HAWTHORN FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED
(ACN 005 068 851)
119th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the 119th Annual General Meeting of the Hawthorn Football Club Limited (“Club”) will be held as a virtual meeting with members being able to participate virtually via www.hawthornfc.com.au/agm on Tuesday 14 December 2021. The meeting will commence at 6:30pm.
The Board has resolved to hold a virtual meeting in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). Additional information about joining the meeting is provided below.
Members who are unable to join the meeting online can appoint a proxy by completing and returning a proxy form in accordance with the instructions included in this notice.
Nick Holland
Company Secretary
19 November 2021
As a 2021 Hawthorn Football Club Member you are invited to ask questions in regards to the finances and operations of the club.
If you have a question you would like to ask, please click here
Annual report
Dear Voting Member,
As per the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and the Constitution of the Hawthorn Football Club Limited (“Club”) the Club is able to distribute its Annual Reports through electronic means.
Taking this into account the Club has elected to provide the 2021 Annual Report on our Official Club website. From Tuesday 23 November 2021, the Annual Report will be located at www.hawthornfc.com.au/reports-and-policies/annual-reports
In light of the difficulty of printing and posting physical copies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board strongly encourages voting members to download the 2021 Annual Report from the website.
All voting members however, have the option of requesting a physical copy of the 2021 Annual Report by telephoning the Club on 03 9535 3000.
Regards,
Nick Holland
Company Secretary
19 November 2021
Business
Item 1: To receive and consider the 2021 Annual Financial, Directors’ and Auditor’s Reports
Item 2: Announcement of 2021 Director Election results
Item 3: Presentation of Life Membership
Item 4: Presentation of Club awards
How to attend and vote
Members entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting may attend and vote in the following ways:
a. by attending at the Annual General Meeting on the date, time and using the online access specified in this notice.
Members are required to pre-register, at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time for the Annual General Meeting, in order to receive their unique meeting link. Registration can be made by visiting www.hawthornfc.com.au/agm Members will need their Membership Account ID provided in the Notice of 2021 Annual General Meeting email.
Members are encouraged to submit questions prior to the meeting, and this can be done via the same link above.
A discussion will be held on all items to be considered at the Annual General Meeting. All members will have a reasonable opportunity to ask questions in advance of or during the Annual General Meeting (including an opportunity to ask questions of the Club's auditor). To ensure that as many members as possible have the opportunity to speak, members are requested to observe the following:
Relevant: All questions should be stated clearly and should be relevant to the business of the Annual General Meeting, including matters arising from the 2021 Annual Financial, Directors’ and Auditor’s Reports, and general questions about the performance, business or management of the Club.
Multiple questions: If a member has more than one question for an item, all questions should be asked at the one time.
Confidential: Members should not ask questions at the Annual General Meeting regarding personal matters or those that are commercial in confidence.
The Club will attempt to address the more frequently asked questions in the President's presentation during the Annual General Meeting.
More information about attending and participating is available on the Club's website – www.hawthornfc.com.au/agm; or
OR
b. by appointing a proxy to attend at the Annual General Meeting on the date, time and using the online access specified in this notice, by completing and returning a proxy form, together with any relevant power of attorney, to the Club by 6.30pm on Sunday 12 December 2021:
Lodgement by mail: Hawthorn Football Club Limited, PO Box 829, Mt Waverley, Victoria 3149
Lodgement by fax: (03) 9535 3050
Lodgement by email: hawthorn@hawthornfc.com.au
A proxy does not need to be a member of the Club.
If you would like to attend by proxy, please contact the Club to obtain a proxy form. Alternatively, you can download a proxy form from the Club’s website – www.hawthornfc.com.au/agm
2021 Director Election – Eligibility and how to vote:
Election
Following the nominations process, the Club received a greater number of nominations than the two (2) vacant positions on the Club's Board. In accordance with the rules of the Club, an election is required to determine these positions.
Eligibility
Eligibility to vote in the Club's 2021 Director Election is determined in accordance with the rules of the Club.
Voting
Members eligible to vote in the Club's 2021 Director Election will receive a separate letter containing voting information.
Voting members may vote for candidates by either using the online voting system or by requesting and validly completing a postal ballot form. In order to be valid, a voting member must vote for two (2) candidates.
CorpVote Pty Ltd (CorpVote) has been appointed by the Club to independently conductthe voting process. Ken Dyer from CorpVote has been appointed to the role of Returning Officer.
If you require assistance with the online voting process or would like to request a postal ballot form, please contact the Returning Officer by calling the support line on 1300 710 950 or by sending an email to support@corpvote.com.au.
