Alice Springs Hall of Fame in administration
A cloud hangs over the future of the NT's National Road Transport Hall of Fame, following a government investigation into 'financial irregularities'The future of Alice Spring's National Road Transport Hall of Fame is in doubt, after a Northern Territory government report unearthed 'financial irregularities' in the museum's operations stretching back over several years.
An ABC News report says the volunteer-run organisation has been placed into administration, with a statutory manager – Rosey Batt and Associates – recently appointed to manage the National Road Transport Historical Society, which operates the Road Transport Hall of Fame, the Kenworth Museum, and the Old Ghan railway exhibit.
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According to the report, a government probe found the organisation had failed to lodge financial statements for a number of years since 2010.
"Compliance officers sought to engage with the management committee to achieve compliance, however, financial statements were not presented to an AGM nor were they lodged," stated the government report.
"Minutes of the AGMs held in 2016 and 2017 indicated that financial statements as required by the Act and the Constitution were not available although the treasurer or CEO purported to the report on the financial status of the association.
"It also appears from the records that the AGMs in 2016 and 2017 were held where no quorum existed."
The Northern Territory government found the Road Transport Historical Society failed to comply with the Northern Territory Associations Act or its own constitution. Following the appointment of the statutory manager, the organisation's management committee dissolved while its CEO, Liz Martin, resigned.
The future of the organisation and the rich Australian transport heritage over which it presides is now unclear, as is whether or not the venue will host the next annual Truckies' Reunion, which was due to be staged in August 2019.
The Truckies' Reunion draws thousands of truck drivers past and present to Alice Springs each year, as it has done since its inception in 1992.
According to the ABC report, the appointed administrator is upbeat about turning around the organisation's fortunes.
More information to come.
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