The Registrar of Indigenous Corporations, Anthony Beven, has approved the amalgamation of the Riverina Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs (Aboriginal Corporation) and the Sandhills Advancement Aboriginal Corporation.
The amalgamated corporation will be known as the Sandhills Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs (Aboriginal Corporation).
The Sandhills Advancement Aboriginal Corporation was placed under special administration by the Registrar on 19 February 2010 at the request of the majority of its directors. As a consequence of the amalgamation, the corporation’s special administration has ended.
‘This amalgamation unites two corporations who have delivered important services to the Aboriginal community in and around Narrandera for many years,’ Mr Beven said.
The new corporation will have about 280 members made up of the former members of the two amalgamating corporations.
Main benefits of amalgamating include:
- a larger corporation with a strong governance structure and robust decision-making processes
- a potential to save on administration costs
- a more financially-viable entity.
The new corporation will retain the Sandhills name which has historical and social significance for the community. Following the closure of the Warangesda Mission, people settled in Old Sandhills when they first came to Narrandera.
‘ORIC will continue to provide support to the newly-amalgamated corporation as it settles into its role in the Narrandera community,’ Mr Beven said.
For more information about amalgamations see the ORIC fact sheet: Amalgamation—information for existing corporations xxx available on the ORIC website.
Special administration is a special measure under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 intended to help corporations work through difficult circumstances and return stronger corporations to the control of its members.
1 September 2010
Contact: Francine Chinn
Tel: (02) 6219 7646
Ref: ORICMR1011-09