Newsletter of the Australasian Order of Old Bastards

Membership qualifications are quite simple and demand only adherence to five elementary rules.
Rule 1. Marital status of parents (not-withstanding our glorious name), is irrelevant.

Rule 2. It is sufficient to have been acclaimed at least once by friends as an
.........Old Bastard (and what man worth his salt hasn’t, despite his actual age).

Rule 3. Members must be jovial and hearty at all times (Which includes shouting in
..........your turn, otherwise you will earn the reputation of being a stingy old bastard).

Rule 4. On encountering other OB’s one must administer a hearty slap on the back,
..........accompanied by the cheerful salutation, "Hello, you old bastard". (Some intrepid
..........OB’s feel that a gentle hearty slap would suffice).

Rule 5. Membership card or Badge must be carried on the person at all times. Failure to
..........produce same when challenged by another OB incurs a penalty of one round of
..........drinks for the table - not the bar. (Be especially careful when getting out of the
..........bath to answer the doorbell. Unwary OB’s have been trapped like that before).

If you sincerely feel you can live up to these conditions and henceforth be known as a Good Old Bastard only one thing more is required.

$15.00  NOMINATION FEE
(Includes - G.S.T., Membership Card & Key Ring Badge)
On payment of which you will become a lifelong member of a unique fraternity.
Membership Form

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL NEW MEMBERS
You are now a member of an organization based on fun, fellowship and joviality coupled with fund raising for children’s charities.  The way you can best
help with this fund raising from the outset is to join up a mate or two.  For this purpose we are sending you a supply of “new membership‘ forms.  Please
complete the forms and return with $15.00 per new member to A.O.O.B. at P.O. Box 2686, Southport. Qld. 4215.
As you are, so they too will become a card carrying Old Bastard ‘for life’, free from the payment of any further annual subs.

However, having said this, as you know, when you joined Old Bastards, you paid a once only fee for Life Membership and in some cases someone else joined
you up and paid the fee. There is no ongoing annual fee to defray costs as in many other clubs. Printing and distributing this newsletter alone is becoming more
expensive every year without considering outgoings such as printing, phone calls, postage etc. Because OB's runs on a "shoestring" budget, we are asking
branches and members to give favourable consideration to making a donation towards the "day to day" administration costs of the organisation. Your assistance
in this way means more money for the kids, which, after all, is our main concern.

Another frequently asked question from prospective Old Bastards is “what happens to the money?” A list of our donations to worthy
charitable causes can been seen on our web site.

Donations  from inception to June 2010 - $5,865,605

The number of charities benefiting has become too numerous to list in detail for the above period.
Our 2009-2010 donation to the Childrens’s Hospital at Westmead totals $30,000 to bring the donations from
inception todate:

                                              Children’s Hospital at Westmead                              $1,367,891
                                              Total donations for 2009/2010                                  $190,422 

BRANCH NEWS

CAMDEN – ‘Big Kev’ Gunn -  (02) 4647 0669
Meeting place at Camden RSL.  A big ‘Thank you’ to the tireless volunteers who have given their time for the Sausage Sizzle Bar-b-ques and the Kilometre of Gold Coins fundraising activities, both of which have been well supported by the generous people of the Macarthur Region

SPRINGWOOD –  Graham Crowther (0421 052020) grub03@bigpond.net.au
The tradition continues at the Royal Hotel every Saturday morning with a Bar-b-que in the beer.  The Springwood Royals Cricket team are proud to be representing  the OB’s during their 2010 cricket tour of England. We are happy to once again win the award for most money raised for the Children’s Hospital at Westmead - $12,150.00

TWIN TOWNS – Barry Rigney (07) 5524 5147 or  Ron & Barb Morse – nanpop99@bigpond.com
The AOOB’s Twin Towns Branch meet on the first Friday of each month at the South Tweed Bowls Club at 2pm (DST when applicable).  We organise 4 or 5 entertaining bus trips annually which are open to members and  non-members alike together with the selling of raffle tickets at local shopping centres. The Early Childhood Intervention Service are grateful of our ongoing support receiving $4,000 during 2009-2010 and more than $4,000 was donated to various wards at the Tweed Hospital, Kids in Need, Careflight and the NSW Fire Brigade.

