President Reports

The FABC's Annual General Meeting was held on 18 Nov 2012. Mr Kim Hollow has been re-elected the president. The new committee is comprised of:

President Kim Hollow's Report is as follows:

It has again been a busy period for the committee of the Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils (FABC). It is my pleasure to provide this overview of our numerous activities over the past twelve months.

Our council is usually comprised of two representatives from each of the mainland state councils. Our state appointed delegates undertake the day to day management of the FABC. All our dedicated members give freely of their time, Dharma knowledge and wisdom to support the FABC and their own state councils with Dharma propagation. The FABC as part of our constitution is charged with educating and assisting the Australian community better understand the needs and aspirations of Australian Buddhists.

Our committee members are mostly Lay Buddhists. Our ongoing work with our spiritual leaders, the Australian Sangha Association, (ASA) is a vital part of our ability to properly function and achieve our goals. The ASA is comprised of the many senior ordained Monks and Nuns working in Australia’s Temples, Monasteries and Dharma (teaching) Centres. I want to personally express my thanks to Venerable Thich Quang Ba, Reverend Chikwang Sunim, Venerable Ajahn Brahm and Bhante Sujato, for their ongoing support to myself and our committee.

According to the most recent Australian Census held in 2011, there are around 530,000 Buddhist in Australia. This represents 2.50% of the total Australian population, and is an increase of approximately 0.40% in our numbers since the previous 2006 census. Buddhism is one of the fastest growing religions in Australia.

To enable the FABC to carry out its important work into the future, we like other Australian not-for-profit organisations need financial stability. Other than interest paid on our small cash reserves, we currently received no government or community funding. Raising adequate funds to assist our future work with the community remains one of our prime challenges.

During the past year, we were actively involved in and commented on the many challenging social issues confronting Australian and overseas communities. This included proposals for Religion & Ethics to be included in the national schools curriculum and the discussion to revise the governments “Definitions of Charity”.

As I reported over a year ago, the FABC also continues with its opposition to the live export trade in cattle and livestock. It is obvious, that no Federal or State government has the ability to control the ‘in-humane’ treatment these defenceless animals receive, once they leave our shores.

Council’s committee members or nominated representatives participated in various activities during the year, with attendance at;

• Meetings with the board of the Australian Partnership of Religious Organisations (APRO)
• A meeting of The Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) in Adelaide
• Government convened meetings of faith representatives, to discuss proposed federal bills on Marriage Equality
• A meeting of senior Sangha and world Buddhists, at the inaugural Global Buddhist Congregation held in New Delhi, India
• Attendance by our nominated young Australia Buddhist, Ms. Anusha from Perth WA, as part of the 2012 Indonesian Arts & Culture Scholarship for Future Faith Leaders, held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia from the 21^st May until 14^th July.

We again received letters of support from the Australian Prime Minister, the Honourable Ms. Julia Gillard MP, and other state Premiers with greeting & support for our Australian Buddhist community’s celebration of ‘Vesak’ – the most important annual event on the Buddhist calendar.

The FABC for the first time this year, signed-off on the appointment of six ordained Buddhist Monks and Nuns as Religious Marriage Celebrants, under the Federal Governments Marriages Act. This important step approved monastic’s to perform legally recognised marriage ceremonies under Australia’s Marriages Act 1961.

In conclusion, I offer sincere gratitude and appreciation to my fellow committee members Jake Mitra, Stewart Jarvis, Anna Markey, Brian Ashen, Brian White, Trevor Robertson, Mohini Gunesekera and Reverend Eido McIntyre - for their ongoing dedication, commitment and support in the efficient running of our council. Thanks are also extended to recently retired members Anna Halafoff and Steve Benton for their past and ongoing work in support of the FABC and its objectives.

With Unending Metta,

Mr. Kim Hollow
President
Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils Incorporated