ATC Members Vote For Club-Appointed Board Of Directors
Members of the
Australian Turf Club Limited (ATC) completed voting yesterday for the four Club-appointed directors to serve on the board.
The four Club-appointed directors voted by ATC Members are: Julia Ritchie, Bill Evans, Michael Crismale and Steve Grant. Each will serve four-year fixed terms, beginning from 1 February, 2015.
Michael Crismale Bill Evans Steve Grant New recruit - Julia Ritchie
The results were formally announced at the
ATC’s Annual General Meeting at Rosehill Gardens racecourse.
This Election result was:
(1) Julia Ritchie 947 (New Director)
(2) Bill Evans 837 (incumbent Director - returned)
(3) Michael Crismale 768 (incumbent Director / Chairman – returned)
(4) Steve Grant 684 (incumbent Director – returned)
(5) James Mathers 642 (unsuccessful by 42 votes)
(6) Wilf Mula (incumbent – unsuccessful)
The contest for the
4th and final spot was intense. In the end, it was the
distribution of undisclosed proxy votes that saw
incumbent Director Steve Grant returned with a margin of 42.
Before the ballot and undisclosed proxies were allocated, the meeting was advised of the registered and disclosed proxy distribution which at that stage,
James Mathers was 39 votes in front of Steve Grant.
Had 22 of these undisclosed proxies swung to James Mathers instead of Steve Grant, then James would have prevailed.
Proxies offered to
Michael Crismale supported incumbents and proved a major turning point. The other turning point was
Julia Ritchie supporting incumbents Crismale, Evans and Grant but she targeted Mula.
There were 1,488 proxies received, of which 120 were undisclosed, whilst there were another 195 eligible voters at the meeting.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Officer Darren Pearce thanked ATC Members for participating in the vote, the first since the merger of Sydney’s metropolitan thoroughbred racing clubs.
“This was an historic vote and the ATC Executive team and our staff now look forward to working under the new Board," Mr Pearce said.
“Importantly, it is business as usual for the ATC over the coming months as we continue to work hard on the summer racing ahead, as well as preparing for the Golden Slipper Carnival at Rosehill Gardens in March, before The Championships at Royal Randwick next autumn."
An independent selection panel appointed by the NSW Government is in the process of making a recommendation to the Minister for Racing Troy Grant to fill the three independent positions on the seven-person ATC board.
The new board will meet on 2nd February 2015, to re-appoint or elect a Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
The existing board has been doing a wonderful job the past 12 months and the transition of Julia Ritchie for Wilf Mula allows a female perspective to the board.
Julia should make a difference in bringing a
female’s perspective and empathy as a Members Advocate, to the Board.