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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-AU link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Dear Life members, centres, directors, and employees of RDA (NSW)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>It is with a great sadness that I ask you to read the below email carefully.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Joseph Orland , former director, volunteer, and friend of many has stepped down “ resigned” from his role of a board member. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>“Effective immediately”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Joe, as we all know him has done this out of respect for all those who supported him and volunteer with RDA (NSW).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'> Joe has asked me to share this with you as he sees the hurt that the current angst has caused, and notes that this was never his intention and that whilst 9 centres from 33 have voted he leaves, he will still be there for those that need his help.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>Joe still has the same number , so please do not hesitate to give Joe a call.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>On behalf of the directors – I wish Joe well and first and foremost hope that his health improves . Joe will be missed within the ranks, leases, grants and legals. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>I personally, with a few directors have asked Joe to continue his support in a legal matter with a centre, as this matter has been in progress since 2019, this is a matter that new directors can not take under their wings.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>I will now ask that ALL centre allow us the courtesy to adjust, the lose of Joe means - centre lease, and many legal applications in progress. We have also lost a company secretary too; this also has implications within ASIC and ACNC. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'>If we are late in attending to your needs, please just be patient whilst we reshuffle to provide governance, transparency, and communication to all.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div id="geom_inter_1702327882522_35_178"><div id="geom_inter_1702327905540_80_185"><div id="geom_inter_1702327911547_32_186"><div id="geom_inter_1702327920563_41_187"><div id="geom_inter_1702327921559_6_188"><div id="geom_inter_1702327927570_99_189"><div id="geom_inter_1702327993655_78_190"><div id="geom_inter_1703046247459_4_13"><div><div id="geom_inter_1702327882522_35_178"><div id="geom_inter_1702327905540_80_185"><div id="geom_inter_1702327911547_32_186"><div id="geom_inter_1702327920563_41_187"><div id="geom_inter_1702327921559_6_188"><div id="geom_inter_1702327927570_99_189"><div id="geom_inter_1702327993655_78_190"><div id="geom_inter_1703046247459_4_13"><div><div id="geom_inter_1702327882522_35_178"><div id="geom_inter_1702327905540_80_185"><div id="geom_inter_1702327911547_32_186"><div id="geom_inter_1702327920563_41_187"><div id="geom_inter_1702327921559_6_188"><div id="geom_inter_1702327927570_99_189"><div id="geom_inter_1702327993655_78_190"><div id="geom_inter_1703046247459_4_13"><div><div id="geom_inter_1702327882522_35_178"><div id="geom_inter_1702327905540_80_185"><div id="geom_inter_1702327911547_32_186"><div id="geom_inter_1702327920563_41_187"><div id="geom_inter_1702327921559_6_188"><div id="geom_inter_1702327927570_99_189"><div id="geom_inter_1702327993655_78_190"><div id="geom_inter_1703046247459_4_13"><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Kind Regards<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#45B0E1;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Tracy Lucas<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>HON; Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Executive Officer/Grants Officer and Assistant communication<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#FB9FFD;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>0488727085<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:red;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Email – </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#0070C0;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="mailto:tracy.lucas@rdansw.org.au"><span style='color:#467886'>tracy.lucas@rdansw.org.au</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#0070C0;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'> <a href="mailto:Gemini.winsoft@bigpond.com"><span style='color:#467886'>Gemini.winsoft@bigpond.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:red;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'>Web - </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#0070C0;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><a href="http://www.rdansw.org.au/"><span style='color:#467886'>WWW.rdansw.org.au</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><img border=0 width=99 height=165 style='width:1.0277in;height:1.7222in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DAE13F.4A817BC0"><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"ADLaM Display";color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-AU'><img border=0 width=602 height=76 style='width:6.2708in;height:.7916in' id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image002.png@01DAE13F.4A817BC0"><span style='mso-ligatures:standardcontextual'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Directors,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>RDA (NSW).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As you would all be aware, a Special General Meeting has been called by some Centres in relation to a Motion that has been put that I be dismissed as a director.