AusRepublic Updates
National Director’s Report
Imagine running onto the sporting field ready for the match, but you’re told it’ll take 13 years for the coach to turn up. Or sitting in the board room waiting for the chairperson, only to be told they won’t make the meeting and it could take 13 years for them to get there.
The team would play on and the business would move on without them, and that’s exactly what Australia has done in the 13 years since we were last visited by our foreign based Head of State. And frankly, we’ve also moved on since the passage of the Australia Act in the 80’s, which cut all but that one last cord to Britain.
After 13 years of waiting, the team would have found a new coach and the board would have found a new chair, and so too this is the moment for us to find a new Head of State.
News this week that preparations have commenced for Charles and Camilla’s visit down under are great. It will shine a light on the role of the monarchy and the role of Head of State, and provide the opportunity for all Australians to have a good look at the royals and ask themselves, “Do they really represent who and what we are as modern Australia?”
That’s the question we need to ask our friends and family members over the coming months. It’s the question we need to ask our colleagues and acquaintances as Air Force Royal touches down. And it’s the question we need to ask all Australians when the no doubt very short trip ends and the bunting is packed back in the royal box for another 13 years.
We’re capitalising on media and social media around the visit, but we need your support to ramp up our communications efforts. We need a significant inflow of donations, memberships and supporters to help get the message out and to put this question in front of the Australian people. If you can make a contribution, please donate or join today.
Your contribution will help create content and ads, boost posts and buy ad space, and will support the ARM to engage with Aussies.
Support for a republic is rising across the board, and with a concerted push around the visit, the republic will be well and truly back on the national agenda.
This is the moment for an Australian republic – now is the time to get involved, so join or donate today!
With your help we can make this happen, so thank you!
Regards,
Isaac Jeffrey
National Director & CEO
Australian Republic Movement
News from your region
👋 You’re invited to catch up with the ACT Branch
Join the ACT Branch on Sunday 24 March for a gathering to welcome new members and follow up from our success at the National Multicultural Festival. There’ll be people to meet, a BBQ and good conversation about the campaign.
Time: 12.30pm – 2.00pm
Location: Black Mountain Peninsula, Gary Owen Drive (look for the ARM signs near a BBQ).
What to bring: Nothing but some good conversation.
We'll provide: Bread and sausages (including vegan).
It’s free to attend and all are welcome. Please ensure you RSVP using the form to let us know you’re coming.
Regards,
Nathan Hansford
ACT Convenor
👋 South Australia: we’re looking for volunteers
Help us spread the word! ARM supporters are running a market stall at the Mt Barker Show on Saturday 23 March, between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
The event will be held at the Mt Barker Showgrounds.
We'll be helping spread the word about our campaign and why we need to replace King Charles III with an Australian Head of State.
Are you available to help for a few hours or the day? If so, let me know by emailing sa@republic.org.au with your availability.
Training will be provided the week before the event. All volunteers will be provided with support and information, and discounted show tickets are available for volunteers.
Hope to see you there - bring family or friends!
Kind regards,
Stephanie Miller
SA Convenor
👋 G’day from the Queensland Branch!
As you all know Queensland is one of the biggest states and also the one with most population outside of its capital city. We are spread out across the state and yet most of the movement is based in Brisbane.
We are launching three sub-branches (forums) in the coming months, the aim of these are to allow members in areas outside of Brisbane to run their own catch ups so it’s less Brisbane-centric.
The first sub-branch will be the Gold Coast, followed by Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba. Central Queensland and North Queensland are also on the list.
If you’re a member from outside of Brisbane that wants to be involved with the creation of these branches please get in contact with me at qld@republic.org.au or on 0435 940 387.
Regards,
Isaac Mc Swan
Queensland Convenor
👋 National Multicultural Festival
The Australian Republic Movement was at the National Multicultural Festival in Canberra on Sunday 18 February, meeting a diverse range of Australians. The festival brought together than 170 multicultural communities who share culture, history and heritage through food, art, song and dance. The ARM considers Australia as the most successful multicultural community in the world, built on 65,000 years of Indigenous culture, over 230 years of European settlement and British institutions. We look forward to seeing you at the next event!
👋 An update from the NSW Branch Council
In our most recent Branch Council meeting on 27/2/24, we settled on actions to increase awareness and fundraising for the NSW branch in 2024:
Organise a republic debate in western Sydney
We are hoping to organise an event in Western Sydney to drive fundraising and conversation around the future of Australia as a republic. The debate will take place in a university auditorium and feature two parts - a youth debate, and a ‘pro’ debate. Both debates will feature two advocates for a republic, and two opponents. While the youth debate will feature students, the ‘pro’ debate should feature some very prominent Australian personalities with a well known moderator - names TBC. We hope to sell tickets to this event and fundraise in the run-up.
Organise more local committees.
