AA Around Australia - Alcoholics Anonymous

September 2015
IN THIS
ISSUE:
Coming Events
2
Conference Topics 4
Positions Vacant
7
National Forum
9
AA Offices
AA Around Australia
Australians flock to International
Convention
12
Quarterly newsletter
published by the
General Service
Office of
Alcoholics
Anonymous
Australia
Send story
contributions to
chris@aa.org.au
(02) 9599-8866
(02) 9599-8844
gso@aa.org.au
48 Firth Street,
Arncliffe NSW
2205
www.aa.org.au
A reader recounts the Atlanta
experience…….
57,000 people in one spot is
not usually my idea of a good
time. Who willingly goes to an
event where you queue
twenty minutes for vile coffee,
or forty for a Waffle House
breakfast? Nonetheless, it
was impossible not to be
caught up in the spirit
flooding the Georgia World
Congress Centre over the
three
days
of
the
AA
International Convention in
Atlanta, Georgia celebrating
80 years of Recovery.
In
the
true
spirit
of
anonymity, not one of the
hundreds of bright blue,
yellow and white Happy
Joyous and Free convention
banners fluttering throughout the
CBD,
contained
the
words
Alcoholics Anonymous.
And there was no doubting the
power of the three main events in
the adjacent Georgia Dome. The
flag ceremony was a strangely
moving event, made all the more
poignant by the sentimental
music blasting over the speakers.
It took a moment to recognize it
was the theme from The Man from
Snowy River. The Australians
went nuts. Fittingly, Roy A, a
Koori from Gosford in NSW,
stepped up to the podium to be
the final speaker of the opening
night.
The first speaker that night was
deaf. He signed his story while a
nuanced translator conveyed it to
us. Not only was the man
alcoholic and deaf, he was also
Continued page 3
page 2
National
Calendar of events
The National Convention
There is no National Convention
being held in Australia in 2016.
An Australasian Convention will
be held in Suva, Fiji in 2016 !
www.aanatcon.org.au for more
information.
International Events
AA International Convention
July 2020: Detroit, Michigan
USA
More details as they happen !
Slovenia: 4th International
Convention 2-4 October 2015
More info
aaconvention.slo@gmail.com
Queensland
National PI/CPC Forum 2015
11-13 September at Gold Coast
Southport Community Centre,
Lawson Street. See story pg 9
Toowoomba Rally 16th-18th
October, 2015
Le Grezze Retreat, Barber Road,
Highfields Qld
Steps to Sobriety weekend
South Australia
Hong Kong International
Convention 6-8 November 2015
at The Mariner's Club, Trim Sha
Tsui, Kowloon
www.hkconvention.org
Coober Pedy Rally 8th to 10th
July 2016
Catholic Church, Hutchison
Street, Coober Pedy
Come mine some spiritual gems
in the desert where our National
Gem stone is found and whence
80 percent of the world's opal
comes.
New South Wales
Victoria
Murwillumbah Rally - 60 years
on ! 25th to 27th Sept
at Murwillumbah Showgrounds
commencing Fri evening
Camping/caravaning available
powered and unpowered sites.
Melbourne AA Steps Weekend
4-6 September, 2015
Banyule Theatre, 10
Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg
http://stepsweekend.org.au
5th Byron Bay Annual
Convention 9th - 11th October
2015
Byron Community Centre,
Jonson Street, Byron Bay
email:
afullandthankfulheart@gmail.co
m or call 0431 468 087
Shepparton/Mooroopna 60th
AA Anniversary 16th-18th
October
Shepparton North Education &
Community Centre 10-14
Parkside Drive, North
Shepparton
NewYPAA 2015 Convention
10th-11th October NewYPAA
stands for NSW Young People in
AA.
These events are convened by
young people in AA for those of
any age to attend and enjoy !
Diamond Valley Rally 21st22nd November, 2015 at
Hurstbridge
Hurstbridge Community Hub, 50
Graysharps Road.
Website
diamondreflections.aagroup.org.
au
Foster Rally 23rd-25th
October, 2015
Rally in the Manning Great
Lakes District at Camp Elim
If you would like your
fellowship event listed on the national AA
website, please email tony@aa.org.au or
write to General Service Office, 48 Firth
Street, Arncliffe, NSW 2205.
HAVE YOU LOGGED
IN TO THE
SERVICE
WEBSITE?
Share your experience
and gain some
inspiration from what
others are doing.
www.aaservice.org.au
page 3
National Treatment and Correctional
Facilities Forum 2016
The committee is being
formed and the venue
already
organised.
Townsville has a lot to offer
for the tourist so plan to
stay a little longer and
enjoy the sights, and for
those from the south the
great weather, which is at
its best at that time of the
year.
Put North Queensland on
you calendar in October
2016.
The
National
Treatment and Correctional
Atlanta Con’t
Jewish and Gay. Cop that!
He said he didn’t wish to
be known as a member
with special needs but as a
member
who
requires
facilitation. He asked how
we might handle the
meeting if everyone was
deaf and there was no one
to translate for us.
Over the next two days
there were around fourteen
meetings and workshops
s c h ed ul e d
ev ery
90
minutes. Even so, if you
chose to attend a meeting,
you sometimes had to
queue for up to an hour.
Meetings
ranged
from
around 900 to 10,000
people and each was
packed.
