The Chair, Tony Austin, introduced Ann O'Brien and provided a brief background on Ann prior to her presentation.  Ann is newly retired from a very long career in education and has worked at every level in primary schools as classroom teacher Prep - 6. She is a Music and Japanese language specialist. For the last fifteen years Ann has been a literacy consultant and teacher educator. She has been a member of the Warrnambool Eisteddfod Society Committee for three years now in fourth.The impetus for joining the Committee was her interest in spoken Australian English. For the first two years she assisted Bruce Pritchard as a co-convenor of the Speech & Drama and Debating competitions, learning the ropes and getting a ‘feel’ for the Committee workings and the overall Eisteddfod production. In the third year Ann became President of the Committee and began the process of regeneration and change which is rolling out this year. This year Ann is officially the Vice-President however, in that role, continues to be the driving force behind the regeneration of the Society Committee. In 2016 she looks forward to filling the role which most interests her, that of ‘grammar Nazi’ and continuing to convene the Speech & Drama competitions only and taking a step back from an executive position on the Committee. Anne also intends to fulfil a long held dream and head to the UK to walk the South West Coast path through Cornwell and Devon.

 

Ann thanked RCW for the opportunity to speak to them about the Warrnambool Eisteddfod which seemed appropriate this year to renew the ongoing relationship between the Rotary Club of Warrnambool and the Warrnambool Eisteddfod because the Eisteddfod is the 40 year old child of RCW, and 40th birthdays are always of note. In 1975 the late Bruce Rogers became President of RCW and took as his special project the development of an annual Eisteddfod here in Warrnambool.

Working with Beryl Beardsley, the late Laurel Langdon and with the members of RCW and with the support of the City of Warrnambool Council, the first City of Warrnambool Eisteddfod was conducted, in the old Town Hall, in the guise of a one-day choral contest boasting 150 entrants.

Last year the Eisteddfod provided 37 days of competition across 8 disciplines in the performing arts and in public speaking held in four venues: King's College, the Masonic Hall, The Lighthouse Theatre and St Joseph's Church. The disciplines included instrumental and vocal music, the City of Warrnambool Aria, speech and drama, theatrical and classical dance, highland dancing, calisthenics, debating and pipe organ.

More than 7,000 participants ranging from spell-bound Preps who stood on the stage in total wonderment at the big, dark auditorium and the spotlights shining down on them, to mature and highly accomplished local choristers were able to compete and receive professional adjudication and the thrill of performance and applause.

In addition there were between 50-60 volunteers (including Rotarians). And most importantly, these thousands of volunteer, convenor and committee hours were willingly given by people who celebrate being part of the community.

As we all know, it is money that makes the world go around and it is the financial support given by local philanthropic foundations, the Rotary Clubs of Warrnambool, the City Council, Amazon Printing and an enormous number of businesses, schools and individuals who sponsor the Eisteddfod which enable the Eisteddfod to take place. Ron Rauert still figures in the lives of today's kids by being a sponsor of the Eisteddfod in so many ways.

For the last 39 years the changing committees and convenors have conducted very successful Eisteddfods each year, but inevitably, there must be points of review and regeneration over the years.

Last year the Committee conducted a review of its composition and procedures, including a review of the Speech & Drama, Debating and Music disciplines. In reviewing the Committee composition and Convenors, it was identified that the then current number of 8 was too small for effective functioning and that reverting to the former 13 members provided an opportunity for broadening the discipline-knowledge and skills base of the committee.

An effort was made to locate people with organisational and IT skills and an area of special interest which complemented the 8 Eisteddfod disciplines and now such a Committee has been formed.

The greater number of the Committee members allowed for identified convenors to work in organisational triads in which two identified people support the Convenor and learn the role thus allowing for a spread of the tasks and is an opportunity for a range of ideas to be explored.

An online presence was identified as being essential for contemporary promotion and running of the Eisteddfod and, thanks to Tony Austin and to RCW for financial support, the Eisteddfod has a very informative and good looking web page. Click here for a look!

In conjunction with having a web presence, online entry is now conducted via 'Stardom' which is an online, web-based system which allows all aspects of an eisteddfod to be managed in one location. This year most convenors are using Stardom for entry only, however it is planned that each year more of the functions built into the Stardom system will become a fundamental part of running the Eisteddfod.

This year only online entries were accepted and Ann was really surprised at what a challenge that set for quite a few teachers.

Following a review of the Speech & Drama, Debating and Music disciplines, key negatives were identified as lack of seating and parking at venues. While the Lighthouse Theatre would be an ideal main venue, it is just too expensive. It has been decided that this year all disciplines (with the exception of the Aria and Pipe Organ) will now be held at King's College which seats 350, parking is free and easily available.

Changes incur wonderful costs! In recent years the Eisteddfod has just broken even because of the excellence of sponsorship and the crowd-pulling nature of Calisthenics and Classical & Theatrical Dance which subside most other disciplines. This year is expected to run at a loss. A Finance Sub-committee has been established to analyse all incoming and outgoing money this year and to make informed recommendations to the Committee.

Another consideration which the Committee will be looking into is for the provision of disabled competitors in the Eisteddfod.

As always, since its inception, running the Eisteddfod is a busy and nerve racking experience, however the rewards are great in the opportunities offered to the kids.

The Rotary Club of Warrnambool was thanked for its financial support, volunteer support and most of all, for starting the Eisteddfod off. "May we each continue successfully for another 40 years"!