We recently organised a Newcastle committee and received a very positive response. Over the course of 2024, we hope to also organise committees in other regional areas such as Wollongong, the Central Coast, Armidale and the Blue Mountains. The aim for these committees is to organise local events and fundraising drives. Please email nsw@republic.org.au if you’d like to get involved.
Regards,
Graham Cooke
NSW Convenor
Australian Republic Movement
👋 Tasmanian supporters: it’s time to take action
Dear Tasmanian members and supporters,
The upcoming campaign is a great opportunity for us to make sure the republic issue is on everyone’s radar. It would be wonderful if you could join with my committee and attend as many candidate forums in your area as you can and say something like:
"I want to vote for forward-thinking people. So, could we please hear the candidates’ positions on whether or not Australia should cut ties with the monarchy and become an Aussie style republic at some stage in the future? I don’t want to take time from more pressing issues, so a quick Yes or No answer would be fine."
An Australian republic is an important issue. Of course, cost of living, health care and education are top priorities in Tasmania right now, but let’s not let it be another 25 years before we turn our minds to this important debate.
The Tassie Council will be extremely grateful for your support. I’ve given all the politicians a heads-up, so don’t feel you’ll be ambushing them. We simply want to hear their honest views.
Warmest regards,
Wendy Le Cornu
Tasmanian Convenor
👋 Victorian Branch Council: a big year ahead
The new Victorian Branch Council has been busy organising a full year of events, outreach and campaigning. We are looking forward to holding our first event - we'll send an email out soon with the full details. After that, we've got plenty more planned for the year, including a comedy night and a student event. Please feel free to reach out to us on vic@republic.org.au.
Regards,
Reggie Michelson
Victorian Convenor
women’s network news
Top row from left to right are: Wendy LeCornu (Tasmanian Branch Convenor and Executive Member), Marina Go (Executive Member), Fiona Perry (ACT), Mary Phillips (TAS) and Amy Winter (QLD).
Bottom row from left to right are: Jane Hasler (NSW), Raphael Murphy (SA), Megan Allan (WA), Liz Walker (Victorian Deputy Convenor) and Deborah Crossing (SA and former Convenor). The NT representative was not present.
Women of the ARM have a Women’s Network Convenor on each Branch Council. Together they make up the ARM Women’s Network Management Group (WNMG).
The WNMG kicked off 2024 with their first meeting on 19 February. Jane Hasler and Fiona Perry were appointed as WNMG National Convenors.
They will lead the WNMG and report on the Network’s activities to the National Committee through ARM Executive Members Marina Go and Wendy Le Cornu.
This arrangement reflects the cooperative, collaborative and inclusive nature of the ARM Women’s Network where its members step up to share responsibility and action, by recognising that volunteers work within their capacity and capability.
The WNMG discussed its role and how it can support the women of the ARM to be involved in delivering on the ARM’s Strategic Plan. We aim to ensure women’s views and perspectives are included in decision-making at both branch and national levels.
The WNMG acknowledged the leadership and extraordinary contribution of the outgoing WNMG Convenor Deborah Crossing since she took on the role in 2018. Deborah will remain on the WNMG.
Deborah said she was grateful for the support of ARM women and men who have supported her since 2018 as the ARM National Convenor of the Women’s Network.
All ARM women are invited to contribute through your Branch Women’s Network Convenor and the National Convenors. For more information, contact womensnetwork@republic.org.au.
meet our leadership team
Meet NSW Branch Convenor Graham Cooke
Graham is a Sydney-based consumer finance analyst and data journalist who regularly shares his expertise across Australian media, helping demystify financial trends for the public.
Graham took on the role of NSW Convenor in late 2023 after former Convenor Evelyn Santoro stepped down to concentrate on her work in the international humanitarian space. We thank Evelyn for her significant contribution toward the campaign.
“I'm an Australian citizen and a passionate advocate for an Australian republic. Originally from Ireland, I've seen first hand how well an elected Head of State can work”, Graham said.
“I hope to bring this perspective into the broader conversation, helping Aussies better understand the benefits of a republic.”
“I've taken on the role of NSW Convenor in the hope of growing membership and keeping the movement moving forward in a difficult post-Voice environment.”
If you are an NSW supporter wanting to get in touch with Graham you can find him by emailing nsw@republic.org.au.
Media updates
✅ Royal visit: Let’s discuss what an Aussie republic really means
The Australian Republic Movement has acknowledged the announcement that planning is underway for the royal visit later this year.
✅ Why the movement is welcoming a potential visit from King Charles
National Director & CEO Isaac Jeffrey spoke to 3AW about the upcoming visit of the King and Queen.
✅ Co-Chair Nova Peris takes a spin on dancing with the stars
Nova will be lighting up the dancefloor with her dynamic moves and the same infectious energy she uses to rally for a republic. We'll be cheering her on every step of the way!
