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RPAT - Our Constitution


Retired Police Association of Tasmania

Constitution Rules and By-Laws as approved on 5th December 2006

  • Amended at the Annual General Meeting on 7th December 2010

  • NAME: The Association shall be titled "The Retired Police Association of Tasmania”

1. INTERPRETATION

In these Rules, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith, the following interpretations shall operate:

  1. "The Association" means the "Retired Police Association of Tasmania" (RPAT).
  2. "The Rules" mean the Rules of the RPAT in force for the time being.
  3. "The Committee" or "Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee as constituted in accordance with the Rules.
  4. "Month" means Calendar Month.
  5. “Year” means the RPAT’s Financial Year and, unless altered by the members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Special General Meeting, shall be from the first (1st) day of January to the thirty-first (31st) day of December of each year.
  6. Words importing the "singular” include the "plural" and vice-versa.
  7. The "masculine" includes the "feminine" and vice-versa.
  8. “Member” means a member of the RPAT who has been accepted or elected as such by the Executive Committee  in accordance with 'The Rules' and who has paid to the RPAT in advance, the prescribed joining fee.

2. MEMBERSHIP

Classes of members shall be:

  1. Ordinary Members;
  2. Life Members;
  3. Honorary Members; and
  4. Members without fee (age qualified).

3. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

All applicants for Membership shall provide a completed application form to the Secretary of the RPAT.

4. ELIGIBILITY FOR ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP

  1. Any retired member of Tasmania Police Service or any other police service who was honourably discharged and who is of good character and repute shall be eligible to become an ordinary member of the RPAT.
  2. Any former member of Tasmania Police Service who has served at least five (5) years who was honourably discharged and who is of good character and repute shall be eligible to become an ordinary member of the RPAT.  Any former member who was invalided out of the service having served a lesser period than five (5) years and who is of good character and repute, shall be eligible to be considered by the Executive Committee for Ordinary Membership.
  3. Any former member of any other recognised police service who has served at least five (5) years and who is of good character and repute shall be eligible to become an ordinary member of the RPAT provided that such a person desirous of membership delivers to the Honorary Secretary a completed and signed application form.  Such application shall be supported by documentation showing previous police service that would enable the Executive Committee of the RPAT to decide on the applicant’s suitability for membership of the RPAT.  The Executive Committee shall subsequently decide on election or otherwise.
  4. Any former member of any other recognised police service who was invalided out of the service having served a lesser period than five (5) years shall be eligible to be considered for ordinary membership provided that person delivers to the Honorary Secretary a completed and signed application form in which they can prove they were honourably discharged.

5. LIFE MEMBERS

Any two (2) financial members may nominate in writing the name of any member for Life Membership and who has, in their opinion, rendered outstanding service over a considerable period to the RPAT.  Such application shall be considered at an AGM with majority approval.  Any person granted Life Membership shall not be liable to pay annual subscriptions.

6. HONORARY MEMBERS

Any two (2) financial members may nominate in writing the name of any person for Honorary Membership and who has, in their opinion, been of assistance or could be of assistance to the RPAT.  Such application shall be considered at an AGM with majority approval.  Any person granted Honorary Membership shall not be liable to pay annual subscriptions.

7. MEMBERS WITHOUT FEES

Any person who has been a financial member for a period of five (5) years and has reached the age of eighty (80) years shall be exempt from paying any subscription.

8.  FORFEITURE OF MEMBERSHIP

  1. Any member who fails to pay their Annual Subscriptions over a period of two (2) years shall cease to be a member of the RPAT.  The Honorary Secretary shall give notice to each member when their  subscription is due and shall place before the Executive Committee the name of any member who failed to pay over a two (2) year period.  The Executive Committee may make inquiries and may determine that, that person no longer be considered a member of the RPAT.  Such a member may, at any future date, regain their membership of the RPAT by making application in writing, and paying all outstanding dues.  Where the outstanding dues are in excess of two (2) years' subscriptions they may be reduced with the approval of the Executive Committee.
  2. The Executive Committee shall have the power to expel or suspend any member of the RPAT for conduct which the Executive Committee may consider unbecoming.  Such member is to be notified by the Honorary Secretary by means of registered letter to their last known address, detailing the conduct for which the action was taken, and the date, hour and place at which the Executive Committee proposes to deal with such suspension or expulsion.  Such member may be present if they so desire to offer any explanation or defence to such conduct which causes the Executive Committee to act.  The hearing and affairs of the RPAT shall be conducted according to the Rules.

9. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

The Annual Subscription shall be ten dollars ($10) or such amount as may be determined by members at an AGM or Special General Meeting.

10. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the RPAT shall be:

  1. the mutual benefit of members by fostering a spirit of comradeship;
  2. the promotion of friendly interaction and a spirit of good fellowship amongst its members by arranging periodic meetings for conversational and social gain;
  3. by every legitimate means to protect and advance the interests of its members;
  4. to show consideration and comradeship to each other at all times, particularly in cases of sickness or death;
  5. to arrange visits to members when they are sick and to render them any such assistance as may be practicable;
  6. to show respect by attending the funeral of any deceased member and to tender kindly sympathy and consolation to the bereaved relatives; and
  7. the participation in any other movement pertaining to the welfare of members.

11. MANAGEMENT

  1. The business of the RPAT shall be conducted by a body of members known as the Executive Committee, which shall consist of a President, three (3) Vice-Presidents, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and four (4) other members.  The Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be trustees.  The immediate Past President remains on the Executive Committee without election.
  2. The Executive Committee shall meet at such times as shall be deemed necessary and shall transact all business of the RPAT, except such business as shall be transacted at the AGM or Special General Meeting.  There shall be no longer than three (3) months between Executive Committee meetings, and the attendance of a minimum of five (5) Executive Committee members to form a quorum.
  3. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint Sub-Committees and fill any vacancy in their number by at least a two-thirds majority of Executive Committee members present.
  4. The President, the Honorary Secretary or any two (2) members of the Executive Committee shall at all times have the power to call a meeting of the Executive Committee and the Honorary Secretary shall give at least four (4) days' notice in writing to each member of the Executive Committee, setting out the purpose for which the meeting is called.
  5. Any member of the Executive Committee absenting themselves for three (3) consecutive meetings without apology being forwarded shall be deemed to have vacated their office
  6. All Sub-Committees and members appointed for special purposes by the Executive Committee shall be subordinate to the Executive Committee.
  7. Any decision of the Executive Committee shall be subject to appeal or revision at the AGM or Special General Meeting of members convened for that purpose.
  8. No new Rule shall be made nor any existing Rule altered or repealed except at an AGM or Special General Meeting called for that purpose.  Notice of intention to alter, repeal or make a new Rule must be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least fourteen (14) days before date of such meeting.

12. SUB-BRANCHES

  1. There shall be two Sub-branches of the RPAT known as the Northern Region and North Western Region.  Each Sub-branch will have three (3) Committee members and one (1) Vice President.  There shall be no longer than three (3) months between Sub-branch Committee meetings, and the minimum attendance of three (3) Sub-branch members to form a quorum.
  2. The Sub-branches shall be subordinate to the Executive Committee of the RPAT.
  3. Sub-branches shall not have authority for expenditure of RPAT funds without authorisation from the RPAT Executive Committee.
  4. Sub-branches shall keep the RPAT Honorary Secretary advised of all cases that come to notice of the illness or death of members within their regions.
  5. Sub-branch Committee members are to give positive attention, where practicable, to the objectives of the RPAT as outlined in section nine (9) of the Constitution.
  6. Sub-branch Vice Presidents or their delegated Committee member shall, where practicable, participate in all RPAT Executive Committee meetings.
  7. Sub-branch office bearers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.  Such elections shall be by ballot at the AGM of the RPAT from nominations received.
  8. Sub-branch Committee members shall always be mindful of gaining new membership to the RPAT.

13. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

All Office Bearers shall retire annually but shall be eligible for re-election.  Such elections shall be by ballot at the AGM of the RPAT from nominations received.

14. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  1. PRESIDENT:
    The duties of the President shall be to preside over all meetings if it is possible for the President to do so.  In the President's  absence, one of the Vice-Presidents shall act in the President's stead. The President shall regulate and keep order in all proceedings and carry into effect the Constitution, Rules and By-Laws of the RPAT and of all Sub-Committees of the RPAT.
  2. SECRETARY:
    The Secretary shall be the Executive Officer of the Executive Committee and RPAT.  The Secretary shall, if possible, attend all meetings of the Executive Committee and AGM and Special General Meetings of the RPAT.  The Secretary shall record the Minutes, which shall include all resolutions and proceedings of all meetings, in a book kept for that purpose.  The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence, both inward and outward, in connection with the general business of the RPAT.  The Secretary shall prepare for the AGM  a report of the Executive Committee on the activities of the RPAT during the year.  The Secretary shall keep a register of all members of the RPAT, such register to be available to members.
  3. TREASURER:
    The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of all monies received and disbursed. The Treasurer shall open and maintain a bank account in the name of the RPAT at such financial institution as the Executive Committee may determine.  The Treasurer shall keep a book in which all receipts and payments shall be recorded and such book shall be made available at all Executive Committee meetings and AGM.  All payments shall be duly approved by the Executive Committee and shall be made by cheque or petty cash.  Cheques shall be signed by two (2) of the members of the Executive Committee who are authorised to do so.  The Treasurer shall prepare for audit the annual statement of account and balance sheet and, after audit, shall prepare copies for distribution at the AGM.

15. TRUSTEES

  1. Trustees shall exercise general and special supervision over the RPAT's financial affairs and be empowered to deposit money and invest funds under the direction of the Executive Committee.  The funds may be invested by the said Trustees in Government Securities, any approved bank and any approved credit union, for and on behalf of the members, as directed by the Executive Committee from time to time.
  2. On the resignation, removal or death of any Trustee, full power of action shall devolve on the other surviving Trustee until a new appointment is made.
  3. The Trustees shall have power to vote on all matters.

16.  AUDITORS

  1. The Executive Committee and Sub-branch committees shall cause to be appointed at the AGM either two (2) financial members of the RPAT or a qualified accountant, as Auditor/s for a period of twelve (12) months.
  2. At least once in each financial year of the RPAT, including Sub-branches, the accounts shall be examined by the appointed auditor/s within three (3) months of the AGM  and they shall certify as to their correctness.

17.  FUNDS

  1. The Executive Committee shall have the power to authorise the expenditure of funds and control the finances of the RPAT.
  2. The RPAT may establish a contingency fund to be used for the benefit of all members and the Executive Committee may use the monies in the said fund for any purpose affecting members.
  3. A separate fund may be maintained for widows/partners welfare.
  4. In the event of the RPAT being wound up, the funds of the RPAT shall be distributed as a Special General Meeting shall direct.

18. MEETINGS

  1. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
    The AGM shall be held in the month of December in each year, the date of which is to be fixed by the Executive Committee.  A minimum of ten (10) members must be present to form a quorum.
  2. SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING:
    The President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer or Executive Committee may call a Special General Meeting of members of the RPAT at any time when necessary and shall also do so on receiving a written requisition signed by not less than seven (7) financial members.
  3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS:
    At least four (4) days' notice must be given by the Honorary Secretary to members of all AGM’s or Special General Meetings and such notice shall clearly state the reason for same, and the business to be discussed.
  4. VOTING:
    When voting at all meetings of the RPAT or of the Executive Committee or Sub-committees, all questions shall be determined, with majority approval, by a show of hands unless a division is requested by at least two (2) members.

19.  PATRON

The Executive Committee of the RPAT may nominate a prominent person as Patron.  Such nomination shall be considered at an AGM with majority approval.

20. LIABILITY CLAUSE

Members of the Executive Committee of the RPAT shall only have a liability of ten ($10) each in the event of the winding up of the RPAT.

21.  PREVIOUS RULES AND BY-LAWS

All previous Rules and By-Laws adopted by the RPAT are now hereby repealed.

These rules were amended at the AGM held at the Police Academy on 7 December 2010.

Rule 4(b) was amended to read: “Any former member of Tasmania Police who has served at least five (5) years who was honourably discharged and who is of good character and repute shall be eligible to become an ordinary member of the RPAT. Any former member who was invalided out of the service having served a lesser period than five (5) years and who is of good character and repute, shall be eligible to be considered by the Executive Committee for Ordinary Membership”.

Rule 4(d)  was amended to read: “Any former member of any other recognised police service who was invalided out of the service having served a lesser period than five (5) years shall be eligible to be considered for ordinary membership provided that person delivers to the Honorary Secretary a completed and signed application form in which they can prove that they were honourably discharged”.

Rule 7 was amended to read:” Any person who has been a financial member for a period of five (5) years and has reached the age of eighty (80) years shall be exempt from paying any subscription”.