AGM 2009!

Results
Awards

This year's MI Fellowship annual general meeting was a sell-out affair with more than 100 people packing the boardroom at the Middletons law firm in Melbourne's CBD.

There was last minute change of plans as our original speaker Mr John Mendoza was called away due to family circumstances. Fortunately, we were able to secure a fantastic replacement with Dr Jayashri Kulkarni, lead research behind the new ear probe diagnostic tool.

Dr Kulkarni talked about the new diagnostic technique, about working with engineers on developing psychiatric solutions and about the importance keeping people with a mental illness involved in the process of clinical research.

The results of this year's board election were also declared -

People voted onto the new MI Fellowship Board were:

Lyn Allison with 292 votes
Diane Brown with 284 votes
Rob Knowles with 277 votes
Lei Ning with 249 votes

The total number of votes received for this year's board election was 1255.

Awards

Each year, as part of the AGM, MI Fellowship issues awards to people who have made great contributions to the mental health sector and given their time and expertise to make life better for people with a mental illness.

The Mental Illness Fellowship Awards for 2009 included:

The O’Meara Award is MI Fellowship’s most prestigious Award for individuals who have made an outstanding and extraordinary contribution to the Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria over many years, in areas such as development of the organisation, advocacy or another significant area. In recognition, the person receives Honorary Life Membership of Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria.

The winner this year is Kevin Abrahamson.

This year’s O’Meara Award winner is a Special Counsel with Middleton’s Lawyers.  Over many years with the support of Middleton’s he has provided pro-bono advice to MI Fellowship.   However, his contributions have gone well past organisational support and he has personally invested in assisting the Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria achieve a better world for people with mental illnesses and their families.

He took an active and pivotal role in the establishment of the Social Firm Management Group designed to improve employment outcomes of people with mental illness. He has reviewed leases and contracts which the organisation has entered to deliver programs across the State and in Canberra. He has reviewed housing projects.  He has advised and supported the organisation in all manner of constitutional areas, and was instrumental in attaining the organisation transfer from an incorporated association status to company limited by guarantee.

He has always been available to provide sage and effective advice. No problem has been too small, nor too large, for him to give his considerable attention to the smallest detail. He has been committed and extraordinarily supportive of our organisation and people with mental illnesses over the last 10 years.

Mental Illness Fellowship has many committed, loyal and talented volunteers who give generously of their time, expertise and energy. This award is for a person who has provided outstanding volunteer service for MI Fellowship.

This year the winner is Ray Mignot.

Ray supported his wife in starting the East Kew Op Shop approximately 28 years ago.  Through this work they felt they could make a difference for other families that had children with schizophrenia, and raise funds to help bring mental health issues to the notice of the community and Government.

He is one of our longest serving volunteers and never misses his Saturday shift.

The Mental Illness Fellowship Award is given to a participant or carer associated with Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria, for their outstanding contribution to participants and/or carers in MI Fellowship programs.

This man has lived with a mental illness for many year, but through positive management he sustains an independent life in the community.

This year the winner is Byron Bailey

For the past 4 to 5 years he has been convenor of a social support and recreational group for people with a mental illness.  The Group as it is known, is an open group that willingly admits newcomers.  He researches new social and recreational activities for this group, prepares the information and sends out invitations.  He is a very productive volunteer in his local community, maintains wide personal interests, and through his example demonstrates that people with a mental illness can make an outstanding contribution to community life.

The Mental Health Community Award is given to a person working in the general community for their outstanding service to people living with a mental illness or carers of people with a mental illness. The quality of candidates for this award this year was outstanding. Two nominations commended themselves so highly that the awards committee decided to grant two community awards.

The first winner is Isabell Collins.

During the last 16 years the nominee has contributed significantly to the improvement of the mental health system and the lives of people with mental illness by advocating for the protection of the human rights of mental health consumers.

She has provided systemic advice to Government and at the same time, maintains a full diary as an individual advocate at the coalface for consumers, often in very challenging and complex situations.

Through her extraordinary commitment to consumers no one is ever turned away.  She provides unconditional support, advocacy for mental health consumers and their carers, and education for the community and its policy-makers.

The second winner is John Edgley

During the last 7 years this nominee has provided trucks as stages for Open Mind Fiesta.  This required him placing the trucks before 5.00am on a Sunday morning.  He also built the stairs that enabled performers easy access.

Each year he remained at the Fiesta for the rest of the day volunteering wherever a hand was needed, and was always one of the last to pack up at 7.00pm.

His extraordinary assistance has enabled MI Fellowship to promote our message of social inclusion for people with a mental illness to the Fairfield community.