So we look forward to
seeing
old
and
new
members to come and have
your say and perhaps gain
some new ideas. We will do
Facilities forum is to be our best to insure a good
held in Townsville from time is had by all.
Friday 31st September to
Sunday 2nd October 2016.
The old timers meeting on
the Saturday night was a
riot, much of it unintended.
More than one hundred
members with fifty years of
sobriety or more, including
our own Ron C, sat in a
special section in front of
the stage. Twelve names
were drawn from a big
artificial peach. The chosen
members took to the stage
and were given five minutes
each to share. It’s was a
joyful
celebration
of
longevity in AA.
At the final meeting, two
nuns from the Order of the
Sisters of Charity, Sister
Ignatius’ religious order,
were presented with the 35
millionth copy of the Big
Book as a thank you to the
little nun and her orders
tireless devotion to drunks.
For me, the most powerful
moment of the convention
was when the second
speaker, a young man,
dressed in what appeared
to be a fireman’s uniform,
arrived at the podium. His
name was Jason and he
was
from
a
nearby
penitentiary.
Jason
is
serving a 16 year prison
sentence for homicide after
having a car accident in a
blackout and killing his
best friend. The strain on
this young man as he
shared his story to an
arena full of strangers was
palpable. As he shared
about finding recovery in
gaol and of the love he
received from his sponsor,
it was impossible not to be
moved.
page 4
Conference Topics
Conference Report Charter
& Service Manual
Committee
Topic 011/2015
That the Literature Committee
review AA Guideline 22 for
grammatical and other errors.
There is reference in this
Guideline to the Al Anon
anonymity statement: “What you
hear here…”
AA has its own anonymity
statement for AA meetings
(available from GSO) Conference
should only allow AA Statements
within Conference approved
literature.
Topic 028/2015
We are suggesting Additional
wording in the guidelines for
conventions to read “as a
suggestion a table be made
available, if possible, for Flyers
for Rallies, roundups and tag-a
longs.
Topic 035 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the attached Guideline for the
Remot e Communit ies Co ordinator Role be adopted.
Topic 038 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the National Treatment &
Correctional Facilities Forum
incorporate sessions for people
with special needs into their
programme.
Topic 041/2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the following paragraph be added
to the Area Delegate section of
the Service Manual:
Two hats
In AA it seems there are always
more service positions than
people to fill them. And if we do
manage to fill them, we create
still more. As a result, some
members may feel pressure to
shoulder more than one service
role at a time. On the surface
this may appear to be expedient.
After all ‘someone has to do it’.
However, the following issues
need to be considered by any
member contemplating donning
two hats;
Holding two service positions
simultaneously deprives other
members of the opportunity to
serve.
Sometimes it’s better to leave a
position vacant for a while.
Someone will decide to step up,
or be encouraged to volunteer, if
they understand the need.
When a member wears two hats,
there is a real danger of a conflict
of interest and an inclination to
undue influence.
When it comes to general service,
experience shows it’s usually
better to do one job well than
two jobs poorly.
Conference International
Committee
Topic 033 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the
sum
of
$2000
be
contributed to the AOSM
Secretariat.
Contributions to
the AOSM Secretariat are used
to pay for the travel and
accommodation expenses for
the AOSM Secretary and
Chairman to attend the AOSM,
website expenses and any
shortfall there may be at the
AOSM.
These funds are not
used to financially sponsor
another country to attend. That
responsibility lies with the
secretary putting out the call for
Country
to
Country
sponsorship.
It
is
recommended
that
no
contributions be made until the
current AOSM Financial Report
has been received
Conference Treatment
Facilities Committee
Topic 006/2015
To have a register of treatment
facilities (including local medical
centres and alcohol and drug
treatment centres) submitted on
the National website under the
area in which they exist. It
should be made clear that this
website is to encourage districts
to continually undertake the
responsibility of delivering
literature to same.
Topic 036/2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the Conference Treatment
Facilities Committee be renamed
the Treatment & Special Needs
Committee. All non-remote areas
now listed under the scope of the
Conference Remote Communities
Committee to be transferred to
the Treatment & Special Needs
Committee. The General Service
Board has implemented this
c h a n g e t o t h e Tr u s t e es ’
Treatment Facilities Committee.
Conference Correctional
Facilities Committee
No topics were allocated to this
Committee
Combined Conference
Treatment and Correctional
Facilities Committees
Topic 010/2015
Clarify, determine, define and
update the Guidelines for
nomination and appointment of
all Co-ordinators. This is
currently covered by Guideline
30 – PI & CPC and T & CF Coordinators and Forum
Conference Policies and
Admissions Committee
Topic #003/2015
That Conference considers that
at all Conventions the Tea/Coffee
be part of the registration cost
IE: Tea and Coffee would be
available at no charge and made
available to all attending
(includes visitors/observers).
page 5
Conference Topics
Topic 008/2015
That the Fellowship of Alcoholics
Anonymous Australia takes its
Inventory on how our AA
Structure works in AA Australia.
Topic 020/2015
That Advisory Action #46/2014
which states
“Conference resolved that, in
future, the Chairperson of the
General Service Board should
open the Conference with an
Acknowledgment of Country
statement.” be revoked.
This advisory action is against
the Traditions of the AA
fellowship.
Topic 012/2015
Will Conference give guidance to
Areas regarding action to take
when a delegate is not carrying
out his/her duties?
