Multimedia). He has also been active in amateur and school musical theatre productions over many years, writing, producing and directing shows with up to 200 students in the cast. Youth Committee: Natalie Gray Natalie is a longtime SHYAC cast member and is Chair of the Youth Subcommittee. The Youth Subcommittee is traditionally given a seat on the SHYAC Management Committee. As well as her appearance in SHYAC productions, Natalie has recently had a signficant role in the Highlands Theatre Group’s production of South Pacific. Natalie has been a member of the Wingecarribee Youth Council and has also recently been offered a place in a prestigious performing arts college to pursue her love of theatre. Fundraising: Vicki Schaefer Vicki is a current member of the SHYAC Management Committee and has been very active working on a range of fundraising projects for the Association. She works in local government helping to manage an innovative recycling centre project. The above nominations are proposed for elected office bearers. The Minutes Secretary for the SHYAC Management Committee is Sally Carmichael |
SHYAC Management
Committee 2009
Back: Vicki Schaefer, Paul McShane, Allen Cupitt, Steve Gray, Anthony Ackroyd, Megan Rich Front: Deidre Knowlson, Natalie Gray, Mandy Bransgrove, Sally Carmichael  |
All nominees listed above are supporters of the general principles listed below:
- SHYAC deserves improved governance, management, insurance policies and procedures to ensure it operates in the best interests of all members.
- SHYAC should undertake immediate reform of its out-dated constitution and hold a Special General Meeting before the next AGM to do so. One reform would be to institute term limits on specific office bearers to encourage greater vitality in the Committee and ensure the replenishing of ideas and energy on a regular basis.
- SHYAC remains committeed to an annual major musical theatre production
- SHYAC should seek to create alliances and affiliations with other appropriate community-based organisations and arts-based bodies in order to improve the opportunities available to its members and grow the membership of the Association accordingly.
- SHYAC should pursue funding for the Production & Outreach Development (POD) project to expand the range of arts activities offered to its members and the youth of the region.
- SHYAC should seek to offer more performance, workshops and participation opportunities for its youth members: These could include projects in short film, comedy, drama, webcasting and other arts mediums. As well, an additional musical theatre production with an upper age limit of perhaps 14 years so that principal roles can go to younger cast members is to be explored.
SHYAC - Art by Youth for Youth. For more details about SHYAC phone the Secretary on 0427 445099
Email: info@shyac.org.au