Henk’s letter for the AA meeting Good morning I’m writing this letter in the hope that you may be able to read it out at today’s meeting. As a tree climber that has experienced many tree climbing competitions. I thought it might be relevant to give you some of my feedback and pointers as to why the comps are so important to me and other competitors. Other than the fact I am a Queensland tree climber my opinions but unbiased as I’m not a member of the board of any association. I believe that the decision to not allow Queensland climbers to compete at a National competition will have the potential to cause huge problems in the future. It’s my understanding that tree climbing competitions were originally started to benefit the industry in the way of teaching climbers new techniques, better equipment in the aim or hope to reduce fatigue and injury. Why isolate and ostracise climbers from this amazing opportunity to learn and to teach fellow comrade’s. I’m asking you as the board to think about the long-term consequences this decision may have for an up-and-coming climbers not just an immediate backlash for something that you may have personal disagreements with. I mean in the last few years I’ve felt a real harmony amongst Australian climbers and the ability to share and distribute knowledge and information evenly throughout the country with no biased or haste towards any other association but in the last few weeks it’s becoming clear that there is quite a few upset, concerns and riffs starting to form over such an insignificant matter. Why should Queensland climbers get punished for something their association has done without consultation of any climbers of this state? As climbers we weren’t even made aware that if we competed at one competition we would not be allowed to compete at another competition. I also think that it’s extremely unfair that you would to make a ruling about for banning climbers after climbing comp has already happened without prior knowledge or warning as it’s left climbers without any information to make an informed decision about what they would like to do and if this is going to be the hard and fast rule you should bring it in the next year’s competition not this year. As a lot of young tree climbers spend many hours preparing and planning for the up and coming event and see you to just say no instantly is a very demoralising situation. Going to the world or in international competition is an extremely lonely and isolating experience and I can say I’ve had way more fun and better results at competitions when I’ve had fellow climbers around. I only see positive things from having more great climbers from this part of the world go compete and represent at an international level. I do believe that the QAA definitely had the ability over the last few years to send a representative from the QAA to the internationals but kindly gifted that position to the AA so they could send the Australian champion in the past now that the AA has actually sorted stuff out and has the ability to send a climb off. The QAA saw this as an opportunity to be able to send more than one climber off to the world’s. As far as I’m aware every state-based association across Australia had the ability to sign the AO and send a climber from that region to the world’s so I don’t think it’s fair to Queensland climbers should be punished for something that we’ve done as extra work. This was never supposed to be a negative experience and Queensland climbers have no hard feelings towards any other climbing association or climber across Australia all the world. Can we also find out if Queensland climbers aren’t allowed to compete in the Masters does that also mean they are unable to attend the Asia-Pacific tree climbing championships? As a final closing I’ve really enjoyed my time at the tree climbing competitions whether that be state or national or international level and believe it to be an awesome experience to grow and develop in an amazing industry please don’t stifle this experience for other up-and-coming climbers. Thanks you for your time. Henk Morgans
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:57:45 +0000
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