For
example, a delegate not attending
Area
Assemblies,
not
communicating with groups, not
make an attempt to consult with
groups for their views on
Conference topics, not providing
a delegate report to Conference,
etc. We realise that in many
cases, it would be an Area
responsibility to set procedures.
However, as delegates also hold a
position at the General Service
Conference,
we
believe
Conference has a responsibility
to clearly state the expected
standard for the delegate
position.
Topic 013/2015
That when an inaccurate/false/
defamatory statement about the
General Service Board, General
Service Office or General Service
Conference is published by an
individual member or AA entity,
this
misinformation
be
immediately corrected by a
statement from the General
Service Board. Lack of reaction,
with
back
up
accurate
information,
is
causing
unnecessary confusion and
mistrust in the Fellowship and
damaging the individuals who
are being targeted by malicious
mischief makers.
Topic 025 /2015
Regions and States are not part
of our Fellowship’s service
structure.
Using
either
expression in relation to Areas is
confusing. It has diminished the
importance of the Areas so that,
being fixed in States or Regions,
we hav e nev er pr oper ly
developed Areas as they should
be.
Topic 027 /2015
National .Conventions not to be
held over Easter or any weekend
where a Public Holiday is
involved
Topic 032 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
when
an
Ar e a
b id s at
Conference to host a National
event, such as the National
PI&CPC Forum or the National
T&CF Forum, an undertaking be
given that it understood that the
relevant National Co-ordinator is
an ex officio member of the
committee and, as such, will be
contacted to be involved in the
planning of the event and the
pr oduction of the event
programme.
Topic 040 /2015
The Fellowship is asked to
provide feedback to the General
Service Conference 2015 on
whether non Area Delegate
Conference Members (Trustees,
World Service Delegates, GSO
Manager) should have a vote at
Conference Committee level.
Topic 005/2015
Could the ID meeting label
please be given the same priority
as all the other meetings in the
GSO data base and be allowed
to be added into the GSO data
base under the heading Type.
Conference Public
Information & Co-Operation
with the Professional
Community Committee
Topic 014/2015
W hen AA exhibit s at a
professional event, as it does
regularly, the AA co-ordinator
must ensure that a list of
contacts is obtained, so that the
National PI&CPC Co-ordinator
can follow up after the event.
The AA co-ordinator should also
provide a report to the National
PI&CPC Co-ordinator, including
information such as number who
attended the event, amount of
literature distributed, what
professionals were/were not
interested in, etc. The National
PI&CPC Co-ordinator should
provide the AA co-ordinator with
a contacts list to be completed,
and a template for producing a
report.
Topic 016/2015
I think it would be beneficial to
have an overlap in the National
PI & CPC Co-ordinators Position,
even 6 months would be helpful
Topic 022 /2015
That a National Technology and
Soci al Me dia C o o r dinat or
position be created to assist the
fellowship with the challenges we
are facing in the new digital age.
Topic 026 /2015
Conference suggests that for
Public Information purposes a
copy of the 2nd Australian edition
of the Big Book be donated to
every council library and branch
thereof within their area within
the next 12 months
Conference Finance
Committee
Topic: 001/2015
That the General Service Office.
Introduce a standard pricing
schedule for the freighting of
literature to ALL CSOs in
Australia.
Topic 019/2015
AA Australia sets up a Virtual
Online bookstore that members
can order literature from and
have it sent to them.
page 6
Conference Topics
Topic 029 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
two General Service Office staff
members be listed as signatories
of last resort to any group bank
accounts set up with Bendigo
bank. This is suggested so that
groups can gain access to their
bank account in the event that
one or more group signatories
cannot be located. The release of
funds using the signatories of
last resort would only be
instituted at the written request
of the group.
Topic 030/2015
The General Service Board
requests that the General Service
Conference increase the annual
current limits for bequests and
donations by individuals to the
General Service Board, as
follows:
Donations: Increase from $6,050
to $15,000
Bequests: Increase from $14,850
to $25,000.
Topic 037 /2015
Conference Remote
Communities Committee
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the
Conference
Remote
Communities change their
Composition, Scope & Procedure
Document to reflect that this
committee will focus only on
carrying the message to people
living in geographically remote
communities in Australia.
Conference Literature
Committee
Topic #002/2015
A national publication for the
Australian
Fellowship
of
Alcoholics Anonymous, along the
lines of the AA Grapevine in
North America and in line with
established AA fellowships
worldwide.
Topic 015/2015
Category 3.
To reproduce
cartoon
Youtube English
Members go to jail
conference approved. video
based on a message to
teenagers brochure using
Australian voices and contact
information.
Topic 021 /2015
That conference creates a new
piece of literature on the topic of
sponsoring into service. A book
of suggestions and guidelines to
help with the role of being a
service sponsor.
Topic 023 /2015
Consider developing
pamphlet for new
coming into AA.
a new
women
Topic 024 /2015
Category 3.
The production of 2 new Public
Information posters aimed at
attracting young people with
drinking problems into recovery
in AA.
Topic 031 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
the attached ‘Self Support’ card
be printed and made available
to groups as a Category 3
literature item.
Topic 034 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to the General
Service Conference that a
calendar of events be published
on the service and national
websites.
Conference Committee on
Trustees
No topics were allocated to this
committee
Conference Agenda
Committee
Topic 039 /2015
The General Service Board
recommends to Conference that
from 2016, the Conference
Agenda be changed as per the
attached suggestion.
