Chairman John Dawson takes up the gavel

by admin on March 24, 2015

Delegates from Queensland’s 35 bowls districts met at Enoggera today to decide who will drive Bowls Queensland during the coming year. PHOTO: From left, director Margaret Vincent, deputy chairman Ron Mitchell, chairman John Dawson, director Allen Bennett, director of finance Greg Flynn.
Former Bowls Queensland chairman of umpires and Tewantin-Noosa bowler John Dawson is the new chairman of Bowls Queensland.
Dawson was deputy chairman in his first year on the BQ board, serving under chairman Ron Chambers from Musgrave Hill.
Chambers stepped down this year, after eight years on the board, the last four years as chairman, with a strong record as a chairman of vision and a tireless work ethic.
Ron Mitchell from Cutheringa (Townsville) was elected as deputy chairman, after only one year as a board director.
Greg Flynn from Enoggera was re-elected unopposed as BQ director of finance.
(The three BQ board executive positions, chairman, deputy chairman, and director of finance, are elected annually.)
In addition to the executive, there are four board director positions, elected on a rotating basis, two at a time, every two years (ie two positions are up for renewal each year, but not all four positions at the same time, to provide for board continuity and experience).
In 2015, Margaret Vincent from Mooloolaba was not up for reelection, nor was Ron Mitchell.
However, given Mitchell stepped up to an executive position, what is known as a “casual vacancy” was created on the new board. (The board will now consider a list of nominations to fill the casual vacancy, and is likely make a decision at its first meeting on April 21).
There were four nominations for the two directors positions due to be declared vacant at this year’s AGM.
Former BQ director of finance Diana Wenham from Dalby got the most delegates votes (377), re-elected to the board after a break of 14 months.
Incumbent director Allen Bennett from Souths Suburban Mackay was the other successful nominee (363 votes), returned for a seventh consecutive year.
Narrowly missing out by just five votes was Helensvale’s Teresa Armitage (358 votes), nominating for a BQ board position for the first time, and Owen Lockett from Algester Sports (174 votes), another first time candidate, also had solid support.
(Outgoing director Athol Radnidge from Springwood did not seek reelection, and was thanked by the delegates for his services to BQ.)
In summary, the new board is chairman John Dawson, deputy chairman Ron Mitchell, director of finance Greg Flynn, director Margaret Vincent, director Diana Wenham, and director Allen Bennett. (A fourth director will be appointed by the board in due course.)
All BQ board positions are filled by volunteers.
The board makes the policy decisions and appoints the CEO, who runs the day to day business of Bowls Queensland.
BQ appointed a new CEO six months ago, Doug Evans, who thanked outgoing chairman Ron Chambers for his dedicated service to Bowls Queensland, and welcomed the new chairman John Dawson, stepping up from the deputy’s chair.