A8 – Rules Amended – of Incorporated Association (v.2)

A8 - Rules Amended – of Incorporated Association (v.2)

Archive Document Title:	RULES (OF THE FRIENDS) Amended, Version 2
Archive Document Type:	Incorporation Rules (Constitution)
Archive Document Date:	15th October 2006
Archive Topic Category:	Rules of The Friends
Archive Digital Document Format:	Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
Number of Pages:	15, plus related draft preparatory documents
Author:	Neil Stuart (Chairperson)

Abstract:

More than a decade after the Rules of The Friends were first produced in 1994 for the prescriptive guidance of members, by 2006 a number of circumstantial changes had taken place concerning The Valley and traditional Aboriginal interest and associated community structures.

So, the decision was made by the Working Group of The Friends to reflect these changes in the Rules. An amended Rules document was compiled, which is reproduced below as well as preceded by three related internal documents connected with the Rules re-drafting.

In brief, those changes were as follows:

[The Friends Archivist NOTE to Readers: These changes include contextual comments by The Friends Archivist, who holds direct experience and detailed knowledge of the processes and facts.]

(1) Blue Mountains Council’s formal closure of the Catalina race track in 2001 for all motorised racing use;

(2) The coming together around 2000 and forming an Aboriginal-only community group comprising former Aboriginal residents of The Valley and their descendants. That group was established to have a vested interest in the management of The Valley and became self-called The Gully Traditional Owners in 2006;

(3) Blue Mountains Council’s declaration of The Valley as an Aboriginal Place in May 2002 in co-operation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NSW), and with local traditional Aboriginal groups who had been former residents of had been called The Gully before Council’s 1957 building of the Catalina race track;

(4) Blue Mountains Council’s unilateral renaming of Katoomba Falls Creek Valley to Upper Kedumba River Valley in its revised Plan of Management of 2004. This process and the renaming was done without consultation and arguably a bureaurcatic tactic to undemine relevance of The Friends of Katoomba Falls Creek Valley. The Friends elected to retain their original name, despite the Council ploy.

Quote:

“Katoomba Falls Creek Valley was the former name of the valley now called Upper Kedumba River Valley. The former name has been retained in the name of the organisation and from time to time the valley may still be referred to as Katoomba Falls Creek Valley. “;

(5) Blue Mountains Council’s updating of its Local Environmental Plan LEP 1991 to LEP 2005 – as this could impact The Valley;

(6) The formation of joint collaborated group of some members of The Friends and some members of The Gully Traditional Owners into collective group termed The Gully Guardians in 2004.

Archive Documents:

In chronological order: