The May 2025 welcome message from the AMWS Chairman,
Mr David Parmeter
Mr David Parmeter
Hello everyone, and welcome to the May 2025 edition of the AMWS newsletter.
You will recall that I have recently referred to the retirement of long serving members of the AMWS Council: Llew Russell, who retired last November, and Alan Tait, my predecessor as Chair. Alan’s last Council meeting is on 27 May. Also retiring at this meeting are two other stalwarts of AMWS: Howard Clark a long serving Councillor and member of the Finance Committee, who before joining the Council had been the financial auditor for AMWS; and Stan Moriarty, our Company Secretary. As Chair I worked closely with Stan and he provided me with invaluable guidance and support. Quite simply I found Stan to be a tower of strength. Stan also provided secretariat services for our fraternal organisations, Sydney Bethel Union and Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund. On behalf of everyone involved with AMWS I thank Howard and Stan for their contribution to seafarer welfare and wish them well for the future.
AMWS is experiencing generational change in its leadership, and we are losing a wealth of experience. But change is inevitable and AMWS, like all organisations, will continue to grow and develop. Our Society can trace its history back to the 1860s and AMWS has withstood the test of time because we have been able to change with the times. And we should never underestimate the importance of the charitable work we support. While there are seafarers on ships and young people wanting to go to sea, there will be a role for AMWS.
I trust you will enjoy this edition of the newsletter.
You will recall that I have recently referred to the retirement of long serving members of the AMWS Council: Llew Russell, who retired last November, and Alan Tait, my predecessor as Chair. Alan’s last Council meeting is on 27 May. Also retiring at this meeting are two other stalwarts of AMWS: Howard Clark a long serving Councillor and member of the Finance Committee, who before joining the Council had been the financial auditor for AMWS; and Stan Moriarty, our Company Secretary. As Chair I worked closely with Stan and he provided me with invaluable guidance and support. Quite simply I found Stan to be a tower of strength. Stan also provided secretariat services for our fraternal organisations, Sydney Bethel Union and Merchant Navy War Memorial Fund. On behalf of everyone involved with AMWS I thank Howard and Stan for their contribution to seafarer welfare and wish them well for the future.
AMWS is experiencing generational change in its leadership, and we are losing a wealth of experience. But change is inevitable and AMWS, like all organisations, will continue to grow and develop. Our Society can trace its history back to the 1860s and AMWS has withstood the test of time because we have been able to change with the times. And we should never underestimate the importance of the charitable work we support. While there are seafarers on ships and young people wanting to go to sea, there will be a role for AMWS.
I trust you will enjoy this edition of the newsletter.
