REPORT FROM ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN PRESIDENT MAX KIRWAN

To the EB meeting 1998

The 1998 Tournament Regional Championships were successfully held in
Melbourne at the conclusion of the Moomba Masters and World Cup in March.

At the Congress held at that time elections were called for all positions.

The results:

President: Max Kirwan Australia
Technical Chairman: Ron Fergusson Australia
Secretary General: Chris Howarth Hong Kong

Barefoot
Chairman: Brian Carroll New Zealand
Brian Price Australia
Graeme Dwyer Australia
Clive Stevens New Zealand

Ski Racing
Chairman: Glen Coles Australia
Pat Cooper Australia
John Newton New Zealand

Wakeboard
Chairman: Neil Harrris Australia
Paul Fong Singapore
Kazuyuki Toyohara Japan

Technical Committee:
Chairman: Ron Fergusson Australia
Bruce Douglas New Zealand
** Gavin Brain Australia
** (Gavin Brain has since resigned and been replaced by Paul Fong
Singapore)

Dissabled Committee:
Chairman: Kevin Murfitt Australia
Pam Carter Singapore
Gordon Woods New Zealand

The Congresss agreed to pay from Regional Funds the SF20,000 owed by
Singapore to IWSF on the understanding that Singapore would organisse Fund
Raising Events this year to repay the debt to the Region, and that the
President would negotiate the arrangements with Richard Eu Vice President
and William Goh Singapore Federation President to receive assurances in
this regard. The President related how he had not drawn on Region Funds for
expenses in all the years he had been in office and that the SF20,000 would
have been eaten up many times over if he had.

The meeting heard many tales of financial crisis in our Asian Federations
with extreme difficulties related to Sports Funding.

An example was given where the Indonesian Reupiah had devalued from 1600 to
the US$ to 14,000 in just 6 months and this was similar in many other
Federations.

Until the financial crisis improves there will be much less Water Skiing
activity in Asia it was agreed.

A discussion took place concerning the porposal by Chantal Amade at the
IWSF Congress in Colombia where she put forward her ideas of individual
Federation voting instead of Regions. It was firmly agreed that our Region
would strongly oppose any such move and would take whatever action
necessary to prevent it happening.

The meeting dealt with a number of minor issues and heard reports from each
of the Divisions beforre closing in an orderly manner.

The minutes also accompany this report.

Be Skiing You.

MAX KIRWAN OAM
PRESIDENT IWSF
ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN REGION

ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN REGION CONGRESS
FRIDAY 13 MARCH 1998
JOHN FULLER ROOM
HERITAGE HOTEL MELBOURNE

MEETING COMMENCED AT 7:35PM


ATTENDEES:
ASIAN PRESIDENT TIM LIN CHINESE TAIPEI
TECHNICAL
CHAIRMAN RON FERGUSSON AUSTRALIA
DISABLED CHAIRMAN KEVIN MURFITT AUSTRALIA
SKI RACING PAT COOPER AUSTRALIA
BAREFOOT
CHAIRMAN GRAHAM DWYER AUSTRALIA
BAREFOOT BRIAN PRICE AUSTRALIA
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR DICK CATER AUSTRALIA
SKI RACING
CHAIRMAN GLEN COLES AUSTRALIA
GAVIN BRAIN AUSTRALIA
BRUCE DOUGLAS NEW ZEALAND
HITOSHI MIIDA JAPAN
YOSHINARI HASEGAWA JAPAN
JU HAN PARK KOREA
CHRIS HOWARTH HONG KONG
CLEMENT YEUNG HONG KONG
XUI XUECHEN CHINA
B J KUO CHINESE TAIPEI
MURRAY EADE NEW ZEALAND


MAX WELCOMED EVERYONE

ASIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT TIM LIN, RON FERGUSSON TECHNICAL CHAIRMAN, GLEN
COLES SKI RACING CHAIRMAN, GRAHAM DYWER BAREFOOT CHAIRMAN AND KEVIN
MURFITT DISABLED CHAIRMAN.

FINANCIAL CRISIS IN PARTS OF ASIA. A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES ARE NOT HERE, AS A
RESULT EXAMPLE THAILAND WOULD COST US$30,000 PRIOR TO DOWNTURN NOW
US$90,000.
INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA SIMILAR ADDITIONAL COSTS.

EVERYONE CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY COULD NOT ATTEND.

