The North Coast Branch of the IEU met at Tweed Heads on Wednesday, 3 August. The North Coast Branch meetings are moved around the region and diocese each term to allow members the opportunity to attend meetings without the need for extensive travel.
The meeting was well attended, with a good mixture of reps from Lismore Diocesan Catholic systemic primary and secondary schools and independent school reps from the far north coast area.
IEU Secretary John Quessy flew in to attend the meeting, which members appreciated.
North Coast Branch President Jeff Pratt from Mt St Patricks College Murwillumbah had recently returned from the Solomon Islands where his school has an ongoing relationship with schools in the Islands.
At June IEU Council a delegation from the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA) spoke of their union activity throughout the Solomon Islands.
This delegation returned to their country with renewed vigour for their union work after their visit to Australia and exposure to the IEU. On Jeff’s recent visit he was presented with a gift of a shell money necklace and the local newspaper where he figured prominently on the front page with the SINTA executive. At the Branch meeting Jeff had the opportunity to pass on this gift of shell money necklace to the IEU Secretary John Quessy.
IEU thanks Jeff for his activism in union work both at branch level and his efforts in the Solomon Islands.