An
analysis of topic categories over
the last ten years has also been
attached.
T
wo members from Area D
Eastern Region attended
a Community Expo at the
South Coast Correctional Centre
(SCCC) in South Nowra on
Thursday 25 June 2015. This
was a great opportunity to carry
the AA message to inmates and
network with other service providers.
The aim of the expo was to provide service information, a point
of contact and to provide an opportunity for increased awareness of local community, education, employment pathways and
vocational services for people
who are incarcerated in preparation for their release and to support individual’s needs as they
return to their respective communities.
We were asked to arrive at the
SCCC about 8.30 am to begin
the lengthy process of entering
the centre which included being
entered on to the biometrics system by taking a finger print, iris
scan and photo then passing
through a metal detector and
finally being manually scanned
for contraband.
Once inside we gathered with
the other 30 service providers
which included both Government and Non-Government organisations. We were given a
small table to set up our resources which included the
pamphlets “Where do we go from
Here”, “AA at a Glance”, “It Sure
Beats Sitting in a Cell”, “Is AA
for You”, “A Newcomer Asks”,
“AA for the Indigenous Australian”, “If you are a Professional”plus “Just for Today Cards”,
the A4 PI Posters, 1300 222 222
business cards, “Bridging the
Gap Flyer”, pocket sized Big
Books and meetings lists.
The Inmates came through in
two separate sessions and we
were able to connect with many
of them and pass on our resources and share our experience strength and hope.
What a privilege to be free and a
blessing to participate in such a
worthwhile experience.
page 7
Positions Vacant
NATIONAL REMOTE COMMUNITIES
CO-ORDINATOR
he term of office is four
years, taking effect on 1st
March 2015.
The new Co-ordinator is
appointed by the Chairman of the
Trustees’ Remote Communities
Committee, in consultation with the
General Service Board.
The responsibilities of the
Co-ordinator are:
To actively encourage and promote
the growth of Remote Communities
activities throughout Australia.
Remote communities are defined as
those separated from the programme
and Fellowship of Alcoholics
Anonymous by language, geography,
culture, impairment of sight,
hearing, mental health and other
permanent or temporary disabilities.
T
To act as a positive communication
link, through reporting, writing,
email, the Service website and
displays between all parts of the
Fellowship with an interest in
relevant Service work;
Be in regular contact with the
Chairperson of the Trustees’ Remote
Communities Committee in order to
be apprised of Service opportunities;
Liaise with the Board and General
Service Office in seeking or conveying
requested information, and in
implementing national scale projects;
Send short Reports on main
activities (dot points) to the February
& July Board meetings via the
General Service Office with cc to the
Chair of the relevant Trustees’
Committee, and report fully to the
Board and annual GS Conference in
November.
Publish and distribute a monthly
newsletter sharing information on AA
activities in Remote Communities.
S h a r e in f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d in g
activities in Remote Communities on
the service website.
REGIONAL REMOTE COMMUNITIES
CO-ORDINATORS
e are seeking a co-ordinator
in New South Wales,
Victor ia,
Queens land,
Central Australia, Western Australia,
A u s tr a lian Cap ita l Te r r ito r y ,
Northern Territory and Tasmania.
The term will be for the duration of
the term of the National Remote
W
Communities Co-ordinator (usually
4 years). This will leave the Regional
Co-ordinators free to apply for the
National Co-ordinator position when
it becomes vacant.
The co-ordinators will be the contact
point for the National Co-ordinator
and will assist in all relevant
projects.
REGIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION &
CO-OPERATION WITH THE
PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY COORDINATORS
W
e are seeking a co-ordinator in
New South Wales, Victor ia,
Queensland, Central Australia,
Western Australia, Australian
Capital Territory, Northern Territory
and Tasmania.
The term will be for the duration of
the term of the National PI&CPC Coordinator (usually 4 years). This will
leave the Regional Co-ordinators free
to apply for the National Coordinator position when it becomes
vacant.
The co-ordinators will be the contact
point for the National Co-ordinator
and will assist in all relevant
projects.
REGIONAL TREATMENT FACILITIES
CO-ORDINATORS
W
e are seeking a coordinator in New South
Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Central
Australia, Western Australia,
Australian Capita l Territory,
Northern Territory and Tasmania.
A
The term will be for the duration of
the term of the National Treatment
Facilities Co-ordinator (usually 4
years). This will leave the Regional
Co-ordinators free to apply for the
National Co-ordinator position when
it becomes vacant.
The co-ordinators will be the contact
point for the National Co-ordinator
and will assist in all relevant
projects.
REGIONAL CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES CO-ORDINATORS
W
e are seeking a coordinator in New South
Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Central
Australia, Western Australia,
A u s tra lian C ap ita l Te r r ito ry ,
Northern Territory and Tasmania.
The term will be for the duration of
the term of the National Correctional
Facilities Co-ordinator (usually 4
years). This will leave the Regional
Co-ordinators free to apply for the
National Co-ordinator position when
it becomes vacant.
The co-ordinators will be the contact
point for the National Co-ordinator
and will assist in all relevant
projects.
If you are interested in applying for
any of these positions, please contact
tony@aa.org.au or (02) 9599 8866
for an application form.
The
deadline for receipt of application
forms is Friday 30th January 2015.
National Archivist
voluntary position is available for a suitable AA member as
Australian National Archivist
The role of the Archivist is concerned with preserving and
organising records of AA history already to hand and
al s o wit h seeking out further material.