ALL PARTICIPANTS HAVING A GOOD TIME, CHIEF JUDGE HAS COMPETITION RUNNING
VERY WELL




MAX INTRODUCED KEVIN MURFITT TO SPEAK ABOUT HIS DIVISION. ALLOWING FOR THE
DISABLED CHAIRMAN TO LEAVE THE MEETING EARLY.

KEVIN EXPLAINED DISABLED WATER SKIING WAS INCREASING AT A RAPID RATE IN THE
WORLD, AA REGION HAS OPPORTUNITY, TO INCREASE DISABLED AND SHOULD PROMOTE
IN OUR FEDERATIONS.
KEVIN SUPPLIED A SHORT TV VIDEO ON DISABLED SKIING.

OF THREE PREVIOUS DISABLED CHAMPIONSHIPS, FRANCE, AUSTRALIA, AND FLORIDA
THERE WAS A FULL AUSTRALIAN TEAM IN FLORIDA, ONE FROM NEW ZEALAND AT ALL
THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
NO ASIAN REPRESENTATION AT THE LAST TWO.
DISABLED MIRRORS ITSELF ON ABLE BODIED SKIING.
WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WITH DISABLILITIES, TO TAKE PART
EACH FEDERATION SHOULD ATTRACT AT LEAST ONE PERSON TO BEGIN WATER SKIING.
KEVIN IS HAPPY TO CORRESPOND AND HELP WITH EVERYONE INTERESTED.

PRESIDENT MAX GAVE A REPORT ON LEN SHEPHERD
AND HIS TIME AS DISABLED CHAIRMAN.

RESUMING THE LISTED AGENDA THE PRESIDENT CALLLED FOR ACCEPTANCE OF THE
ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN MINUTES FROM SEOUL 1996.
MOVED DICK CATER AUSTRALIA
SECONDED CHRIS HOWARTH HONG KONG

THERE WERE NO MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

PRESIDENT'S REPORT COPY ATTACHED
MAX READ HIS REPORT

SECRETARY GENERALS REPORT ATTACHED

TECHNICAL CHAIRMANS REPORT ATTACHED

MAX ANNOUNCED YIN FAH YOONG HAS RESIGNED FOR PERSONAL REASONS. VERY HEAVY
FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS SETBACKS, AS A RESULT OF MALAYSIAN MONETARY CRISIS.

MAX SAID HE WOULD BE MISSED AND HAD GREAT IDEAS AT THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
LEVEL.
HOPED THAT HE WOULD RETURN IN THE FUTURE.

BAREFOOT REPORT FROM GRAHAM DWYER, BAREFOOT CHAIRMAN WHO HANDED OVER TO
BRIAN PRICE THE SECRETARY GENERAL
COPY ATTACHED.
GRAHAM DWYER HAS ENCOURAGED AND PROMOTED BAREFOOTING IN OUR REGION BUT WITH
SUCCESS ONLY IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND TO DATE. HE URGED ASIAN
FEDERATIONS TO CONSIDER PARTICIPATION IN THE FUTURE.

SKI RACING REPORT FROM GLEN COLES COPY ATTACHED

AT THE LAST IWSF MEDELLIN COLOMBIA CONGRESS MEETING CHANTAL AMADE FRANCE
SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL TO DISBAND REGIONS AND ACCEPT FEDERATIONS VOTES ONLY.

THE PRESIDENT EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS UNSATISFACTORY TO OUR REGION AS WE
WOULD NEVER HAVE THE ABILITY
WIN AN ARGUMENT.

REGION EAME AS IT IS KNOWN WOULD CONTROL THE WORLD WITH APPROX 40
FEDERATIONS.

ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN REGION REQUIREMENTS ARE DIFFERENT FROM EITHER EAME OR
PAN AM.

PRESIDENT MAX PROPOSED WE WILL ASK THE EXECUTIVE BOARD NOT TO SUPPORT THE
FRENCH PROPOSAL.

A UNANIMOUS MOTION WAS PASSED., TO THIS EFFECT, AND THIS REGION WILL
EXPRESS IN THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE TERMS OUR OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE IWSF.

NEWS ON WAKEBOARDING REPORT, NEIL HARRIS AUSTRALIA WAS APPOINTED AS
CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION.

WAKEBOARDING IS GROWING FAST IN THE WORLD AND THE ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN
REGION.
CONTACT NEIL HARRIS OR PRESIDENT MAX FOR INFORMATION.




FINANCIALS WERE TABLED AND IT WAS
MOVED BY DICK CATER AUSTRALIA
SECONDED BRUCE DOUGLAS NEW ZEALAND
THAT THEY BE ACCEPTED.

