In keeping with co-operatives assisting other co-operatives, in early November 2008 the Federation met with a delegation of Brazilian co-operators. A presentation on co-operatives in Australia was made, in exchange for information on their vitality and success in Brazil.

The group was from Santa Catarina, where co-ops are thriving.

 

 

On June 4, 2008 the Federation hosted a luncheon meeting with the Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, and a small group of member not-for-profit co-operatives. The Federation organizes these get-togethers each year to facilitate an exchange of ideas and encourage understanding. Only her early arrival allowed the photographer to notice for the first time the architecture of the Jubilee Room at Parliament House – the photo shows the magnificent ceiling – how could I have missed it previously?

A workshop was held in Coffs Harbour for three co-operatives in May 2008. Boards and management attended the session over two days that was facilitated by Terry Kilmister. Some of the tough questions of board governance and management versus board responsibilities were tackled. And the obvious networking opportunities were taken advantage of by all present.

 

In February 2008 the Federation, together with University of Technology Sydney, Marrickville Council, Parramatta Council, The Mercury Centre Co-operative, the Association to Resource Co-operative Housing and CCC eNews, organized a special housing conference.

 

The Living Co-operatively Symposium had a very special guest speaker – Gun-Britt Martensson a Swedish co-operative leader and international co-operative housing expert. Her visit provided an opportunity for us to learn from her vast experience, to reflect on the Australian situation and inspired dialogue and ideas for future options. The Symposium was opened by the Minister for Fair Trading, Linda Burney, and was attended by a wide cross-section of people from around Australia.

 

Whilst she was here Gun-Britt also addressed those attending a seminar on The Advantages For Your Co-operative of Global Connections. The other speakers were Trent Bartlett, CEO of Capricorn Society Ltd and Peter Gates of The Mercury Centre Co-operative. Gun-Britt was introduced as the speaker at a dinner later that night by the Commissioner for Fair Trading, Lyn Baker. Gun-Britt's topic of A Co-operative Life, kept everyone entranced.

 

A Co-operative Identity Workshop was run in July 2007 with the presentation done by the UK Co-operative College. Those attending were surprised by how much they learnt about Co-operative values and principles and their importance for their co-operative. Everyone went back to work the following week with renewed enthusiasm and new ideas to try out.

The photo doesn't make a statement about those attending the workshop - it's just that no photos were taken inside the venue, but some magnificent pelicans were captured on the trip to Coffs.

 

The Way Forward – Co-operatively – conference, in Sydney in May 2007, was an excellent learning and networking opportunity. Amongst other topics, the conference looked at successful examples of co-operation and ideas for the future.

Launch of the Democracy Principle

In 2006 the Federation assisted in publishing an important addition to the literature on co-operatives in Australia – The Democracy Principle – Farmer Co-operatives in Twentieth Century Australia by Gary Lewis. The book was launched by the Commissioner for Fair Trading, Lyn Baker on November 17, 2006.

 

The launch was timed to coincide with the Monash Agribusiness Co-operative Leadership and Governance Forum which was held in Sydney over the November 17/19 weekend, in association with the Federation. The keynote speaker, Fabio Chaddad, is an internationally recognised authority on structural change in co-operatives who provided much food for thought for those present.