Archives of our Australian Fellowship are housed at the General
Service Office, Arncliffe
Duration of appointment: 4 years
Weekly visits to GSO Arncliffe are envisaged
Please contact tony@aa.org.au for an application form
Key Skills:
inquisitive, methodical and logical approach
excellent administrative skills
a high level of computer literacy is mandatory
able to relate well to a wide range of personal sources
an excellent verbal communicator
able to carry out independent research
forward-thinking, with an ability to anticipate and prepare for
Price: $1for
fromarchived
your AA stockist
changing demands
information
page 8
Atherton celebrates 60 years at same venue
The first AA meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous in Cairns
was held on 6th July 1953. One of these first members,
Bill K, lived in Mareeba. He would walk and hitch hike
each week to get to the AA meeting in Cairns.
Eventually, in October 1953, he started a meeting in the
Presbyterian Hall, Mareeba. In 1955, construction had
started on the Tinaroo Dam and as Bill K was working
there, he started the Tinaroo AA meeting in May 1955.
This group quickly grew and as many of its members
lived in Atherton; it was decided to start a meeting there.
When the dam was finished in 1959, the town virtually
died and consequently the AA meeting there closed.
There were six founding members of the Atherton group.
The first meeting was a public meeting held on the 7th
July 1955 at the CWA hall, Jack Street, Atherton. One of
the guest speakers at this meeting was a local doctor, Dr
Alf Ottone, who sent many people to AA over the years.
The group continued to hold public meetings regularly for
some years as they were well attended by the public and
professionals in those early days.
In 1986 the Atherton group started a meeting in Malanda
but this closed in about 1997. The Group reopened the
meeting in Feb 2006 and it is still going strong.
Like most AA groups, the numbers have fluctuated but
the doors have always been kept open. The group has
continued to meet at the same time every Saturday night,
in the same hall since its first meeting on 7 July 1955.
Each year since 2007 we started celebrating the Group’s
birthday with a Spiritual Concepts meeting on a Sunday
morning at Hallorans Hill, Atherton.
Has your group been at the same venue for a very long
time? Send us a short story and picture
More hand lettered banners — this time from
Mitchell
Price:$0.25
Price:$0. from
your
AA Stockist
25 from
Has your group got some relics? (NO, we don’t mean the Older Sober
Member) Send pictures of your group’s
AA
Handicrafts
to chris@aa.org.au
Price:
Price: $1
$1 from
from your
your AA
AA stockist
stockist
page 9
National Public Information and
Co operation with the Professional
Community Forum
O
n the Friday the
September 2015 until
Sunday
the
13th
September
2015,
The
National PI & CPC Forum
will be held at the
Southport
Community
Centre,
Lawson
St.
Southport,
on
the
fabulous Gold Coast. The
theme for the 2015 forum
is ‘Reaching the Third
Person.” Everything is on
track in the preparation
for the forum and we have
received 5,000 programs
from the printers which we
are in the process of
distributing to all Central
Service Offices around
Australia and also too
many groups. If you
require
any
more
information
or
more
brochures for distribution,
then please ring or email
me at the info at the end
of this report, or you can
go directly to our website
at http://natpicpc.org.au/
and you can down load the
full colour or greyscale
brochure there.
11th
be speaking on different
topics that relate to both
PI and CPC among those
presenting will be Leigh F
our National PI & CPC
Coordinator, Kel M who
works with the homeless
people in shelters and on
the fringe, Anne O’C is the
District
Committee
Member
for
Peninsula
District Victoria and is a
good communicator at the
level
of
speaking
in
schools. Brett F is the
newly appointed Trustee
and has a good working
knowledge of speaking at
any level of PI or CPC. We
will also be having panels
and question and answer
sessions
and
sharing
sessions including Service
Sponsorship. We hope for
a great turnout for the
week end so that we can
generate some good brain
storming that can be used
to
help
our
Public
Information
Committees
gain more knowledge and
also attract more people
into service work.
Public
Information
( P .I . )
in
A lco h o li c s
Anonymous
means
carrying the message of
recovery to the stillalcoholic
by
We will have a selection of suffering
the
general
speakers
from
various informing
parts of Australia who will
public about the A.A.
program. We carry the
message by getting in
touch
with
and
responding to the media,
schools,
industry
and
other organizations which
can report on the nature
and purpose of A.A. and
what it can do for
alcoholics.
