GV SAFETY GROUP - PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2023

As the Goulburn Valley Safety Group (GVSG) concludes its 26th year, I want to express gratitude to our dedicated committee members, ongoing supporters, and new members who contributed to our success. This year we have again delivered a number of well-attended monthly events, along with our annual GVSG Safety Awards Breakfast, where this year we returned to having a live keynote speaker the challenging years of Covid, and a flood in 2022.

The group started off the year with a few changes to the committee office bearers. An extra-ordinary meeting was held to re-elected office bearer positions when the elected president had to step down outside of their usual term. From this meeting the following committee office bearers were elected:

- President: Ashlee Clowes

- Vice President: Travis Kreeck and Joanna Foulkes (the position was held Jointly)

- Secretary: Jessica Willoughby

- Treasurer: Geoff Hopkins

- Breakfast Coordinator: Joanna Foulkes

In addition, we had existing members remain and new members join us to form the general committee including Caitlin Baker, Darryl Herring, Tracey Kerr, and Tony Kluytmans.

A special thank you to all committee members for their support of the groups work this year in hosting a number of successful events, and in particular to Joanna Foulkes and Travis Kreeck who assisted myself and Jessica Willoughby in our transition to our roles, and Joanna’s efforts once again in coordinating our GVSG Safety Awards Breakfast.

I would also like to extend our thanks to Tracey Kerr at GV Hospice. GV Hospice have provided a meeting space for our monthly meetings on many occasions once again this year.

Early this year, we have also made a change of financial institution which took some time to formally transition. Thank you to Geoff Hopkins for his role in this as treasurer. Despite this change a delay in out membership invoices, the year the was again well supported with ongoing memberships of a

majority of our member organisations and individuals. We also welcomed the addition of some new members. We look forward to welcoming more new members, both organisations and individuals in 2024.

Throughout the year at our monthly meetings, we delved into a number of topics. This year included:

- Skin Safety and Cancer Awareness (GV Skin and Specialist Centre)

- Psychological Injuries Prevention: Workplace Wellbeing (Euroa health)

- Workplace Responsibilities for Psychosocial Health and Injury Prevention (WorkSafe)

- Dangerous Goods Handling Update (WorkSafe)

- Cultural Considerations in OH&S (Rumbalara)

GVSG Safety Awards and Safety Breakfast was once again well-attended in 2023, with our guest Speaker Cristian Sylvestre from HabitSafe. This year we presented our first Life Membership to former Present and long-time committee member Annette Jakob, along with a host of awards on various categories. Congratulations to our Winners:

- Sabina Tate from Leocata's Transport Services

- Tony Kluytmans from Notre Dame College Shepparton

- Craig, Nicole, Gemma, Gavin, and the entire team at Campbells Soups (The Arnott's Group)

We look forward to another collaborative event with WorkSafe in 2024 and extend gratitude to both WorkSafe our event sponsors for their support for this event.

Finally, we wish everyone a happy and healthy festive season, and I look forward to working with you all again and seeing what 2024 will bring for the Goulburn Valley Safety Group.

Ashlee Clowes

GVSG President