About FUSSI

History of FUSSI

Australian Speleological Federation

Although a great deal of cave exploration took place in the period 1880-1910, there are few records covering the following 40 years. The first organized cave exploration club, the Tasmanian Caverneering Group, was formed in 1946. However, within the next ten years there was sufficient support for the formation in December 1956, at Victor Harbor of the Australian Speleological Federation
It is the only national speleological body with a club based representative structure. The Federation was set up to collate information on caves and stimulate further exploration. Since that time it has encouraged caving for both pleasure and research and built a national and international social environment for Australian cavers.

Structure

The ASF consists of a number of regionally based caving clubs each catering for local activities. The local clubs elect representatives onto the national Council. Meetings of the Federation's Council are held annually, with a Biennial National Conference alternating around the States. Club representation on the national Council is defined by the number of members each club has. So the more club members who join the ASF the more votes the Club has. Currently FUSSI has 2 representatives on the national Council. FUSSI was involved with the ASF on a brief occasion in 1983 as a co-coordinator, with the Cave Exploration Group of South Australia, (CEGSA), of the Biennial ASF, Speleo Vision Conference that was held at Flinders University. FUSSI became an Associate of the ASF in 1988 and a Corporate Member in 1990. Since then its members have held Vice President positions on the ASF National Executive, edited its national newsletter, Australian Caver, as well as been in involved in the drafting of cave management plans and the establishment of Leadership standards.

Aims

The major activities of the Federation are:

• The formulation of national policies relating to caving standards and ethics, cave safety, documentation procedures and survey standards.
• Preparation of a national automated data bank, cataloguing all Australian caves, including cave maps and primary reference sources.
• Sponsoring of biennial national speleological conferences and irregular Cave Management Conferences.
• An extensive publication programme in association with the above aims.
• The maintenance of a Library.
• Sponsoring of specialist consultancy services for preparation of karst and cave management plans.
• Sponsoring of Speleological projects.
• Active protection of the Cave and Karst Environment via its Environmental fund.
• The Promotion of Cave Research.

Since the formation of the Federation, Australian speleology has been well organized and active on both a national and local level, with separate regular national publications of cave research, cave exploration, and cave management in addition to numerous club newsletters.
Research on caves and karst has been carried out primarily by qualified individuals with the active assistance of speleological societies. Major research programmes have been directed from the Australian National University, Canberra, and the Universities of Sydney, New South Wales and Tasmania and from the various state museums. There is sufficient original research to support a high-quality international referred journal, Helictite, Journal of Australasian Cave Research. Now in its 40th year, Helictite has a standard similar to the Transactions in BCRA, NSS Bulletin and Annales de Speleologie.

Membership

Membership is open to anyone who has a continuing interest in caving. You can join as a member of a club, as an individual member or family member or as a student. Membership will entitle you to receive the ASF's quarterly journal, Caves Australia and introduce you to the various commissions and activities of the ASF.

Your current ASF liaison officers are: Bronya Alexander and Jan Schmortte.

FUSSI Members who held ASF Positions:

Clare Buswell.
ASF Vice President 92-94.
Editor of Australian Caver. 1991 -1994

Dr. K. Magraith.
ASF Vice President 92-94.