Cooperation with the
Professional Community
(CPC)
work
means
informing
professionals
about
Alcoholics
Anonymous - what we
are, where we are, what
we can do and what we
cannot do. We try to
establish
better
communications between
AA
members
and
professionals and to find
simple, effective ways of
AAAAAAG*

Quarterly national service
newsletter of AA Australia

More than 1700 copies printed
each issue

Stories from individuals, groups,
areas or districts about
newsworthy initiatives welcome

First published as News Digest in
1969. Renamed AA Around
Australia in March 1972
*AA Around Australia At A Glance
page 10
Group Contributions June to September
CENTRAL REGION
Area A CR
Coffin Bay
Gawler
Junction Midday
Kapunda
Kilburn
North Adelaide Tuesday
Port Adelaide Friday
Port Lincoln Friday
Riverton
Salisbury Wednesday
Salisbury Saturday
Salisbury Sunday
Salisbury Friday
Sunday Women's
Taperoo
Tea Tree Gully
Two Wells
Total Area A:
Area B CR
Aldgate
Bedford Park
Belair
Breakfast Groups
Burnside Welcome
Christies Beach
Christies Connection
City Beginners
Eastwood Recovery
Flinders St Friday
Glenelg
Goolwa
Hackham Wednesday
Maslin Beach
Murray Bridge
Norwood
Park Holme
Payneham
Strathalbyn Sunday
Sunday Women's
Victor Harbour Friday
Yankalilla
Total Area B:
Total Central Region:
EASTERN REGION
Area A ER
Area A
Alstonville Sun BBS
Armidale Free To Be
Brunswick Heads
Glen Innes Mon
Laurieton
Lismore Central
Macksville Sun Night
Mullumbimby S&T
Nambucca Sun SC
Northern Rivers District
Wauchope
Total Area A:
CR
CR/A
Area B ER
Back to Basics
Barton Tues Lunchtime
Batemans Bay
Bawley Point
Bega
Beginners Group (ACT)
City Central Steps
Daily Reflections
ER/B
98
114
117.3
72.9
63.61
31.8
69.56
30
18.6
30
75
41.51
50.51
20.55
144.2
62.62
45.25
1085.41
CR/B
165
60
41.85
69.33
90
37.95
7.8
90
72
7.5
154.04
103.4
60
91.57
60
557.27
81.5
138
49.5
27.56
30.5
60
2054.77
3140.18
ER
ER/A
750
45.55
9.4
200
76.5
100
60
100
53
250
825
150
1823.9
60
120
100
214.3
100
81
55.22
65.85
Daily Reprieve
Goulburn Doers
Interchange Group
Lakeside BBS
Sixth Chapter Mens Group
Total Area B:
Area C ER
Gosford City Beginners
Lambton BBS
Newcastle Beginners
Newcastle Freedom
Newcastle Sun Topic
FOTS Newcastle
Raymond Terrace Mon Night
Saratoga Fri Night
Terrigal Beach
Truth Rutherford
Woy Woy Steps
Wyong Beginners
Unspecified Contributions
Total Area C:
Area D ER
Ashfield BBS Tuesday
Auburn St Josephs
Kogarah Beginners Thurs Night
Liverpool Sunday
Oatley Living Sober
Revesby
Towradgi
West Wollongong BBS
Total Area D:
Area E ER
Area F ER
Bathurst Fri Night Steps
Bathurst Tues Night
Dubbo Sun Steps
Lithgow Thurs
Orange
Orange Tues Night
Wagga Wagga Steps
Total Area F:
Area G ER
Balmain Thurs pm
Birchgrove
Bondi Junct Mon Noon
Bondi Junct Womens
Darlinghurst 6.30 Tuesday
Erskineville
The Into Action Group
Leichhardt Saturday
Newtown DR
Newtown Fri 8pm
Randwick S&T
Rozelle Sun 9am
Surry Hills Sun SC GL&T
City Lawyers
Vaucluse Tuesday Night
Wesley Groups
Woolloomooloo Sun
Total Area G:
Area H ER
Blacktown Hospital
Blue Mountains Rally
Katoomba GLT
Katoomba Wednesday
Penrith Sunlight
Seven Hills Mon Night
Springwood Wed Night
Total Area H:
Total Eastern Region:
60
72
21
30
66.3
1045.67
ER/C
218
40
20
65
150
7
250
60
340
100
60
40
867.68
2217.68
ER/D
80
160
200
53.58
28.3
100
210
105
936.88
ER/E
ER/F
50
50
500
200
200
300
10
1310
ER/G
72
180
29.5
82.28
84
180
300
576
246.44
30
180
84
197.52
48.9
100
426.74
260.5
2817.38
ER/H
45
110
50
12
100
36
150
503
10600.93
SOUTHERN REGION
Area A SR
Area B SR
Albury Wodonga Anniver
Bendigo Beginners
Bendigo Fri
Castlemaine
Markwood Wed Night
Mooroopna Wed
Chapter 6 Motorcycle
Shepparton Fri
Wangaratta Sunday
Total Area B:
Area C SR
Belmont Unity Recovery
Bentleigh Life's in Session
Breakfast With Bill
Caulfield Sober Saturday
Glen Waverley TiaS
Mornington AVFY
Sth Melbourne Mens
Sth Melbourne Recovery
Womens Recovery
Total Area C:
Area D SR
Ballarat District
Clifton Hill Big Wednesday
Flemington Discussion
Footscray Thurs
Geelong Into Action
Geelong Thumpers
Hoppers Crossing Thurs
Moonee Ponds Big Book Tues
Werribee Fri Night
Westhope Recovery
Western Unity
Total Area D:
Hobart Womens
King Island
Sandy Bay
Total Area E:
Total Southern Region:
NORTH EASTERN REGION
Area A NER
Cairns Beginners
Cairns Steps Tues
Mackay District
Mackay Hope
Mackay Pioneer
North Qld District Association
Townsville Warburton St
Townsville PP
Upper Ross/Rollingstone
Total Area A:
Area B NER
Aspley Sat am
Bargara
Bray Park BBS
Bribie Island Recovery
