THE Morisset Showground Trust Board has resigned in the wake of an independent investigation that found the board was not operating “in accordance with required government standards”.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“An administrator is managing the Morisset Showground while more permanent management arrangements are considered, and [the showground] remains open to the community,” Lands Minister Paul Toole told the Lakes Mail.
A spokesperson for the minister’s office said the board members had been afforded procedural fairness throughout the investigation, and had been invited to respond to the investigation’s findings.
Each of the board members – Bruce Gibson, Margrete Erling, Margo Funnell, Rosemairi Dawson and Greg Penfold – elected to resign, the spokesperson said.
The Lakes Mail understands that issues of board governance and protocol were of concern to the investigators. Personality clashes on the board were also believed to have played a role.
Former board secretary Rosmairi Dawson said it was an upsetting outcome.
“I was very disappointed in Crown Lands and the lack of focus in the independent investigation,” Ms Dawson said.
“I believe they’ve taken a blanket solution without understanding the true facts and the specific cause of the trouble.”
She said the problem could have been prevented if Crown Lands had filled vacancies on the trust board created by the resignation of two board members in 2016.
“I wish Crown Lands had filled those vacancies to help create a more balanced trust board,” Ms Dawson said.
She emphasised there had been no allegation, nor findings of, misappropriation of funds.
“The accounts were audited and showed to be in a healthy state. There’s nothing missing. The bank balance was incredibly healthy – in fact, there was more money in the trust’s account than ever,” she said.
The resignations have come as a shock to many in the community.
Improvements made to the showground in recent years had been welcomed. These included improvements to the power supply, stables, yards, and Awaba Street toilets.
Ms Dawson said there were also grant applications pending for money to replace fencing and the entry shade shelter at the venue.
“We’ve been assured the new administrator will continue with those projects,” she said.
The administrator is likely to be in place for 12 months, after which a new trust board will be appointed. The former trust board members will be eligible to reapply for their positions.
Ms Dawson said she planned to reapply.