THE PRESIDENT ASKED CONGRESS TO RATIFY THE DECISIONS BY THE BUREAU AND
CHAIRMEN OF THE DIVISIONS.
IT WAS MOVED BY DICK CATER AUSTRALIA SECONDED BY CHRIS HOWARTH HONG KONG
AND DULY PASSED.

PRESIDENT MAX EXPLAINED THAT THE HALL OF FAME IN THE ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN
REGION IS SIMILAR TO THE WORLD CRITIERIA.

IT WAS AGREED TO SEND A COPY OF THE CRITERIA TO EACH FEDERATION AND
FEDERATIONS WERE ASKED TO NOMINATE SUITABLE INDUCTEES.

NEW DECLARATION OF INDUCTION FOR 2000.

AWARDING OF ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR 2000
AND BEYOND.

NEW ZEALAND ARE BIDDING FOR THIS EVENT AND BRUCE DOUGLAS EXPLAINED THE SITE
IS JUST OUT OF CHRISTCHURCH ON A MAN MADE LAKE.
IT IS A GOOD VENUE. TIME OF YEAR WOULD BE FEBRUARY.
NEW ZEALAND STYLE WELCOME FUNCTION.
ACCOMMODATION AT THE SITE WITH CARAVANS AND MOTELS
AND NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM FIRST CLASS HOTELS IN THE CITY.

VERY GOOD COUNTRY CLUB FOR PRIZE GIVING.

CONGRESS ALLOWED PRESIDENT TO NEGOTIATE OBLIGATIONS WITH THE FEDERATION
CONCERNED.
PRESIDENT MAX TO ADVISE FEDERATIONS, AND CHECK DATES NOT TO CLASH WITH
CHINESE NEW YEAR. CHRIS HOWARTH WILL CHECK DATES.

NO OTHER BIDS WERE TABLED FOR THE ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.





AWARDING OF ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 1999
UAE HAVE LODGED A BID.
IF THERE ARE NO OTHER BIDS MAX WILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE
WITH THEM REGARDING OBLIGATIONS.

DATE SEPTEMBER 1999, JUST PRIOR TO THE WORLDS IN MILAN OR JUST AFTER.

MAX TO DISCUSS FURTHER.

PRESIDENT MAX GAVE A REPORT ON HIGH PROFILE COMPETITIONS AND GAMES

REGARDING ASIAN GAMES WE WERE WORKING VERY HARD WITH OUR KOREAN FRIENDS.
UN YOUNG KIM VICE PRESIDENT IOC AND ASIAN GAMES CHAIRMAN IS THE KEY PERSON.
WATER SKIING IS PART OF PAN PACIFIC GAMES.
PRESIDENT MAX TO CHECK ON DATES OF THIS EVENT.
BOTH ARE OLYMPIC CIRCLE EVENTS
COMMONWEALTH GAMES DISCUSSIONS WITH ARTHUR TUNSTALL SECRETARY GENERAL TO
TAKE PLACE.

OLYMPIC CAMPAIGN REQUIRES A LOT MORE WORK TO BE DONE WITH CONCENTRATION ON
IOC AND GREECE 2004, WORLD GAMES INVOLVEMENT TO CONTINUE.

REPORTS FROM FEDERATIONS
CHINESE TAIPEI - B J KUO
DELEGATE HAD NOTHING TO SAY AS IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME AT THE MEETING.
THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET A SITE AT THE MOMENT.

NEW ZEALAND - BRUCE DOUGLAS
VERY HAPPY WITH ALL DIVISIONS IN NEW ZEALAND
WAKEBOARDERS IN NEW ZEALAND TO HOLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SOON.


AUSTRALIA - DICK CATER
HOSTED SKI RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN OCTOBER 1997
HOSTING THE BAREFOOT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN APRIL 1998.
COMPETED IN WORLD GAMES IN 1997
FULL CALENDAR THIS YEAR


CHINA - XUI XUECHEN
LAST YEAR END OF AUGUST ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS CONDUCTED BY CHINA IT WAS A
SUCCESSFUL ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN EARLY JULY.
CHINA INVITES EAST ASIAN COUNTRIES TO PARTICIPATE
NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA FRIENDS WELCOME ALSO
THEY WILL GIVE US MORE INFORMATION

BECAUSE WATER SKIING IS NOT AN OLYMPIC SPORT CHINA IS FINDING FUNDING A
DIFFICULTY TO SUPPORT THE SKIERS

CHINA REQUIRES HELP FROM COMMERCIAL SPONSORS.