Brisbane City Lunchtime
Buddina Monday noon
Bundaberg Wed Midday
Caboolture Big Book
Caboolture Sunday
Caloundra ID Wed
Clontarf SC
Cooloola Cove
Coolum Beach Sat
Groups via District 9
SR
SR/A
SR/B
111.6
100
70
80
164.02
68
200
29.75
24
847.37
SR/C
60
23.5
234
45
305
20
28.72
200
50
966.22
SR/D
250
100
300
165
90
23.4
200
105
113
300
225
1871.4
150
40
39.2
229.2
3914.19
NER
NER/A
125
75
150
90
60
1000
150
20
35
1705
NER/B
120
60
70
240
50
147
180
150
90
126
150
50
54
2000
page 11
Group Contributions June to September
Dorrington Steps
Gympie
Gympie BBS
Hervey Bay Thursday pm
Landsborough
Maroochydore Friday ID
Mitchell
Morven
Murgon
Nambour Saturday Night
Newstead GLBT
Nundah Tues/Sun
Redcliffe LS
Sandgate/Brighton Steps
Sobriety Sister weekend
Tin Can Bay 12 x 12
Total Area B:
Area C NER
Amity Steps Mon
Annerley Living Sober
Annerley DR Mon
Ashmore Tues
Brisbane Traditions
Browns Plains
Burleigh Heads 8pm Mon
Burleigh Heads Early Birds
Burleigh Hds Old Timers
Burleigh Heads Womens
Burleigh Heads Sun 5.30
Chirn Park/Labrador
Clear Isl Waters Womens
Coomera BB Monday 7pm
Coomera Trads Thurs 7pm
Cooparoo Day
Currumbin/Tugun Thurs
Greenslopes
Helensvale Tues 8pm
Indooroopilly HP
Ipswich Chapter 6
Isle of Capri Sat
Kangaroo Point Tue Night
Kenmore ID
Mermaid Beach Fri 5:30
Mt Tamborine
Mt Gravatt Sun Night
New Farm
Palm Beach Tues 7pm
Palm Beach Sa 5:30 Topic
Palm Beach BB Wed 7pm
Paradise Point Fri 6pm
Paradise Point Sun 5pm
Silkstone Booval Serenity
Southport Mon 12pm
Southport Mon Womens BB
Southport Sat 10am
Southport Sun BB 6pm
Southport Sun 9am
Southport Thurs Topic 10
Southport Wed 10.30am
Southport Wed 6pm
Southport Wed 10:30am
Southport Wed Beginners
Springwood Topics
Toowoomba Beginners
Toowoomba How
Toowoomba Fri LS
Toowoomba Step 11
Toowoomba Thurs 10am
Tweed Heads Mon 7.30
160
63
60
91.29
6.75
90
45.73
354
80
65.76
45
180
60
60
150
130
5128.53
NER/C
20
20
75.79
30
90
210
48.3
475
63.6
105
60
69
71
41.94
153.15
470.04
84
158.97
60
80
20
102.8
210
78
34.8
100
100
210.8
75
150
80.1
45
90
120
58.5
39.5
90.25
103.8
24.15
39.05
30
39.35
30
50.6
90
240
60
210
145
180
45
Tweed Hds Thurs 1.30pm
Tweed Heads Sat 8pm
West End Monday
Woodridge Sun Morning
Yeronga BB Basics
Zillmere Wed Night
Total Area C:
Total NER:
WESTERN REGION
Area A WR
Balga
Butler
By The Book Speakers
Greenwood Warwick
Heathridge Womens
High Wycombe Steps
Joondanna Wed
Joondanna Fri
Maylands Daybreak
Nedlands Breakfast
Nedlands Womens
North Beach
Northam
Northbridge SC
Port Hedland
Scarborough Encourage
Subiaco BB
Vincent St Morning
Wanneroo
Total Area A:
Area B WR
Armadale
Armadale Womens
Beaconsfield Womens
Busselton
Fremantle Doctor
Fremantle Serenity Group
Fremantle SC
Fremantle Unity
Kwinana Town
Men into Action
Mundijong
Rockingham Peoples Gr
Willagee Men ID
Total Area B:
Total Western Region:
NORTHERN REGION
Area A NR
Darwin Daily Reflections
Darwin Harbour View
Darwin Steps
Darwin Wed Night
Parap
Total Northern Region:
Unknown Internet Deposits
8/6 Donne
4/6 15126
1/7 Twilight
8/7 Mountain Recovery
10/7 005611
7/8 Sunday Topic
7/8 Breakfast with Bill n Bob
7/8 Seize the Day
7/8 Central Murray
20/7 Nth Brisbane SC
24/7 4825
30
144
53.91
60
105
60
5730.4
12563.93
WR
WR/A
120
90
60
800
60
75
90
81
30
190.8
165
165
45
59.6
162.85
461.26
60
225
240
3180.51
WR/B
90
30
30
1800
44.66
60
120
24
40
66
30
200
50
2584.66
5765.17
NR
NR/A
84
90
20.75
26
480.98
701.73
Unknown
17.25
75.88
360
400
120
180
50
300
300
23
40
13/7 Sunrise
24/8 AA Tuesday pm
27/8 Central Service
Total Unknown Deposits:
TOTAL ALL REGIONS:
LIM - Australia Donations
TOTAL LIM
Total
50
60
60
1916.13
38602.26
290
290
$38892.96
Thanks to all groups for your support
If your group would like to make a
contribution to General Service Office,
please make all cheques or money orders
payable to: The General Service Board of
Alcoholics Anonymous Australia. If making a
contribution via internet transfer, BSB
012006 Acc 009750529. Please make sure
you write down in the memo what group the
donation is from. If your group isn’t listed
correctly, please call General Service Office
02 9599 8866
From the Australian General
Service Conference of 1974:
That the Australian Service
Conference on behalf of all AA
members in Australia pledges
that we accept responsibility
for the maintenance of a
General Service Office and
ask the groups in Australia to
provide the necessary finance
to carry out this task.
page 12
AA offices in Australia
Central Region (SA)
Adelaide Room 120, 38 Gawler
Pl, Adelaide 5000.