THE ASF, CONSERVING AUSTRALIA'S CAVES.
Web address: www.caves.org.au

1. NAME:
   1. There shall be a club called the Flinders University Speleological Society Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Society.
   2. That the club be known as FUSSI.
2. OBJECTS:
   1. The objects of the Society shall be:
   1. To foster interest among University members and members of the wider public in all aspects of caving with particular interest in S.A. caves.
   2. To promote interest, exploration and preservation of these caves.
   3. To maintain records of all trips and record results of all trips and record results of all investigations.
   4. To foster scientific work in relation to caves and the karst environment.
   5. To co-ordinate with other clubs to further these aims.
3. MEMBERSHIP:
   1. All members of the Flinders University and the general public shall be eligible for membership of the Society and shall become members of the Society upon payment of the Society membership fee.
   2. Membership of the Society is open to any member of Flinders University and the general public. interested in speleology, who concurs with the aims of the Society.
   3. That membership of the Society be divided into Full and Associate members.
   4. Full membership is open to those who, in addition to the basic requirements above:
   1. Have completed at least 30 hours of caving in non-tourist areas of caves, have been on four club trips in the previous year and have completed basic competencies in caving practice.
   2. Have a thorough knowledge of the Australian Speleological Federation's (ASF) Safety Regulations and Code of Ethics in particular, and knowledge of its codes and guidelines.
   3. Show a sufficient degree of responsibility for themselves, others and the karst environment.
   4. Or have satisfied the above in respect of membership of any other ASF member society.
   5. Associate membership is open to any member of the Flinders University or the general public who satisfies the basic requirements above and does not wish to be a Full member.
   6. The Society Membership Fee shall be payable by 31st March each year and is valid till 31st of December of that year and shall be determined by the Society.
4. COMMITTEE:
   1. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Committee comprised of:
   1. President
   2. Honorary Secretary/Public Officer
   3. Honorary Treasurer
   4. Immediate Past President
   5. Equipment Officer
   6. Safety Officer
   7. Librarian
   8. ASF Liaison Officer
   2. The Committee shall meet at least once each month during the academic year.
   3. The Committee shall have power to make any regulations necessary to put this Constitution into effect.
   4. A member of the Committee shall cease to be a member of the same upon any of the following happening:
   1. He/she submits, in writing, his/her resignation to the Honorary Secretary;
   2. He/she is absent from three consecutive Committee meetings without leave being granted by the Committee;
   3. He/she ceases to be a member of the Society.
   5. The Committee shall have the power to fill any vacancy occurring on the Committee provided that such action is ratified by a General Meeting of the Society, to be held within one month of such action being taken.
   6. The Committee shall have the power to appoint, from time to time, such officers and sub-committee as it deems necessary. The duties of such officers and sub-committees shall be defined by the Committee to which the said officers and sub-committees shall be responsible.

5. FINANCE:
   1. A bank account in the name of the Society shall be kept at a Bank or Credit Union.
   2. All funds of the Society shall be kept in the Society bank account and appropriated only with the approval of the Committee.
   3. The Honorary Treasurer shall keep proper books of account or the Society and shall prepare such statements of the Society's financial affairs as the Committee directs.
   4. The financial year of the Society shall be from 1st January to 31st of December.
   5. The Honorary Treasurer shall prepare, at the close of each financial year, a statement of the Society's financial affairs which shall be duly audited.
6. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
   1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Society to be held by the end of May each year to:
   1. Receive a report from the Committee,
   2. Receive the audited statements of the financial affairs of the Society for the previous financial year,
   3. Elect the Committee, and
   4. Consider such other business as is properly brought before the meeting.
   2. The Honorary Secretary shall give 14 days notice of the Annual General Meeting by means of a notice placed conspicuously on a noticeboard in the Flinders University Union Building.
7. GENERAL MEETINGS:
   1. The Honorary Secretary shall convene a General Meeting of the Society:
   1. At the direction of the Committee,
   2. Within 14 days of receipt of a petition signed by one-third of the total membership, or ten members of the Society, whichever is the least; provided that such a petition shall state the business to be discussed at the General Meeting.
   2. The Honorary Secretary shall give 7 days notice of a General Meeting by means of a notice placed conspicuously on a noticeboard in the Flinders University Union Building.
8. VOTING:
   1. The Chairperson at each meeting of the Society shall be the President or in her/his absence a person eligible to vote and elected by the meeting.
   2. Persons eligible to vote shall be:
   1. At Committee Meetings, members of the Committee,
   2. At General and Annual General Meetings, those members, both full and associate, of the Society present.
   3. The Chairperson of each meeting of the Society shall have a deliberative vote only.
   4. All questions before a meeting of the Society shall be determined by a simple majority of those voting except where stated otherwise in this constitution.
9. QUORUMS:
   1. The quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be four committee members.
   2. The quorum for a General or Annual General Meeting shall be one third of the total membership or ten members of the Society, whichever is the least; provided that, for a General Meeting called under clause VII.1.b of this Constitution, the quorum shall include at least fifty percent (50%) of the petitioning members.
10. ALTERATIONS TO THIS CONSTITUTION:
    1. The procedure for altering this constitution shall be:
    1. The proposed amendments shall be set out in full and posted conspicuously on a noticeboard in the Flinders University Union Building, at least fourteen days before the (Annual) General Meeting at which they are to be discussed.
    2. The amendments shall be agreed to by at least two-thirds of the members of the Society present at the (Annual) General Meeting at which they are to be discussed.
11. DISBANDENMENT:
    1. Should the Society be disbanded or in any way become defunct, then all physical assets of the Society shall be distributed to the Australian Speleological Federation's university member clubs and any funds shall be given to the ASF Environmental Fund.