BRISBANE (Gill’s Old Bastards) Ian ‘Renoir’ Rennie 0419 840406 gillsoldbastards@gmail.com
Our Branch motto is ‘For good times and doing some good’ – every Wednesday after work you will find us at the Tank Hotel, 371 Queen Street, enjoying good company, a few drinks and our regular meat tray and cash jackpot raffles (a huge Thank You to the Tank Hotel for their support).  We also enjoy fun social activities such as bowls days and quiz nights.  Drop in one Wednesday or send us an e-mail to be kept uptodate on opportunities to join in the fun. Renoir’s book ‘A Bunch of Old Bastards’ – a collection of anecdotes, stories and yarns from around Australia and around the world.  Cost is $25 per copy including postage and handling.  Order by emailing gillsoldbastards@gmail.com

GOLD COAST BRANCH (QLD) – Damian Woods 0418 450 603 damian@insuranceaid.com.au
I have only been in the President’s Seat for a few weeks now after taking the Club reins at our AGM on July 1 2010. As in previous years we had two major fundraising events, being the Big Lunch at the Gold Coast International in July 2009 and our Race Day at the Gold Coast Turf Club in February 2010.  These two events raised plenty of needy dollars which were then donated to many worthwhile charities. As President I will continue to hold our monthly lunch which occurs either the first Thursday or first Friday of every month at various venues. If any member is visiting the Gold Coast and would like to attend, please contact me. I am taking suggestions from club members to participate in a few different get togethers over the next twelve months so please visit our website for these upcoming events.

KULIN, Western Australia – Greg Tyley 0429 801 121 or Megan Anderson 0418 949 212
Our branch (284 south-east of Perth) has been running the Kulin Charity Rally for the last 17 years and is our biggest fundraiser – ‘Best fun you can have with your wheels on’ is the aim for the rally which is conducted over the long weekend 24-27 September,2010 commencing on the Friday and finishing at lunchtime on Monday. Please check our website www.kulincharityrally.com.au for the history and itinerary of this fantastic rally.

KALBARRI, Western Australia - Derek and Nona Painter (08) 9937 2271
We are a crayfishing and tourism town situated on the mouth of the Murchison River with coastal and river gorges and a population of about 1,500 with lots to see and do.  Our generous hosts, Finlay’s Fish Barbecue, run nightly raffles for us in their tin shed outback type restaurant, with ‘Muzza’ doing a fantastic job.  If you are passing through, please make yourself known to him, Gary Finlay and Lynette (the owners) as they will make you feel most welcome and even give you a discount on your meal of fish, seafood, steaks etc. when you show your membership card.  

ANNUAL  GENERAL  MEETING:
The AGM was held at Southport on 15 August 2010 and the elected Management Committee for 2010/2011 is:

President:                              lan Hollindale
Vice Presidents:                     Chris Oxenford and Frank Gould
Secretary/Treasurer               Brad Carbis
Honorary Auditor:                  John Franich of Franich Crow Oberg
Honorary Solicitor:                 Mike Webb, Short Punch & Greatorix
Committee:                           Damian Woods, Bob Cozens, Spencer Maslen   - Gold Coast branch
                                            Barry Rigney, Jessie Rigney , Ron Morse & Barb Morse —TwinTowns branch
                                            Ian Rennie – Gill’s Old Bastards, Brisbane branch

GENERAL PRESIDENT'S REPORT:

After the year of 2009 when we experienced drought, fires, flood and the global financial crisis, this has been a steady year for our organisation.

Our membership has increased by 737 which is down a little from past years.

During the year a new branch in Camden, western Sydney, New South Wales was formed and our Vice President, Chris Oxenford and myself were welcomed at the inaugural meeting and we were able to personally present the Charter to ‘Big Kev’, the inaugural President.

I want to record my congratulations and thanks to those members involved and wish them well in the future.  It was a pleasant surprise to have Dr. Steve Alexander present at this function and his address, in his capacity as the Research Doctor responsible for the Leo Bradshaw Renal Research Laboratory, was a highlight of the evening.

It is appropriate to advise all members of the Old Bastards organisation, Australia wide, that he and other research Doctors are successfully researching the genetics associated with renal failure in children, all made possible from the funds generously donated by all Branches.

This financial year $232,115 has been raised by the various branches and distributed to nominated charities.

I congratulate the branches and groups who have been most successful :-

New memberships - Camden – 126
Most money for Westmead Children’s Hospital - Springwood branch - $12,150 
Most money for charity – Gold Coast branch - $79,310.

I wish to thank my Committee for their support over the last twelve months and thank Jenny for her contribution during that time.

I have enjoyed representing all members in the last twelve months and have enjoyed the Friday morning visit to our Administration centre at the Bowls Club in Southport, receiving and answering correspondence of such a wide and varied nature.

Ian Hollindale
Arch Old Bastard

NEWS SECTION
Our main sources of revenue are from the hard working members of branches and the humble Life Membership fee which includes a badge, so keep those
nominations rolling in you O.B’s.  A plea from Head Office, please try to memorise the number on your card (some O.B’s even get their badges engraved
(Clever Old Bastards). Duplicates of lost and damaged cards are only $10.00 if you supply the number otherwise the cost is as for a new member which is
$15.00.. All membership fees are to be included with nominations - some Lousy Old Bastards forget.