EQUIPMENT WITH BOATS AND JUMP OUT OF DATE, AND REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.

INFORMATION ON CHEAPER BOATS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

KOREA - JU HAN PARK
NOTHING TO SAY

JAPAN - HITOSHI MIIDA
SECRETARY GENERAL HAS BEEN TRANSFERED TO JAPAN JETSKI ASSOCIATION.
THE NEW SECRETARY GENERAL TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US.

HONG KONG - CLEMENT YEUNG
STILL SUFFERING FROM LOSS OF SITE.
THEY HAVE HELD A SUCCESSFUL WATER SKI AND WAKEBOARD CHAMPIONSHIPS AND ONE
SKI RACE.
A BAREFOOT CLINIC WAS HELD.
A WATER SPORTS COUNCIL TO BE FORMED IN HONG KONG.

ELECTION OF OFFICE BEARERS

MAX STOOD ASIDE WHILE RON FERGUSSON CONDUCTED THE ELECTIONS.
THERE WERE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS AND SO MAX KIRWAN WAS APPOINTED FOR ANOTHER
2 YEAR TERM OF OFFICE.

PRESIDENT MAX THANKED THE CONGRESS FOR ITS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND GAVE AN
UNDERTAKING TO CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE THE BEST POSSIBLE RESULTS
FOR WATER SKIERS IN OUR REGION AND IWSF.

NOMINATIONS FOR BAREFOOT CHAIRMANFOR ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN WERE CALLED FOR AS
REGION CHAIRMAN GRAHAM DWYER HAS STEPPED DOWN AND NOMINATED BRIAN CARROLL
OF NEW ZEALAND AS CHAIRMAN IN HIS PLACE.
SECONDED BRUCE DOUGLAS NEW ZEALAND AND CONGRESS,
AGREED.

NOMINATIONS FOR SKI RACING CHAIRMAN FOR ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN REGION GLEN
COLES WILL CONTINUE AS CHAIRMAN AS HE AGREED TO DO AND THERE WERE NO OTHER
NOMINATIONS.

NOMINATIONS FOR SECRETARY GENERAL.
CHRIS HOWARTH HONG KONG WAS NOMINATED BY HIS FEDERATION AND IT WAS SECONDED
BY CHINA THAT HE BECOME SECRETARY GENERAL FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS AS THERE
WERE NO OTHER NOMINATIONS THE CONGRESS APPROVED.

TIM LIN WAS AGAIN NOMINATED ASIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT
BY PRESIDENT MAX AND SECONDED BY HONG KONG WITH CONGRESS APPROVAL.

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REGION RICHARD EU WAS RE APPOINTED.

PRESIDENT MAX ASKED CONGRESS TO CONSIDER SINGAPORE AND ITS DEBT TO THE IWSF
AFTER HOSTING AND LOSING HEAVILLY FINANCIALY IN 1993.
THEY PAID BACK $100,000 TO CREDITORS.
THE SINGAPORE FEDERATION WERE BROKE AS A RESULT.
RON FERGUSSON, GLEN COLES , YIN FAH YOONG AND MAX KIRWAN ASKED THE IWSF FOR
EXTRA TIME TO ALLOW SINGAPORE TO FIND THE MONEY BY MARCH 1998.
AMOUNT IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE FROM SINGAPORE.
YIN FAH YOONG OFFERED TO RUN A SPECIAL FUNCTION AND IS UNABLE TO PROCEED
DUE TO PERSONAL HARDSHIPS.

WE HAVE A PERSON IN SINGAPORE PAUL FONG WHO WILL RUN A DISABLED EVENT LATER
THIS YEAR TO ASSIST IN THE FUND RAISING.

CONGRESS AGREED TO LOAN SINGAPORE SF20,000 UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SINGAPORE WILL ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE REGION TO REPAY BY DECEMBER
30, 1998, AND TO PROVIDE A FUND RAISING PLAN IN DETAIL FOR ACCEPTANCE BY
THE ASIAN AUSTRALASIAN PRESIDENT PRIOR TO THE LOAN TAKING PLACE. INTEREST
AT THE SAME RATE AS AVAILABLE DURING THAT PERIOD TO DECEMBER 1998.

PRESIDENT MAX CLOSED THE MEETING AT 10:00PM, AND
THANKED EVERYONE FOR ATTENDING.



MINUTES:


CONFIRMED:


CHAIRMAN:


DATE: 21 APRIL 1998