Bus (08) 8227 0046,
A/H (08) 8227 0334.
North Eastern Region
(QLD)
Brisbane Annerley City Library
Annexe, 450 Ipswich Road,
Annerley.4103.
Eastern Region (NSW & 12 Step: (07) 3255-9162
Office Tel (07) 3255-9962
ACT)
PO Box 299, Annerley, D.C. 4103
Sydney City The Crypt, 17
Adelaide Street, Bondi Junction. Buddina Kawana Community
Centre 86 Undarra St., Buddina
Bus. (02) 9389 6333
24 hrs. (07) 5444 8616, PO Box
24 hrs. (02) 9387 7788
1018 Buddina QLD 4575
PO Box 478, Bondi Junction
Cairns Suite 18, First Floor,
2022 .
Crangold Building, 129A Lake
Northern Sydney Kuringai
Street. Phone (07) 4051-2872.
Community Groups Centre, cnr
PO Box 2089 Cairns CBD 4870
Mona Vale & Rosedale Rds. St
Gladstone 24 hrs. 0419 725 287
Ives 2075 Bus (02) 9488-9805
Gold Coast Community Centre
24 hrs. (02) 9488 9820
PO
Lawson St Southport.
Box 151 St Ives 2075
(07) 5591 2062 PO Box 2061
Ballina 7 Martin St Ballina
Southport 4215.
(02) 6686-8599 PO Box 930
Hervey Bay
Ballina 2478
9am – 9pm 0458 408 921
Blue Mountains & Western
Sydney Ph 24 hrs 0428 160 457 Mackay Contact (07) 4953 1742
Maryborough
PO Box 4141,Winmalee. NSW
9am – 9pm 0438 169 764
2777
Byron Shire District AA 12 Step Nambour Burnside Scout Hall, 10
Perwillowen Road, Nambour.
Phone Line: 1800 423 431 or
Phone (07) 5476 2166.
0401 945 671 (24hrs)
PO 4636 Sunshine Coast MC
Canberra Grant Cameron
4560.
Community Centre, 27 Mulley
Rockhampton (07) 4927 4416
Street, Holder, ACT (02) 6287
Townsville 1 Charters Towers
3020.
PO Box 3898, Weston,
Road. 4810.
ACT 2611
Phone (07) 4771 5411
Gosford William Court 6/12
PO Box 1443, Townsville.
William St. Gosford,
Phone (02) 4323 3890 PO Box 46
Gosford 2250.
Hawkesbury District Contact
(02) 4588 6172
Newcastle Greater Newcastle
District Office.
24 hrs (02) 4964 1555.
PO Box 196, Jesmond2299
Southern Highlands
(02) 8250 7318 www.aash.org.au
Wagga Wagga District
Phone 0423 557 750
PO Box 8715, Kooringal 2650.
Wollongong 114-116 Princes
Highway, Upstairs cnr. Elliott
Road, Fairymeadow. 2519.
Phone (02) 4285 6788
Southern Region
(VIC & TAS)
Prahran 12 Step Office
24 hrs. (03) 9529 5948
www.aamelbourne.org.au
info@aamelbourne.org.au
Melbourne North/West
Intergroup Phone 0419 610 025
Ballarat District
Phone 0429621594 24hr.
PO Box 1332 Bakery Hill 3354
Bendigo District
Phone 24 hours (03) 5435 3167
Website: www.aabendigo.org.au
PO Box 121, Golden Square, Vic
3555
Geelong (03) 5229 1710. PO Box
914, Geelong 3220
Mornington Peninsula District
1300 880 390
PO Box 379, Mornington Vic
3931
Shepparton District (03) 58316742. PO Box 232, Shepparton,
3632.
Hobart Room 18, 2nd Flr,
McDougall Building, Ellerslie
Road, Battery Point, Hobart.
Phone (03) 6234 8711. PO Box
317, Hobart 7001
Launceston Contact (03) 6334
7060. PO Box 350 Launceston
7250
Northern Region (NT)
Darwin Nightcliff Community
Centre, Bauhinia Street,
Nightcliff. NT 0810.
(08) 8948-5202. PO Box 40760
Casuarina 0811.
Alice Springs 24 hrs. phone(08)
8953 0802 (08) 8955 0031, (08)
8955 0628
Katherine Phone 0427 712 443.
Western Region (WA)
Perth Room 2, Claisebrook
Lotteries House 33 Moore St East
Perth 6004.
Phone (08) 9325 3566;
(08) 9325 3209.
Loners Internationalists
(LIM) Australia
PO Box 83
Sanctuary Point
NSW 2540
General Service Office
Of Alcoholics
Anonymous Australia
48 Firth Street, Arncliffe. 2205
Phone (02) 9599-8866.
email: gso@aa.org.au
Website: www.aa.org.au