If you would like to form a branch in your area please given Jenny a call on (07) 55313362 to find out what is involved

2009/2010
MONEY RAISED BY BRANCHES FOR CHARITIES OTHER THAN THE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 2009/2010
NSW
Twin Towns ...........$8,407.00 
Springwood ...........$1,500.00
Hornsby ................$1,700.00
Emmaville .............$900.00
Camden ................$1,500.00
VIC
Wangaratta ...........$3,200.00
Dromana ..............$850.00
WA
Innaloo ................$4,550.00
Kalbarri ...............$8,240.00
Kulin ...................$12,900.00
QLD
Gold Coast ...........$79,310.00
Brisbane ..............$16,195.00
Giru .....................$3,500.00
MONIES RAISED BY INTERESTED GROUPS
AOOB Carnarvon Group ..$46,250.00
Northgate Mail Centre .....$400.00                                                        

2009/2010
MONEY RAISED BY BRANCHES FOR CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, WESTMEAD
NSW
Springwood ..........................$12,150.00
Hornsby ...............................$830.00
Emmaville ............................$1,200.00
Twin Towns ..........................$400.00
Camden ...............................$265.00
VIC
Wangaratta ..........................$350.00
Dromana .............................$250.00
WA
Innaloo ................................$250.00
Kulin ....................................$1,000.00
QLD
Gold Coast ...........................$10,000.00
Brisbane ‘Gill’s Old Bastards’ . $1,000.00
Giru .....................................$400.00
MONIES RAISED BY INTERESTED GROUPS
AOOB Carnarvon WA Group .........$500.00
Illawarra Master Builders Group ....$2,252.00
Northgate Mail Centre ..................$100.00                           

NSW
Camden - Camden RSL Club
Emmaville – Club Hotel, Emmaville
Hornsby – Hornsby RSL Club
Twin Towns – South Tweed BowlsClub
Springwood – (contact: 0416 150 571) fshunter@bigpond.com Royal Hotel

VIC
Wangaratta – North Eastern Hotel
Dromana – Dromana/Red Hill RSL Sub Branch

Interested Groups
Carnarvon, WA

WA
Innaloo - Innaloo Sportmens Club
Kulin - Kulin Hotel
Kalbarri – Finlay’s Fish Bar-b-que

Qld
Gold Coast - Monthly Lunch (Contact: 0416 206947) crab@winshop.com.au
Gill's Old Bastards, Brisbane – Tank Hotel, 371 Queen Street, Brisbane
Northgate Mail Centre – Toombul Bowls Club
Giru—Giru International Hotel

Old Bastards - Branch Awards for 2009/2010

Branch raising the most money for charity in Australia—GOLD COAST $79,310
Branch in Australia raising the most money for the Children’s Hospital , Westmead—SPRINGWOOD  $12,150
Branch recruiting the most new members Australia wide— CAMDEN Branch with 126 new members

If you would like to form a branch in your area please given Jenny a call on (07) 55313362 to find out what is involved.

SHORT HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALASIAN ORDER OF OLD BASTARDS

Leo Bradshaw started off as a member of the I.O.O.B. (International Order Of Old Bastards). This organisation was started by Allied Servicemen who had been based here in Australia during the Second World War. They were amazed that the old Aussie saying ‘Hello you Old Bastard’ was considered a term of endearment and not an insult.

After receiving legal advice, Leo with a small band of other Old Bastards, started the A.O.O.B. in 1968 at the British Lion Hotel in Glebe
with the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children - Camperdown, the major beneficiary. This was only the beginning. Then came years of
trying to convince the powers that be that the A.O.O.B. would be an asset to the registered charities. The name, of course, was the main
stumbling block - “what would the good people of the community think?

By July 1973, the N.S.W Chief Secretary was convinced that because of the wonderful work the Australasian Order of Old Bastards
was doing for charity, it should be recognised and registered - so the organisation which believed in joviality, good fellowship and charity
was official.

Leo was honoured by the Queen in 1982 for service to the community, particularly Children’s Welfare. Leo Bradshaw M. B. E.,
Archbastard and Founder passed away on August 4th, 1992. His name will remain on membership cards.

The Leo Bradshaw Renal Research Laboratory at The Children’s Hospital - Westmead (Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children) has
been named in his memory. His dream will be kept alive by more people joining the organisation.

Joan Bradshaw, Leo’s wife worked along side him since the organisation was formed, When Leo passed away, she took over as Genera
l Secretary. On Australia Day in 2001, she was named in the Australia Day Honours List and was granted an OAM for services to charity
through the Australasian Order of Old Bastards.

Sadly Joan passed away in January 2003.

In 2003 the National Office was relocated to the Gold Coast and all new membership numbers have been recorded on computer. All records
prior to 2003 were kept numerically so you will appreciate it’s an impossible task to try and locate your original number if you don’t know
it and you  require a replacement card.   The good news is you can rejoin for only $15 and receive a keyring badge.