About Us
A meeting was convened on Sunday 15th April 2018 at St Patrick's Cathedral Hall in Dawson Street South, Ballarat to establish a Ballarat and District Irish Association.
A good number of people attended and completed a "Register of Interest" form. The meeting commenced following the closure of the Irish Heritage Exhibition presented by Dr Michael Taffe at the same venue.
The meeting adopted the Model rules - inclusive of the name of the organization and a membership fee of $20 as well as the following purposes:
- To create, encourage, develop, and celebrate among the population of Ballarat and district an interest in and an appreciation of our Irish and Australian Irish history and culture including but not limited to music, dance, theatre, literature, poetry, art, language, Irish ancestry, heritage and customs.
- To facilitate, support and participate in special events, festivals, workshops/seminars/conferences.
- To affiliate as appropriate with complementary organisations
- To provide suitable facilities and other resources for the benefit, education and enjoyment of members and guests.
Our Inaugural Committee were:President: Brian Shanahan OAM, Secretary: Catriona Banks, Vice President: Phillip Moore, Treasurer: Dr Michael Taffe,
Cultural Heritage: Anne Beggs-Sunter, Events & Entertainment: Jeanne Wheeler, Promotion/Media/Facebook: Helen Bath, Membership: Clara Geoghegan
Current Committee members are:
President: Helen Bath
Vice President: Mary Darcy
Secretary: Veronica Lowe
Treasurer: Rex Carland
Committee: Jeanne Wheeler (Events), Dr Michael Taffe (History), Robert Bath (Community Liaison), Pauline O'Shannessy-Dowling (Arts Community Liaison)
