THE Association of Eisteddfod Societies of Australia (AESA) has sung the praises of its Mount Gambier-based secretary Maxine Chalinor OAM who recently received the APRA-AMCOS Good Music Citizen award.
Three Mount Gambier Eisteddfod delegates joined Ms Chalinor at the recent biannual AESA conference in Wagga Wagga, which also celebrated the association’s 25th anniversary.
In her 13th term of office, Ms Chalinor was acknowledged for her work in helping with the smooth transition to the new copyright licence now required by competitions.
The national organisation was founded from a motion by Mount Gambier man Bryant Lock at a gathering of eisteddfod societies held in 1992, with the first meeting held in February, 1993.
Mount Gambier’s official voting delegate at the most recent conference included Tony Chalinor, Kevin Hein and former official delegate Peter Brown.
The Blue Lake city has always had a big presence in the national organisation, with Mr Hein holding the position of president for five years and secretary for four.
The organisation was formed to help members stay informed of ever-changing laws in the country and copyright was one such major issue for members to come to terms with.
Currently members are working to see changes to the child protection acts that will bring in common laws in all states of Australia and a working with children card that will be valid in all states.
Ms Chalinor said with so many young people competing outside of their own state, it was important laws were common to Australia so that both participants and organisers knew where they stood.
Mount Gambier has been selected to host the 2021 conference.
