BOARD HARPOONED BY DISGRUNTLED MEMBERS

The Gerroa Fishos board will elect a new president and vice president in January after a row over a bottle of scotch.

A MAJOR row at Gerroa Boat Fishermans Club has resulted in president of six years Michael Fayne and vice president Kevin Morris resigning.

The resignations stem from a missing bottle of Johnny Walker Black label whisky that was misplaced by a female member of the club.

The woman allegedly failed to respond personally to repeated requests by the club to explain the whereabouts of the item and the club instigated a three-month suspension.

Club management declined to comment to the Kiama Independent yesterday in what is an already highly sensitive issue, heightened by the unfortunate death of the womans husband two weeks ago.

The Kiama Independent understands the missing item was accounted for in September of this year when a member of the fishing club, a former president, recalled winning the bottle of scotch.

The board immediately lifted the suspension and penned a letter of apology to the suspended member.

However an extraordinary meeting was called by Fishos member Ray Kent last Saturday after members came up with the mandatory 50 signatures needed.

Attempts to contact Mr Kent yesterday were unsuccessful.

At a highly charged meeting, the nine-member board were asked to explain their actions to the disgruntled members.

I was shocked at the emotions (displayed) and felt they wanted my scalp and they got it, an exhausted Michael Fayne said.

I feel terrible, so does Patsy (his wife). As chairing it (the extraordinary meeting) was pretty nasty. We went through and explained what had happened and closed the meeting.

On Monday I felt that because of the emotional issues and that it is such a sensitive issue, I would resign after 14 years.

The unrest comes at a time where the club reported a $164,000 profit in their 2006 annual report.

It was also the only south coast club to receive a 2006 Healthy Cities Illawarra award, which is part of the World Health Organization movement for its contribution to community aid and service.

Despite board members urging both Fayne and Morris to stay on, the board will now elect an interim president and vice President at the next monthly board meeting in January.

I felt to be honest it is good to walk away with the club going from strength to strength, Michael commented.

I wasnt going to stand after this year although I had 100 percent support of the board and they asked me to reconsider. Some also offered to resign but that isnt the answer.

We felt when me moved into this small community we would be active within that community we have a saying in life There are those who make it happen, those who watch it happen and those who say what happened.

I am involved with Mayflower and I think I will put more energy there, he said.