More information about the voting process is set out in the separate letter containing voting information. Information is also available on the Club's website – www.hawthornfc.com.au/agm.
Timing
In order to be accepted:
• votes cast on the online voting system must be received between 9.00am AEDT on Friday 19 November 2021 and 5.00pm AEDT on Sunday 12 December 2021; and
• votes cast by postal ballot forms must be received by the Returning Officer at PO Box 2431 Fitzroy, VIC 2065 by Sunday 12 December 2021.
Election result
The two candidates with the highest number of votes cast are elected. The result will be formally announced at the Annual General Meeting.
Candidate Information
The order of candidates as they appear in this notice has been determined by lot by the Returning Officer.
JENNIFER HOLDSTOCK
As a lawyer with 20 years' experience and the head of a thriving litigation firm for the past nine, I am a confident litigator and advocate: the cornerstones of good legal practice.
I come from a long line of passionate and dedicated Hawthorn supporters. Football is in my family, and Hawthorn runs through my veins.
Running a thriving Melbourne litigation practice, I have achieved success in commercial, health and litigious matters across multiple jurisdictions. I can demonstrate strong experience in governance and compliance in a regulatory environment.
I hold a voluntary Board Member role with Financial Counselling Victoria, a not-for-profit organisation in Melbourne, and am also a member of its Performance and Remuneration Committee.
Almost fifty percent of football supporters are women, and their representation has never been more important, as demonstrated by the entry of Hawthorn into the AFLW recently.
My contribution to women in football can be tracked to 2003/04 where I was instrumental in arguing a case to give women the right to continue to play football, when they were suddenly banned. This case led to the early introduction of the AFLW.
I believe the recent acquisition of the licence for Hawthorn into the AFLW flags the importance of female representation, that starts at the top and flows to the field.
I can make a significant contribution to the Hawthorn Board in offering not only in the provision of tactical legal advice, but a steady hand and a cool head.
IAN SILK
Hi Hawthorn members,
I am honoured to stand for election for the Hawthorn Board – doubly honoured to be nominated by Hawthorn icon Peter Schwab, and seconded by Premiership player and ex-Board member Bruce Stevenson.
Why am I standing?
As a lifelong Hawthorn supporter I have the passion, skills and experience to help contribute to our next era of premiership success.
Who am I?
I have been a Hawthorn member since I was a child. I continued the family tradition taking my three sons to see the Hawks play each week – as young adults they remain proud, passionate and paid up.
I have served for a number of years on the Club's Finance and Investment Committee.
Another club connection is that my brother Gary was one of the two police officers murdered in Moorabbin in 1998. Hawthorn and St Kilda play annually for the Silk-Miller Cup – our family is forever grateful to our Club.
I recently resigned as CEO of AustralianSuper – Australia's largest and best performing superannuation fund. I now have the time to devote to a HFC Board position.
As a Board member I would seek to ensure:
• Strong governance practices across the club
• Football operations drive Premiership success
• Stakeholder management is constructive and forthright in the interests of HFC, our members, and various supporter groups
• Protection of our cherished Family Club reputation.
If you have any queries, please email me at isilk14@gmail.com
I would appreciate your support and vote – thank you.
TIM SHEARER
I have been a lifelong Hawks supporter and, as a current HFC Director, have been proud to give back to the Club.
In my role as the HFC Foundation President, and as a highly specialised not-for-profit fundraiser, I have facilitated and guided the Kennedy Community Centre (KCC) capital campaign to $17.5M in commitments to date. When the project is complete it will be a state-of-the-art Club and Community facility; the envy of sporting teams across Australia. The KCC is the future of our Club and, with the support of our community, I have the requisite skillset and drive to see it through. We've come a long way and we are on the path to success.
I also have overseen the establishment of the Hawks Community Foundation, enabling the Club's Community Programs to be funded through our generous community.
With much still to be done, I am committed to the Club's future and I look forward to serving you.
Peter Hudson:
"I have worked closely with Tim for the past three years on the capital campaign committee and I passionately support Tim's renomination to the Board. This is an important time for the Club, and Tim's leadership and fundraising experience is critical to its future."
David Parkin OAM:
"I have known Tim for many years in various capacities and his integrity and work ethic are first class. We are fortunate to have someone like Tim giving his time and expertise in the manner in which he does."
Register
Registration for the 2021 Annual General Meeting is now open. Click here to register.
Members are required to pre-register for approval, at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time, in order to receive their unique meeting link. Members will need their Membership Account ID provided with their Notice of 2021 Hawthorn Football Club Annual General Meeting email in order to register.
For assistance registering, contact HFC Membership on 1300 042 957 or membership@hawthornfc.com.au
Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting
Click here for Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for Frequently Asked Questions