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have been involved with RDA (NSW) since I first enrolled my daughter as a rider in about 1995 or 1996 and I became a volunteer at the Ryde Centre, and soon afterwards was invited to join the Committee. When the position became available, I was asked to be the Secretary for the Centre and, after a few years, was asked to take on the role of Treasurer of the Centre. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Eventually, the Centre had to be shut down as the land on which the Centre was located was being requisitioned for the construction of a new Rehabilitation Centre and the balance of the land developed for housing. The Centre was without a home and had to shut down.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In the leadup to the shutdown of the Centre, with the approval of the Centre Committee and the Board of RDA (NSW), I approached the local Council to see if RDA (NSW) could be given access to one of the local public parks, suggesting to Council that the part of Marsfield Park facing Culloden Road, would be very much appreciated. This necessitated meetings with the Members of the local Council and the Mayor, attending an open citizen forum on the proposal and, finally, holding in-person discussions with the Minister for Lands and his senior staff. The Minister eventually approved the request and allowed the Centre to access, and be relocated to, its current location in Marsfield Park.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>During those years I also represented the Board of RDA (NSW) in meetings with the Office of Sport and with D-Sport (later called “Disability Sports”), which was an umbrella group that was made up of most of the sports groups that existed for people who had a disability.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In 2016 I was appointed as a director and then became an elected director at the following AGM, a position that I have held since then. As a director, I have held the position of Finance Officer and Company Secretary and I have recently swapped my role of Finance Officer for that of Development Officer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>In my nearly 30years with RDA (NSW), both at Centre level and as a director, I have used my training and qualifications in both law and accounting to the best of my ability for the benefit of our RDA riders, RDA Centres and RDA (NSW) in general. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>This has included, in addition to my ordinary duties as director, such things as:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0cm' type=disc><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Answering enquiries on various matters from Centres;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Reviewing lease and licence agreements for Centres, avoiding the need for the Centres incurring legal expenses;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Ensuring that all funds due to Centres by RDA (NSW) were paid and transferred expeditiously;<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoListParagraph style='margin-left:0cm;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Assisting Centres with any procedural or legal issues that arose, including in respect of a Court case brought against a Centre by a rider.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am now the subject of an action to have me removed as a director via the upcoming Special General Meeting. A motion to this effect has been moved by a Centre. Unfortunately, only general comments have been made in support of the motion to have me removed as a director. As a result, I have not been given any specifics relating to the reasons behind the action. This does not give me the opportunity to adequately respond to any supposed allegations. This is a denial of natural justice and therefore against the law.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>There are some Centres which have recently raised issues regarding the accounts of RDA (NSW) during my time as Finance Officer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>RDA (NSW) uses the services of a professional bookkeeper and auditor, both of whom are independent of RDA (NSW). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Accounts and payments are prepared by the bookkeeper on a weekly basis and are approved by the Board. This process requires, under the Constitution, approval of two directors for payments to be made. However, when I became Finance Officer, I insisted that <b><u>all</u></b> directors had to be responsible for the decision-making in relation to RDA (NSW) funds, therefore all directors had to be involved in all decision-making in relation to the RDA (NSW) funds, including approving all payments.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>As a result, at no times does any director, including me, have any involvement with the accounts of RDA (NSW) other than the approval of payments which have been entered by the independent bookkeeper and approved by the whole Board.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Some of the allegations against me appear to be pointing to improper dealings by me with the funds of RDA (NSW). Such insinuations are not only false, but are also defamatory. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I have been subjected to these false, and totally unsupported, accusations and other attacks, for a number of years, increasing further in the last two to three years. This has resulted in me being subjected to a great deal of constant stress which, in turn, has taken a toll on my health.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Therefore, </span>despite the inconsistencies and irregularities in the way that the special general meetings were conducted, and<span style='font-size:12.0pt'> while legal avenues are available to me to rectify the situation (but will, no doubt, increase my stress levels), I have decided to stand down as a director, effective immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Joseph Orland.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>