The 187th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) was held on Tuesday August 13, 2024 in the Members’ Dining Room.
This year’s AGM was once again held as a combination of online and in-person, facilitated by independent operator, Lumi.MCC President Fred Oldfield, Treasurer Geoff Roberts and CEO Stuart Fox addressed the 303 members who joined the meeting both remotely, and in-person, outlining the year that was for the MCC and speaking to their respective reports in the 2023/24 Annual Report.
Mr Oldfield celebrated the Club’s financial year results, stating how the MCC is now thriving off the back of the difficult COVID-19 years. The President commended the atmosphere and sense of community within the MCC Members’ Reserve on match days and at Club functions, highlighting some of the newest function offerings – the Progressive Dinner, Christmas Cooking Masterclass and New 50-Year Member Lunches.
Mr Oldfield also touched on the successes of major events at the MCG in the last 12 months, which included another capacity crowd for the 2023 AFL Grand Final, a successful and competitive Boxing Day Test and three unforgettable Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concerts.
He also spoke to the Club’s Code of Conduct, highlighting an increase in disciplinary cases for breaches of Club Rules such as card misuse and inappropriate ticketing usage. The President outlined the penalty for some of these breaches, with the Club issuing expulsions for members who were found to be guilty of racial vilification, abusive language, offensive behaviour towards staff and ticket misuse.
Mr Oldfield also spoke to the membership review which has been conducted by the Club over the last few years, which included surveying members and holding focus groups to fully understand opportunities for improvement. The Club also undertakes regular staff engagement surveys, with Mr Oldfield happily reporting that the most recent staff survey saw the MCC nominated for Best Employer Award for 2024 by Insync – a leader in organisational feedback and improvement.
Mr Oldfield closed by thanking former Committee member James Bennett, who retired from the MCC Committee in March 2024. Mr Bennett joined the Committee in 2015 and had been Chair of Australian Sports Museum Limited and a valued member of the Ground Sub-committee.
The meeting also detailed the elections of Committee members and office bearers, with Mr Oldfield re-elected unopposed as President of the MCC.
There were two vacancies on the Committee due to retiring Committee members who were eligible for re-election that were announced at this meeting. Three members nominated for Committee selection – current Committee members Mr Edward (Ted) Baillieu and Ms Carolyn Bendall, and Ms Siobhan Sullivan.
Mr Baillieu and Ms Bendall were re-elected to represent members on the Committee.
A total of 8,552 eligible members voted with each able to cast two votes. The results were as follows:
- Edward (Ted) Baillieu – 6,262
- Carolyn Bendall – 6,002
- Siobhan Sullivan – 4,840
Vice-President Sally Macindoe and Treasurer Geoff Roberts were again elected to their respective roles, joining the Club’s other two Vice-Presidents, Adrian Anderson and Christian Johnston as part of the Executive Sub-committee.
Former MCC President, Michael Happell, was nominated and subsequently awarded Honorary Life membership of the Club, with the proposal passing with 97.07 per cent of eligible Full members voting in favour of his elevation.
Mr Happell steered the Club as President through one of its most challenging periods – the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining the MCC Committee in 2011, Mr Happell served the Club as Treasurer and Vice-President before being elected President in 2019.
Mr Happell’s time as President was headlined by the impacts of COVID-19, where his leadership ensured the survival of the Club through lockdowns, closures, matches played behind closed doors and relocated games, and finally through the reopening of the MCG with capacity restrictions and COVIDSafe Plans.
His presidency saw a number of initiatives implemented – including MCC Flexipay and the formalisation of the 50-Year membership category. The Club also supported six new MCC Foundation community partners and launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan at the Reflect stage.
You can read more on Mr Happell’s Honorary Life membership nomination, and his contributions to the Club here.
The President, CEO and Treasurer responded to a range of questions from members before the meeting concluded. Some questions were taken on notice and members will receive a reply to their queries in due course.