2017 Conference: Auckland: 25-27 August
ARPA is pleased to announce the conference hotel: Rydges Auckland: 58 Federal Street.
The local arrangements team, including our own Justin St Vincent reviewed a number of hotels and Rydges stood out with some excellent features. The Awards Dinner will be very special with the Rooftop Terrace room location.
ARPA Executive Meeting
The next ARPA Executive meeting will be the annual face to face meeting in Sydney. We are meeting at the lovely Salvation Army Centre in Sydney: Stanmore House January 20-21. If you have any matters for the executive to consider please advise the Executive Officer. One of the main tasks will be to review the awards for 2017.
Support for Religion on ABC Radio National.
There has been some news coverage of the impact of changes and particularly we note for long-standing ARPA friend John Cleary (more still to be finalised). John has thanked ARPA for our support and concern: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/nov/10/faith-leaders-meet-with-michelle-guthrie-over-abc-religious-programming-cuts
Note (4/12/2016) ARPA has also now received an acknowledgement from the ABC.
2018 Conference – Joint arrangements with ACPA and the Australian Catholic Communications Congress (4-8 September, with ARPA dates 7-8 September)
Allan Sauer and Peter Bentley represented ARPA at the full day planning meeting in Brisbane on Wednesday 30th November. Thank you to Aoife Connors for all the preliminary work and the local members for reviewing possible venues for the 2018 Joint Christian Media gathering.
Christmas gatherings
Many chapters have organised a Christmas gathering. 10 SA Chapter members met for lunch at the Thai Chef Restaurant and acknowledged the retirement of Ros and David Phillips after many years of ARPA involvement. We understand that members of WA Chapter are organising a get together with the encouragement of Heather Dowling and Jamie O’Brian.
On behalf of the Executive, I wish you all a happy and holy Christmas-tide and a fulfilling New Year.
Peter Bentley
Please email the Executive Officer with your news and comments.